No issues elsewhere, but in Montserrat, both ATMs and stores keep rejecting my card. Anyone know if this is common? Any banks that actually work?
In Montserrat, plan as if you won’t be able to use your card at all. Bring USD cash and change it into EC dollars if needed, though most places will happily take USD. The Bank of Montserrat ATM sometimes works with Visa, but don’t count on it. Life here runs on cash, not cards.
My Revolut and Monzo cards both failed at the Bank of Montserrat ATM near Brades. No shops accepted them either, even in Salem or Little Bay. I had to rely entirely on USD cash I’d brought. Don’t expect smooth banking here - bring cash with you from Antigua or another island. The island is beautiful, but you’ll struggle without backup money.
I stayed at Gingerbread Hill Guesthouse and used my Wise Visa successfully at the Bank of Montserrat ATM in Brades. It only let me take out EC$500 at a time, but it worked. Shops in Little Bay didn’t accept cards, but USD cash was fine for smaller purchases. Overall, once I had cash, it wasn’t a big problem.
Montserrat is small and banking options are limited. The Bank of Montserrat is basically the only place with ATMs, and they don’t always accept foreign cards. Stores usually prefer cash in Eastern Caribbean dollars, though some accept USD. If your card is being declined, that’s pretty normal here - bring USD cash to exchange or spend directly.