No issues elsewhere, but in Haiti, both ATMs and stores keep rejecting my card. Anyone know if this is common? Any banks that actually work?
The short answer is to use cash. Credit card usage is very limited in Haiti, and it's not a reliable form of payment. The country is a cash-based economy, and for a traveler, the best currency to have is the US dollar, which is widely accepted. You can try to use a local bank ATM like SogeBank, but don't be surprised if your card is rejected. It’s always best to be prepared with a good amount of cash.
This is a common problem for travelers. The financial infrastructure is not reliable. Even with international transactions activated, your bank's fraud detection system might be flagging it. My advice is to just go with cash. You'll find it's accepted everywhere, and it's just a lot simpler. The best thing to do is to find a reputable currency exchange or bank branch and get some local currency and US dollars.
I ran into the same issue. My card was a Visa, and it was still being rejected. The problem is a combination of older card terminals, a very unreliable network, and local banks not being fully connected to the international system. My advice is to just use cash. The US dollar is the unofficial second currency, and many businesses prefer it. You'll get much better luck using cash for everything.
That's frustrating. It's a very common issue in Haiti. While some businesses and major hotels might accept cards, the system is notoriously unreliable. The ATMs, even in Port-au-Prince, are frequently out of order or have low cash limits. Your best bet is to use cash. Both the Haitian gourde (HTG) and the US dollar (USD) are widely accepted. I'd recommend having a mix of both. You will have much better luck paying with cash for everything.