Why do ATMs and shops in Guyana just keep declining my wise card. It worked fine in other countries
Wise completely failed me in Guyana-not just at ATMs, but also when trying to pay at a hotel and a few restaurants around Regent Street. The banks seem to treat Wise like a prepaid card, and most terminals don’t support it. A fellow traveler at my hostel suggested transferring to a local via Western Union or MoneyGram using Wise-that ended up working. Honestly, if you’re coming here, bring cash or a backup card tied to a major bank.
Had a bit more luck-my Wise card worked at the Scotiabank ATM near Stabroek Market in Georgetown. I selected USD, declined currency conversion, and used chip+PIN. The transaction went through, but none of the shops I visited accepted it. Even chain stores like Nigel’s Supermarket refused it. So while you can get cash from some ATMs, you’ll still need to carry cash for daily spending. Always good to try multiple banks if the first one fails.
I was in Lethem on the Brazil border and couldn’t use my Wise Visa anywhere-ATMs didn’t even recognize the chip. When I tried at a fuel station and supermarket, the POS machine just said ‘declined’ without explanation. Locals told me it’s common-Guyanese banks haven’t really integrated well with international digital banks like Wise or Revolut. I had to cross over into Brazil to pull cash from my Wise balance there and re-enter with physical currency.
I just came back from Georgetown, and no luck with my Wise Mastercard. Tried Republic Bank, GBTI, and Bank of Baroda ATMs-all declined with either a timeout or ‘card not supported’ message. Even POS terminals at the Marriott and Giftland Mall refused it. A staff member at the hotel mentioned that many local machines only support domestic cards or legacy Visa systems. I ended up using USD cash everywhere. Wise worked fine for me in Suriname before-but not here.