Using bank cards overseas

If you’re planning to travel to Lebanon, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo, here’s a breakdown of what to watch out for when using cards,
such as a normal bank card, a Revolut, or a standard Visa/MasterCard. Here we cover each country and then some general tips.

General good practice before you go

• Notify us here in ANSAC and any other bank/card issuers you use, that you’ll be travelling; otherwise your card may get blocked.
• Carry more than one card: maybe a debit + a credit one, or cards from different issuers/brands, so you’re not stranded if one fails.
• Carry some local cash (or major currency) in addition to cards—especially for smaller shops, markets or places that don’t accept cards.
• At ATMs, prefer ones inside banks or well-lit, busy locations, and check for tampering.
• Always check for foreign transaction fees, dynamic currency conversion (merchant offering to charge you in your home currency rather
than local) and withdrawal fees.
• Make sure your cards are accepted internationally (Visa/MasterCard usually are).

Lebanon

What you need to know:
• Cards (Visa, MasterCard) are accepted in many hotels, big restaurants, malls in cities like Beirut.
• However: many smaller shops, markets, local eateries, taxis don’t reliably accept cards. Cash is still very much required.
• There is a tricky issue with the exchange rate: many card payments may be processed at the “official” rate (which is very unfavourable)
rather than the “market” rate, which means you could end up paying far more.
• ATMs are present in cities but not always reliable outside major areas; some cards may be blocked or incur high fees.
• On using Revolut specifically: According to one guide, “Revolut does not offer cards in Lebanon” meaning your Revolut card may not
work or may have issues.

Our advice for Lebanon:
• Bring enough cash (USD or euros) which you can exchange locally; have smaller bills ready.
• Use your card only for larger transactions (hotel, big restaurant) and confirm what currency the merchant will charge in (USD, LBP, etc).
• Use ATMs inside banks, check fees and exchange rate.
• Avoid relying solely on your card for day-to-day spending in Lebanon.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

What you need to know:
• In major towns/cities (Sarajevo, tourist zones) cards (Visa/MasterCard) are accepted at hotels, larger shops, restaurants.
• However, outside urban areas, in smaller towns/rural zones, card acceptance drops and cash becomes much more important.
• The local currency is the Bosnian Convertible Mark (BAM) and you may find that businesses prefer local currency.
• ATMs are available, but you should locate them ahead if heading off the beaten path.
Our advice for Bosnia:
• In cities: feel more confident using your card but still check for fees and exchange rate.
• For rural/less-touristy areas: carry cash in BAM (or euro where accepted) because card acceptance may be unreliable.
• Consider withdrawing cash from ATMs in cities before venturing into remote areas.

Kosovo

What you need to know:
• Card usage (debit/credit) is increasing: the local banks say cards are essential for travel and online.
• ATMs are widely available in cities, they accept Visa/MasterCard/Plus/Cirrus etc.
• Many businesses accept cards in cities such as Pristina or Prizren; but smaller vendors/rural areas may still prefer cash.
• The official currency in Kosovo is the euro (€).
Our advice for Kosovo:
• Your card should work fairly reliably in major urban areas for both ATMs and payments.
• Still carry some euro-cash (small denominations) for smaller purchases, rural areas, transport.
• Use bank-branch ATMs where possible, check for fees, and keep your ATM receipt.

Summary table of card vs cash usage