One of the most common questions from first-time visitors and NGO workers heading to Sierra Leone: will my bank card work there? The honest answer is: sometimes — but don't rely on it.
ATMs in Freetown
Freetown has a reasonable number of ATMs, mainly operated by commercial banks:
- Rokel Commercial Bank — Visa and Mastercard accepted. Most reliable.
- Access Bank Sierra Leone — Visa/Mastercard. Available in Freetown city centre.
- Vista Bank — Multiple branches in Freetown. Visa accepted.
- SLCB (Sierra Leone Commercial Bank) — Accepts international Visa cards.
- Ecobank — Part of the pan-African network. Good for travellers.
ATMs at Lungi Airport
ATM availability at Lungi Airport is extremely limited and unreliable. Do not plan to withdraw cash at the airport. The best strategy is to arrive with physical USD and use SaloneKart's forex or cash advance service.
Withdrawal Limits
| Bank | Max per transaction | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Rokel Commercial Bank | NL 500,000 (~2) | NL 1,000,000 |
| Access Bank | NL 500,000 | NL 2,000,000 |
| Vista Bank | NL 500,000 | NL 1,000,000 |
These limits are low by international standards. A 00 withdrawal may require 4–6 separate ATM transactions and significant fees. For NGO workers and business travellers needing larger amounts, SaloneKart's cash advance is far more practical.
SaloneCash — Cash Against Your Card
SaloneKart's SaloneCash service processes Visa and Mastercard transactions and delivers Leones to your location. It is designed specifically for visitors who need physical cash without using ATMs.
- Process 0–,000 per transaction
- Delivery to your hotel, office or home
- Available in Lungi, Freetown, Bo and Kenema
- 4% service fee — significantly cheaper than multiple ATM fees
- Corporate invoices available for NGO expense claims
Can I Pay by Card in Shops and Restaurants?
Contactless and card payments are accepted at a small number of higher-end restaurants, hotels and supermarkets in Freetown (mainly Aberdeen and Wilkinson Road area). Outside of these areas, cash is required. Lungi is almost entirely cash-based.
Need Cash Against Your Card in Sierra Leone?
SaloneCash delivers Leones to your hotel or office in Lungi and Freetown. WhatsApp us your amount — we confirm within 10 minutes.
WhatsApp SaloneCashCash Advance Service →Revolut cards work at Visa/Mastercard ATMs in Freetown. The exchange rate is usually good but ATM availability is unreliable. Enable the card for West Africa before travelling.
Wise (formerly TransferWise) cards work at international ATMs. Same caveats apply — ATMs frequently run dry. Wise is excellent for transferring money to Sierra Leone bank accounts.
Limited. Some hotels and supermarkets accept contactless. Most restaurants, local shops and transport are cash only.