My card was taken by an ATM near my hotel in Jordan. Has this happened to anyone else? Solution?
When my HSBC debit was taken by a Cairo Amman Bank ATM in Petra, the branch told me they couldn’t return foreign cards for security reasons and would send it back to my issuing bank. That meant I had to cancel it and use my backup Wise card. It left me short of cash since Petra is still quite cash-heavy. I learned to always carry USD or EUR as backup and to avoid using ATMs outside big cities unless absolutely necessary.
I had my Revolut Visa swallowed by a Housing Bank ATM in Amman. I went into the branch the next morning with my passport and they gave it back after confirming my details. The staff spoke English and were very professional. Arab Bank told me they handle things the same way - you just need to visit during business hours. It was stressful at first, but in the end I got my card back quickly and didn’t have to cancel it.
In Jordan, the main ATMs are run by Arab Bank, Housing Bank, and Cairo Amman Bank. If your card is captured, head to the branch with your passport during business hours. They’ll check the ATM records and may release it. If it’s a standalone machine, call the hotline on the ATM. Many banks in Jordan will return cards if you act quickly, but if you delay, the card may be destroyed. Contact your card issuer immediately to block the card until you know.
Yes, it happened to me at an Arab Bank ATM in downtown Amman near Rainbow Street. The machine froze mid-transaction and swallowed my card. I went inside the branch right away with my passport, and the staff retrieved it within 24 hours. They told me this is pretty common if the card isn’t used regularly in Jordan. My tip is to only use ATMs that are attached to major banks like Cairo Amman Bank or Housing Bank, not standalone machines. Call your bank back home too, so they know you didn’t lose the card.