Why is a Bali ATM declining my foreign card and how to fix it?

From messages by 3 participants in 1 source · Last activity: 53 days ago

TL;DR

Common causes are an unactivated card (insert it into an ATM and check balance before first use abroad) or wrong PIN format — many Southeast Asian ATMs use 6-digit PINs, so add 00 before your usual 4-digit code.

What the community said

A traveler reported that airport ATMs in Bali declined cash withdrawal on a card from a Central Asian bank (BAKAI), while having no cash on hand at all.

Bali airport (DPS)

Another traveler with a card from the same bank explained that before the first trip abroad the card must be activated by inserting it into any ATM and checking the balance — after that, withdrawals abroad, including in Bali, work without issues.

Card activation via balance inquiry

Another tip: in many Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia, ATM PINs are entered as 6 digits, so travelers should add two leading zeros to their usual 4-digit PIN — otherwise the ATM will decline the transaction.

6-digit PIN format (add 00 in front)