ATM Card Usage - mainly in Boquete - Panama forum

ATM Card Usage - mainly in Boquete

kathleentitus Member

Member since 04 January 2022

kathleentitusMember02 May 2023 19:44:58

Oops! I wouldn't want to come to Panama next week and not have any money!

I don't use ATM cards and simply sent away for two debit cards (a MasterCard and a Visa). I thought I was all ready for my trip to Panama, but I just read the fine print in a travel guide: "an ATM card in Panama must have cirrus and plus symbols on it".....Well, I looked at my cards and, oh-oh, my cards do not have these symbols......

Is this out-of-date travel advice? My bank told me they would have thought I needed to have a MasterCard or a Visa ATM or debit card.

So, the question is - do Panamian ATM machines currently work with ATM or debit cards that do not have cirrus or plus symbols - that are Mastercard or Visa? I don't know how much difference it makes, but I will be mainly in Boquete.

Thanks for your advice!

罢别补肠丑别谤肠谤眉别 Member

Member since 02 October 2020

罢别补肠丑别谤肠谤眉别Member03 May 2023 05:45:03

@kathleentitus I found out the hard way that any card must have a computer-type CHIP in it. Also, no one accepts PayPal, banks are no help at all. And with a US bank card, having the ATM is your only means to acquire cash, but you are limited to $500 per day. The kicker is that you must perform two separate transactions at a service rate of $6.50 per transaction. And all the banks are connected and know when you have taken your per diem quantity. Now, I am in the city, but I doubt that it is not an issue throughout the country.

kristc99 Serial expat

Member since 09 December 2012

kristc99Serial expat03 May 2023 15:30:39

881

I had to look up what a cirrus symbol even is. I have standard VISA credit cards with chips and they are fine in the ATM, and have no plus signs or cirrus symbols. You can use your credit card in supermarkets and other big stores and restaurants. We use cash mainly for the fruit stand and smaller purchases like that. Charles Schwab refunds your ATM fees, but you have to have a US address and not look like you are living outside the country (not allowed with investment firms)聽 Depending on how long you will be here and what you plan to do, you might be ok just bringing enough cash to cover your time here.

kathleentitus Member

Member since 04 January 2022

kathleentitusMember06 May 2023 11:49:29

@kristc99 Hola, I appreciated your reply! I have an American Express Gold card and have been told it should work in most ATM machines.....If you can confirm that, it would be great to have that reassurance! Mil gracias!