Couldn’t withdraw money from ATMs in Egypt with Wise card. Anybody has the same experience?

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How to Resolve ATM Withdrawal Issues with Wise in Egypt: A Practical Experience

Summary:
A traveler shared a common issue: Wise card payments at restaurants worked smoothly, but ATM withdrawals failed. The post sought solutions from the community and offered a real-world update later.

Original experience:
– The user reported that Wise card payments at restaurants functioned well in Egypt.
– ATM withdrawals with the same card consistently failed.
– They asked if others had encountered the same problem and sought guidance on how to resolve it.

Helpful update:
– Activation step discovered: The card needs to be activated first with a Chip and PIN purchase (not by contactless tapping).
– After performing a Chip and PIN transaction to activate, the card started working for ATM withdrawals.

Practical takeaway:
– If you’re using Wise in Egypt (or similar contexts) and ATM withdrawals are not working, try activating your card with a Chip and PIN purchase before attempting cash advances. Contactless tap activation may not trigger the necessary setup for ATM usage.

Notes:
– Always ensure you have a working PIN set up and know the local ATM requirements.
– When traveling, keep your Wise app up to date and verify card status and activation steps in the app’s security or card management sections.