Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Honiara ATMs

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Solomon Islands

Can anyone tell me what is the maximum amount you can take out from an ATM in Honiara at any one time,or maximum amount allowed per day? We arrive Honiara one day and fly out to Rennell the next for a few days,and I am afraid we wont have enough cash to see us through if maximum allowed is only,say,2000 Sol dollars every day.If that is the case,would you suggest coming with some travellers cheques and cash them all in when we arrive? I am assuming there is no bank or ATM on Rennell.Any help or advice appreciated...

The maximum you can get in one transaction is $2000, for physical reasons (they had to bring out $100 notes to accommodate ATM transactions). The ATM machines can't handle more at a time.
However, I think the daily limit is governed by your bank at home, and there are ATMs belonging to 2 or 3 banks near each other. I have done 2 $2000 withdrawals consecutively at the same machine.
The other option would be to go to one of the bank counters and get a cash advance (I got enough to pay for a second-hand car from my Australian Visa debit card that way when I was living there, but I had to arrange with my bank to be allowed to withdraw that much).

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Thanks for your help ozzie giraffe.Much appreciated...

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Hi Ozzie rules,

Wow! great to hear you are visiting Rennell, the airstrip has just recently opened so you wont have to get off Bellona which is my home to go to Rennell.

The ANZ ATM's have increased their limit of the amount to withdraw is now SBD$8,000. This means you can have cash up to that amount from an ANZ ATM- . Oh yea with Rennell you have to have lots of cash especially there is no bank there. The local banks close at 3:00 pm( Bank South Pacific ) however, ANZ and Westpac Bank close at 4:00 p.m.

if you are travelling to Rennell, it is advisable to check in early at the airport and be prepared if the locals will ask you to hand carry plastics for them . Are you going to Lake Tengano? It is a beautiful spot!! I am local from Bellona . Good news Telekom mobile phones coverage only at Tiggoa the head quarters... contact me for further questions ...

Just a tip- greet a local Rennellese with Gaoi! it will give them a smile and you will connect straight on...

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honiarahomestay - please check your PMs ... thank you :-)

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We used a Commonwealth travel money card and could do multiple transactions in one day one after the other to get more than $2000 Aus out. When we tried to do the same thing with our savings eftpos card we were limited to only $800 per day... Funnily enough it was the day we were heading to Rennel island.
I spent two weeks in January with my family at lake tegano in Rennel and had such an amazing time. I am glad to hear that you are going there. If you have any questions feel free to PM me.

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Friends of mine were told an Australian ANZ eftpos card would work but it didn't. You need a card marked Visa or Mastercard.

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