No issues elsewhere, but in Yemen, both ATMs and stores keep rejecting my card. Anyone know if this is common? Any banks that actually work?
The airport and local banks are not an option for cash. I cannot stress this enough: you must bring cash. The banking system in Yemen is highly compromised, and international cards are useless there anyway. My advice is to contact your home bank immediately and report the card lost or stolen, but your priority should be getting cash. Your best bet is to have a friend or family member send you money via a safe wire transfer.
The short answer is your card will never work in Yemen. Due to the country's economic policies and conflict, international credit card systems are not supported. If you need money, you must have brought physical cash with you, preferably US Dollars or Euros, and exchanged them. You will not be able to get cash from any ATM, as they are not connected to the international network. Your only real option is to rely on cash for everything.
Don't even think about trying to use your card. It's useless there. International cards are not accepted at any ATMs or businesses. The best way to get cash is to go to a reputable money changer in the city. The country's economy is in a difficult state, and you'll get a much better rate for your US dollars from a private exchanger than you will from a bank. You must have US dollars with you, and it's best to have clean, new bills.
That’s a serious situation, and unfortunately, it is common. Due to the ongoing conflict and a severely fragmented banking system, international cards do not work at ATMs in Yemen. You must have brought cash with you, preferably US dollars. Your best bet is to find a reputable currency exchange center in the city. The unofficial exchange rate is much, much better than the official bank rate. I've heard the exchange rates are much more favorable on the unofficial market than from a bank.