The ATM just swallowed my debit card and didnt return it. This was in Dominican Republic, close to where Im staying. Any idea if local banks can help? Help SOS how to get it back
I had my Revolut Mastercard captured by a Banreservas ATM in Cabarete late one evening. By the next day, they told me the card had already been destroyed. I had no choice but to cancel and use my backup Monzo. The Dominican Republic is very cash-based outside resorts, so losing a main card was stressful. Best advice: only withdraw at branch ATMs during banking hours and carry USD as backup.
My Wise Visa was taken by a Banco Popular ATM in Santo Domingo. I went to the branch the next morning, and they returned it after verifying my details. Staff explained that sometimes international cards get flagged. A friend also got their Monzo back from a Scotiabank branch in Punta Cana. If you use ATMs attached to branches, recovery in the DR is usually possible without needing to cancel.
In the Dominican Republic, the main ATMs are operated by Banco Popular, Banreservas, and Scotiabank. If your card is swallowed, go into the branch with your passport. Banreservas often returns cards if you report it quickly, but Banco Popular sometimes destroys foreign cards for security. Call the hotline shown on the machine immediately. While you wait, block your card in your banking app. Carry cash (DOP or USD) because the country is still quite cash-reliant.
Yes, my card was taken by a Banco Popular ATM in Santo Domingo. Staff told me there’s no way to get it back if it’s foreign. Cancel it right away. ATMs in the DR can be unreliable, especially outside the capital. Bring backup cards and cash in USD, which is easy to exchange.