USE OF UK VISA CARDS AT ATM's IN MYANMAR ? OR PRE PAID TRAVEL CARDS

Visiting Myanmar in 3 weeks. Staying for nearly a month. Need urgent advice.
Contacted 6 UK banks on use of Visa debit or credit cards, plus one one for MasterCard.
Lloyds Group say no, sanctioned country (sanctioned by UK Financial Conduct Authority). Other banks say no/ don't know/ unadvisable.
Phoned VISA in US who said should be able to use and then transferred me to Nat West in UK who said yes but Nat West web site says no.
Cant get a clear consistent answer from anyone. Most bank workers consulted specialist department but still no clear answers.
Other countries seem to be able to use ATM's. Why British banks so confused?
Any answers?

Are UK issued pre paid travel cards an alternative that works? Any practical experience? Any particular ones preferable?

The travel cards are still locked to a banking netwoork- visa or MasterCard. Do a search hereabout accessing ATMs in Myanmar. You'll probably get more reliable advise from travellers than banks which don't recognize a non tradeable currency.

not sure if a pre-paid travel card would work there as doubtful if you can load Kyat into it...??
No good phoning Visa, as it is YOUR bank that might block their cards from use in Myanmar. Problem is many counter staff wouldn't really know the full story (some may even ask you where 'Myanmar' is), best if you can phone and talk to your banks specialist CC section yourself...

100% sure no one well get a travel card with kyatt loaded on it. Not even recognized in neighbouring countries.

I took $ and changed them to kyat on arrival. Barclays confirmed their cards would work in Myanmar but I never needed to use them. Try posting on tripadvisor-many Brits lurk/post there...
SS

I took some dollars but also used my Halifax Clarity Credit card over there also. might be worth popping into your local halifax branch and having a chat with them about getting a card. the card is really good also because it doesn't charge you to withdraw cash and if you have access to internet banking and transfer the money within a few days you hardly pay interest on it. i travelled for a month and think i was charge an extra £3 or something. you also get the best exchange rate compare to if you were going to change GB pounds into dollars then into Kyat.

agree....assuming UK banks/cards would be similar to oz...the comparison of using your currency to first buy $US, and loose in the process, to then change into Kyat once there, vs. fees for using cards in ATMs to withdraw Kyat...for me even with my banks fees for my card plus Myanmar bank ATM fee, it works out quite similar to changing oz-us-Kyat...
The only issue is making sure your banks card works there (and advise them you are travelling o/s and where you will be using your card....which you should no when going anywhere o/s..)

I'm from the UK and I used my HSBC visa debit card at an ATM in Loikaw today with no problem.

I asked HSBC in the UK before leaving. After keeping me on hold for ages (which made me confident they were trying to find the right answer!) they told me Myanmar is still on a sanctioned list but that this applies to things like transfers, and that using a card to withdraw cash should be fine.

I was with Lloyds and Halifax and when I rung to let them know I was travelling there, they could not find Myanmar/Burma on their country list so advised me my cards were likely not to work. Ended up taking USD in budgeted $50 a day but spent a lot less and it wasn't too much of a hassle.

Barclays worked 3 weeks ago, so did Nationwide, until, apparently one of the machines tried to read the magnetic strip rather than the chip and pin. Then Nationwide stopped the card. Take more than one card and some dollars. Amusing to hear Lloyds talking about sanctions when all the British banks are up to their necks inmoney laundering.

Grateful thanks to everyone. Great to hear of first hand experience.
UK foreign and commonwealth site confirms not a sanctioned country. Down to individual banks.
Interesting - responses above say successfully used Halifax card (part of Lloyds who after a long wait said definitely no) and Nationwide (who said no). Appears even specialist bank departments don't know their own policies. Most appear terminally confused.
Nat West was a clear yes (but I will take second card).
Of course Western Union can be a fall back.

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