Niamey - Post Report Question and Answers
Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Credit cards are not widely accepted but some of the larger grocery stores take them. It's a cash economy. - Aug 2022
Almost nowhere accepts a credit card. There were two working ATMs in the city, but we were advised not to use them. There was an ATM in the Embassy that was fine to use, and most American employees did so. Be prepared to carry cash at all times. Be warned that smaller vendors may not be able to break the large notes you get from the ATM or cashier. - Apr 2020
No, this is a cash economy. Find a reputable bank ATM and you should be fine. Embassy offers cashier services to Embassy employees. - Jul 2019
We never used our credit cards here. There is one ATM at the embassy that is safe to use. Be prepared to bring a lot of checks and withdraw money from the embassy cashier. - Oct 2017
One or two of the hotels take them. ATMs are almost non-existent, and don't always work. Leave your plastic at home. - Oct 2017
It is a cash only country; cards only used at hotels for rooms; bring them so you have something besides Chuck E Cheese looking Nigerien coins when you travel out of the country. There are a few ATMs around town but they are not working with all banks; usually someone must have a local bank and its associated card for an ATM/debit card to work. - Aug 2015
CASH. Only cash. There are only 2-3 ATMs in the city. Everyone uses cash, nobody uses credit or debit cards. - Jul 2013
