ATM's in Sosua, POP,

Are there reliable ATM's in Sosua and POP that take "Interac" bank cards. I have a CIBC bank card and I don't want to bring a Visa or MasterCard. What is the best company with most reliable ATM's???

Hey MaxxJaxx. There are several reliable machines in Sosua, and I am 99% sure that your card will work in them 50% of the time Even with our Dominican Bank accounts we sometimes have to hit 2-3 machines before one works or actually has money in it.

I highly recommend that you bring a credit card with you. In case of emergency or in the event that you hit a bad run where your card doesn't seem to work, you don't want to be stuck here with no backup plan.

Also, travellers cheques are a good plan as you get a better exchange rate for them than you will with cash.

my two cents. Good luck,
marc

I live in Sosua and use the ATM's at least a couple of times a week. I most often use the machine at Osaka Bank and have yet to have a problem. I prefer to use the machines at banks justin case there is a problem. They happen, as I learned traveling around Caribbean on my sailboat. But so far, fingers crossed, I have had no trouble at Osaka. Also, to be safe, I would recommend using the machines at the banks during hours that someone is available in the bank. If you use a card accepted by either Cirrus, or Plus, there will be no trouble finding a machine that accepts your card. Banco Popular issues a card to holders of savings accounts in that bank. They tell me that anywhere in the world you can draw money out of your account. I notice that it has the Cirrus and Mastercard logos on the reverse side.

I did have a problem about three years ago with my Scotiabank acess card. The machine didn't cough out the dough, or provide a receipt. however the debit went through my chequing account. Fortunately I kept a track and when I returned to Canada and saw the charge I complained to the bank. I did get my money back however it took a while. Personally I believe you are better to use a visa or m/c.

Beware of the machines at Banco del Progreso, at least the one in Sosua. It swallowed several cards. You can usually get them the next day, unless it's a Sunday. A few tourists where leaving the same night (Guess what) No card and no money to pay taxis etc.. Aso recently a friend of mine had the same problem Richard had. He has to wait untill he returns to Montreal in July 2002 to get it credited.

I've used them all in POP and a couple in Sosua - always worked fine!

Reading the responses, it is obvious that ATM machines in Sosua/POP are like ATMs everywhere: most work nearly all of the time. But there is always the possibility of having a problem.

That is why I recommend using your card during hours that someone is in the bank, and using only machines that are located at banks. I would not use a machine elsewhere because your chances of having trouble are greater. What do you do, who do you contact, if you don't get your money or your card? Always go to machines located at banks; I don't care what country you are in. And avoid if at all possible using machines during hours and times when the banks are closed.

I would definitely recommend using them during bank opening hours. I tried unsucessfully to get some cash out of an ATM at Playa Dorada Plaza. I went into the bank to report it and the cashier told me to go back out to the machine as he would make it work. I went back outside, there was resounding thump from inside the bank and I got my cash!