Lost my card to an ATM in Guadeloupe

This happened to me last year in Sainte-Anne. My debit card was swallowed at a Crédit Mutuel ATM. I thought it was gone forever, but when I visited the branch the next day with my passport, they had it stored in an envelope. Took about 24 hours, but no extra drama. Since then, I never withdraw at night or weekends in Guadeloupe. I only use ATMs during weekday mornings when I know the branch is open and staff can help right away if something goes wrong.

If you’re in Basse-Terre, try the Société Générale branch near the port. They helped a friend of mine when her debit card was taken by the ATM there. She filled a form, showed her ID, and they returned it two days later. So it’s not impossible. In the meantime, ATMs at supermarkets like Carrefour or near Darse Market are usually reliable for international cards, but I always keep a few hundred euros in cash in case. Things move slower on the islands, so patience is needed.

Different experience for me: at a BNP Paribas ATM in Gosier, my Visa was swallowed and the bank said they don’t return foreign cards, they just destroy them for security. I had to block it through my Monzo app and rely on my backup Mastercard. Lesson - always bring more than one card to Guadeloupe, because replacement services on the island can take ages to arrive by post. If you’re on vacation, wasting days chasing a card isn’t worth it, so just cancel and move on.

I lost my card at a Crédit Agricole ATM in Pointe-à-Pitre. Went inside and the staff were professional - they opened the machine the next morning and returned it without much hassle once I showed my passport. So yes, local banks can help in Guadeloupe. The key is to be there early and polite. Don’t expect it immediately if it’s late in the day. In the meantime, most shops, restaurants, and hotels accept cards here, so you won’t be stranded as badly as in mainland Africa.