I just got off the phone with my bank (Charles Schwab) and they told me that I will be unable to use my Schwab (or any American bank) ATM card in Syria, due to Syria being on a banker black list (I forget the exact name of the list). Has anyone from the States had experience with using ATMs in Syria? Any suggestions/tips?
If it turns out I cannot use my card, is my alternative to just bring a pile of cash? (I'm not too crazy about walking around with alot of $...)
Thanks
US ATM cards do work ..... but not at every bank .... the best are Bank Bemo Saudi Fransi which my card worked everytime and has a decent amount of branches, also the International Bank of Finance and Trade (in Damascus) works well too.
I have a TD Bank and Capital One ATM card ....(mostly used TD bank card .. no problems), just let them know you are traveling and will be using it there.
But, I'll also say, that carrying a lot of cash is not a problem in Syria ... very safe.
I definitely wouldn't rely on using ATMs even if the blacklist thing isn't true - there are relatively few that take foreign cards, and those that do might well be broken/out of cash. We carried cash with us, to be honest I can't imagine a safer country to do that in.
ATMS often out of order or out of cash,or long ques of people waiting to use the,
Carrying cash has never been a problem in Syria.Avoid too large denominations had to cash.
Best and most reliabe ATMS Band Bemo , Bank Audi and IBFT
100USD is fine to exchange, definitely (as in all such places, make sure it's undamaged/not written on).
carry cash get a money belt or ankle wallet you'll be fine I glad people start to realize oh no my card won't work.
We just returned from Syria mid-August and I too, was worried about the cash/ATM availability. I have a credit union issued debit Mastercard, AmEx and American Bank Visa and was able to find ATMs fairly easily. As stated with the other responses, Bank Audi seems to be in many towns and works well. Maybe your bank will flag the purchases from Syria as invalid? I contacted all of mine before leaving and never was denied, even with the American Express. I just wanted to relay my experiences, because although I never felt unsafe, carrying alot of cash makes me uncomfortable. Worst case scenario, find a large chain western hotel and use their ATM, VERY American friendly: Sheraton in Aleppo, Cham Palace in Damascus...
I'm in damascus now, and I had problems using my ATM cards (CapitalOne and Citibank) in Syria. Basically, the only bank that seems to work is Bank Audi. This wasnt a problem in Damascus (finding Bank Audi), but I came in through Aleppo, and there, working ATMs are much scarcer on the ground. Luckily I found one near the train station. None of the ATMs "featured" in LP work for US card holders -- go to Bank Audi.