Forum Panama

Hi,
I'd like to highlight one problem I encountered on my travelling through Panama some 2 months ago. I just have one debit card , standard Maestro (Europe). In Costa Rica I could withdraw money, though one third of the banks would actually reject my card. But this time in Panama I found myself unable to withdraw cash from any ATM in the whole country, but two : one at Colon's shopping centre "4Altos" (the first ATM I tried in Panama), and then "Credomatic" in Panama City, located between Via España and the "Calle50" bus stop.
Before finding that ATM in Panama City I tried to withdraw from around 70 ATM throughout Chiriqui province, as well as in David, and then in Panama City from all the bank entities I came across (including European banks such as BBVA or HSBC).
As I told my problem around it turned out I was far from being the only one : people from France, Germany, Argentina, the US, travelling with Maestro, Mastercard debit, Visa Electron, etc. had experienced similar problems, while I also met people travelling with a Maestro debit card, just like mine, who did not.
I got the confirmation that the problem was linked to the national ATM network, named Sistema Clave, as the ATM in Panama City was the only one out of the Sistema Clave network. And that such problems arise with cards issued by smaller banks, such is mine (small Belgian bank).
Hope this post helps some travellers desperately looking for.
Enjoy your travel.
Francesco