Lost my card to an ATM in Guernsey

I had my Mastercard taken by a Barclays ATM on a Saturday afternoon. When I went on Monday, the staff told me it had already been destroyed for security. I had to cancel and rely on my backup Monzo. While Guernsey is very card-friendly, taxis and some local cafés still prefer cash, so losing my main card was inconvenient. Best tip: avoid weekend withdrawals and always travel with two cards and some GBP cash.

My Monzo Visa got eaten by an HSBC ATM in St Peter Port. I went to the HSBC branch the next morning, and they returned it in about 30 minutes after verifying my ID. Staff were friendly and said it happens sometimes with foreign cards. A travel buddy also recovered their Wise card from NatWest International. If you withdraw at machines attached to branches, it’s usually no problem to get your card back in Guernsey.

In Guernsey, the main ATMs are run by Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, and NatWest International. If your card is swallowed, go to the branch with your passport. Most banks will allow retrieval if you contact them within 24 hours, though standalone machines may forward cards to central processing and destroy them. Call the hotline number on the ATM straight away. Freeze your card in your banking app until you confirm. Guernsey is mostly card-friendly, but it’s still good to carry GBP cash.

Near St Peter Port High Street, an HSBC ATM held my card after timing out. I went straight to HSBC Smith Street with my passport and the exact machine location. The manager said captured cards are removed when engineers service the unit, typically midday, and may be returned upon ID check if the bank is comfortable. Mine came back by 2 pm. While waiting, I used a Lloyds ATM at Admiral Park with my backup. Advice: avoid random machines outside supermarkets; lobby ATMs at HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds, or NatWest International are more reliable, and staff are right there if anything glitches.