maestro

Can you use Maestro/ cirrus cards in ATMs in Sri Lanka?

maestro

Hi,

Yes you can. Just look at which banks display the logo.

Rod.

maestro

make sure your bank knows about your trip as they can block the card.

Thanks both, a great help, cheers.

Becky

To overcome any difficulty in having your CREDIT card company put a stop on your withdrawing funds I would suggest opening a DEBIT card Account with the Nationwide Building Society in the UK. You can use it at ATMs as you would a Credit card. The downside is that you have to have funds already in the Account but the upside is that they probably offer you the best exchange rate available. You don%26#39;t need to tell them that you have gone abroad as, of course, you are simply drawing out your own money.

John

Thanks John, good suggestion.

Becky

Still small correction to John:

Cases HAVE been reported about European/UK banks blocking DEBIT cards after withdrawals from Sri Lanka. Basically correct procedure as far as the banks concerned: waves of %26#39;skimming%26#39; attacks have happened at POS and ATM places here in the West after which the money is withdrawn (using a copy of the card produced using the skimmed data) in a poor and relativelty lawless country like East Europe or Lanka. And to overcome this, with some banks it%26#39;s better to tell them that you go to Lanka and withdrawals there should be treated as legitimate. Otherwise they block-by-default basically to protect the customer against skimming.

All the best,

%26lt;Erik%26gt; %26amp; [Sandya]

Hi,

I%26#39;ve also heard of a couple of cases where debit cards have been blocked because the banks computer system has recognised the withdrawals as an unusal spending pattern and automatically blocked the card to protect the customer.

Far better to just notify the bank in advance. I always do.

I do agree about the Nationwide.

I use a Nationwide debit card and on returning to the UK, have checked my account and always found that I%26#39;ve been given top exchange rate through the trip. Thats also with no commision or different buy and sell rates.

Rod.

I%26#39;ve just called my credit card and debit card companies to tell them I%26#39;m going to Sri Lanka.

Not that I%26#39;m going to use my cards over there, I just wanted to rub it in!!

Not really, they thanked me for calling as they both said that the spending in Sri lanka would be ';flagged'; as unusual spending activity and they could well have blocked my card.

It%26#39;s better to be safe than sorry!!

Hi

Temporarily HNB and Commercial Bank (and maybe other banks) do not accept VISA cards.

Hans

HI Hans,

I%26#39;m due to visit in a couple of weeks and usually rely entirely on ATM,s. Usually usng a Visa debit card.

Can you give me any more information on the situation with Visa cards and the ATM,s. As in, the reason for the banks not accepting Visa and as you said, it%26#39;s a temporary situation, do you know, how temporary?.

I%26#39;ve searched the net but nothing I can find on there to enlighten me,

Rod.