Lost my card to an ATM in Guyana

Happened to me in Linden at a Republic Bank ATM. The machine froze, ate my card, and just shut down. Locals told me it’s common. I reported it the same day, and two days later they returned it sealed in an envelope. Bit inconvenient, but it worked out. In the meantime, I survived on cash I’d exchanged earlier. I recommend withdrawing only at ATMs inside malls or branches during daytime hours. Georgetown locations like Giftland Mall are safer, and you’ll find staff nearby if something goes wrong.

If it was Republic Bank or GBTI, go straight into the branch with your passport. They will usually have a collection log and can return the card in a day or two. My wife’s Chase Visa was swallowed at a Republic Bank machine near Sheriff Street, and she got it back after 24 hours. If it’s urgent and you don’t want to wait, just block the card through your bank app. Guyana’s ATMs are notorious for running out of cash, so it’s always smart to carry extra bills.

In my case, I wasn’t lucky. A Demerara Bank ATM in Diamond swallowed my Mastercard, and when I asked the staff, they said all foreign cards are destroyed automatically for “security.” I ended up blocking it and switching to my backup Visa. So it really depends which bank ATM ate your card. Republic Bank and GBTI are usually cooperative, Demerara less so. Always good to carry some Guyanese dollars in cash. Don’t expect Western Union to be quick here either - the queues are massive.

My ScotiaBank debit card got trapped in a Republic Bank ATM in Georgetown, close to Stabroek Market. I went inside the branch immediately and the manager explained that ATMs are opened daily around 3 p.m. by a technician. They returned it to me the next afternoon after checking my passport and filling out a release form. So yes, local banks in Guyana do help, but you’ll have to wait at least a day. Meanwhile, shops and restaurants in Georgetown are mostly card-friendly, so you won’t be completely stuck.