Why do ATMs and shops in Martinique just keep declining my wise card. It worked fine in other countries
I was expecting no issues since it’s technically France, but Martinique is weirdly picky. Couldn’t use my Wise card at Societe Generale or Banque Populaire ATMs, and the POS terminals in Trois-Îlets cafes wouldn’t accept it either. Staff just said, ‘only local or French cards.’ Luckily, I had some euros left over from Paris-used that the rest of the trip. If you’re going, bring physical EUR or a backup card from a major bank.
Had a bit of luck-my Wise Visa worked at a BNP Paribas ATM inside La Galleria Mall. I selected EUR, declined the conversion prompt, and used chip+PIN. It didn’t work for store payments though-tried it at a boutique in Schoelcher, and it was declined. So while it’s risky to rely on Wise for everyday spending here, you can withdraw cash if you find the right ATM.
Just came back from Le Diamant and had the same problem-Wise didn’t work at the ATM near Leader Price, and I couldn’t pay for a boat tour with it either. I asked around and was told that many card terminals are set up for CB (Carte Bancaire) and often reject international fintech cards. I ended up using my regular Visa from a traditional bank-that worked without any issues.
I was in Fort-de-France last month and couldn’t get my Wise Mastercard to work anywhere. Tried Banque Postale, Societe Generale, and an ATM at the Cruise Port terminal-all declined the card. Even some bigger shops like Carrefour Dillon wouldn’t accept it. Locals told me French overseas territories sometimes block certain foreign-issued or prepaid cards by default. I had to switch to cash from a currency exchange desk at the airport.
Ah, the old Wise card drama! Happened to me in Martinique too. I reached out to Wise's customer service right at the counter of Centre Commercial la Galleria, where I got declined. They confirmed some payment terminals might not support their cards due to regional network issues. I noticed that my friend’s Chase Sapphire Preferred had no such trouble even at remote stores. My takeaway? Always call your card company before trips and know which ATMs accept your card. Saves a lot of awkward encounters.
When I visited Martinique recently, I found my Wise card wasn't as accepted as I'd hoped, especially at smaller shops and markets in Sainte-Anne. It seems Wise has fewer connections with local financial networks there, which might be why it’s declined. I ended up using cash more than usual, withdrawing from Credit Agricole ATMs which accepted my card. It sure was a bit of a hassle running back and forth, but I’ve learned to keep some euros handy to avoid such stress.
My partner and I traveled to Martinique last month and encountered the same problem. We usually rely heavily on our Wise cards for currency exchange and ease of use, but in Martinique, local banks like Banque Caribeenne and BRED seemed a bit finicky with Wise transactions. Luckily, we packed our trusty American Express Gold Card, which came through without a hitch. Wise's multi-currency feature usually gives us peace of mind, but in places like these, a backup's a good call.
I faced the same issue in Martinique with my Wise card. It was surprising because I'd been using it without a hitch all across Europe. At JWATM in Fort-de-France, it kept declining, which was frustrating. After digging a bit, I found out some ATMs aren't connected to the network Wise uses. I ended up using my HSBC Premier card instead, which worked flawlessly every time. One bit of advice - carry a backup card to avoid this hassle. It saved our trip a couple of times!