Bancolombia

msaucey says on Jan 3, 2008, 16:52:

You already have your cedula and they wont grant you a bank account?... That doesn't sound right...

I think you need to keep going back until they say yes, today you can open an account....

Try Banco Santander.... They're pretty good...

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

tomtom33 says on Jan 3, 2008, 17:00:

I had a cedula and was turned down by Bancolombia 3 times over 2 years.

I finally got an account with BBVA. They charge 7200 pesos per month. I am in the process of buying a house, and it seems that the wire transfer will go smoothly. But of course I realize that I am in Colombia.

mranderson says on Jan 3, 2008, 19:16:

Yea msaucy, you have to be a native colombian to have an account with bancolombia. Well that's what they told me. I can't even get a joint account with my native wife.

That's another thing I'm worried about is a wire transfer. I may want to buy a house soon too. I think I'm going to start an account with davividienda. According to them it's simple. I figure I'll try it out for about 6 months and maybe build up a couple milliion to see how it goes.

rocinante says on Jan 3, 2008, 21:00:

One in 3 banks said "yes"?

I'd go with that one.

Too bad you left the bank without the account because tomorrow Davivienda might change thier minds.

I opened an account at Bancolombia and at the time I was only in the country for 11 weeks. You never know what response you're going to get.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

manINred says on Jan 4, 2008, 00:57:

Go with Daviviienda. I use the ATMs which are the best in Colombia. They seem to be no problem. Bancolombia is a dreadful, amateurish bank.

tomtom33 says on Jan 4, 2008, 01:27:

Everything depends upon chance. No one knows the real answers, if in fact there are any real answers.

Bancolombia never told me that you needed to be a native Colombian. The last time they told me that you needed to be a permanent resident(i.e. a resident VISA). Of course I got a different story each time.

dwr says on Jan 4, 2008, 04:10:

Get the Davivienda and then push for their portfolio account. Great bank.

b bruce says on Jan 5, 2008, 00:59:

Bancolombia has a branch office in Miami. Perhaps you could have someone open an account on this end for you. Also Bancopopular (Ibelieve that is how you say it) advertises here in the Miami and Ft Lauderdale areas. I can't imagine they would say no to someone on this side of the big pond!

Tinto (Moderator) says on Jan 5, 2008, 06:58:

ManInRed, Bancolombia might provide a terrible experience for foreigners but they are doing a lot of other things right. Their share price went from $2 USD to $36 USD from 2002 to 2007, they're the largest bank in Colombia, they've won a couple of "most admired" awards for banks in Latin America, and in October, Fortune Magazine dubbed them the No. 2 company in Latin America for building good leaders.

In years past a really big part of their business was simply buying Colombian government debt. It doesn't get any easier than that - take in low cost deposits and invest them in higher yielding government bonds. Maybe their customer service stinks now that they're moving into more consumer lines of business. I don't know because I've sold most of my stock and don't follow them closely anymore.

I do have an opinion on their new logo: I think it sucks and it's a blatant rip off of the Bank of America logo. I much preferred the old logo with muted colors and a design reminiscent of pre-Colombian culture.

BBruce - I checked a few years ago when the Miami office opened. At the time, it was considered an "agency" office (that word means something under Federal Reserve banking regulations). I was told they could not accept deposits from U.S. citizens; they were in business to facilitate foreign trade and to work with Colombian citizens only. Things may have changed... I checked three or four years ago.

tomtom33 says on Jan 5, 2008, 08:52:

Bancolombia also provides horrid service to Colombians. The 8 or 9 million pesos stolen from my novia's account has yet to be repaid after more than 2 months. The only thing they have told her is that it may take up to 6 months. This may be doing things right according to Colombian standards. No se.

No one that I know has ever had any money stolen from any of their US accounts.

Tinto (Moderator) says on Jan 5, 2008, 09:02:

That IS terrible TomTom. Obviously, bank errors get made in the US but once found and acknowledged they are rapidly corrected. Six months is nuts. That borders on theft.

pedro says on Jan 5, 2008, 11:57:

My experience with HSBC has been OK so far. I had very low expectations.

I've not heard a favourable comment about Bancolombia service, ever.

You should aim to build a relationship with the branch manager or someone senior. Use any pretext you can to talk with them while opening the account. Make sure they remember you, it will probably come in handy later on.

¡save pow wow!

vicshere says on Jan 5, 2008, 13:55:

good advice pedro...I to am with HSBC and have no problems...but its also good I am very good relations with a good 5 tellers, an international exchange manager and the assistant manager.....a couple of years ago my wife and I got invited by a teller to an investment party which there where 5 tellers at the meeting...well it turned out it was a common pyramid scheme unknown to all of them..... the tellers where eager to get into it.... a few words from me on pyramid scheme business and the down falls.....lets say they are still thanking me when I go into the bank which is rare

listo

webmanco says on Jan 13, 2008, 05:49:

Last year Bancolombia took over Conavi, and Davivienda took over BanCafe

But, I'm going to start making some assumptions here.... Which means I might actually end up making an ass out of myself ..........Thu 04 17, 2008 11:34 am

tomtom33 says on Jan 13, 2008, 05:58:

True enough, Web. However, my Plus network ATM card works at BanCafe and does not work at Davivienda. And the signage has not been changed in my area of Medellín.

gringoloid says on Jan 13, 2008, 08:47:

does anybody know why my usa based debit card won't work at Davivienda or Bancocolombia?

tomtom33 says on Jan 13, 2008, 09:19:

For whatever reason, your card's network is not serviced by Davivienda or Bancolombia.

Tinto (Moderator) says on Jan 13, 2008, 09:37:

The government's on to you, Gringoloid. This week the bank card, next week the cell phone, the week after that you'll probably be impotent.

manINred says on Jan 13, 2008, 10:34:

"ManInRed, Bancolombia might provide a terrible experience for foreigners but they are doing a lot of other things right. Their share price went from $2 USD to $36 USD from 2002 to 2007, they're the largest bank in Colombia, they've won a couple of "most admired" awards for banks in Latin America, and in October, Fortune Magazine dubbed them the No. 2 company in Latin America for building good leaders."

So their stock gained? Not surprising, considering they fleece and steal money from their own customers. I have had only one slightly bad experience with this inept and terrible bank. My opinions of it stem from my many friends in Colombia who have been left in tears at the woeful and insulting customer service, the backwardsness and transparency of their stealing, and overall lack of effectiveness and usefulness as a trusted and secure bank. To my horror this has happened not only once, twice, but dozens of times.

A good bank by international standards, never. Even by Colombian standards it is a hell-hole.

mranderson says on Jan 13, 2008, 11:17:

Bancolombia has told me that foriegners cannot open an account there. But I guess many foriegners have bad stories about them so they must have accounts there. Perhaps it is bull that a foriegner cannot open an account at bancolombia.

gringoloid says on Jan 13, 2008, 12:02:

Tinto, you don't know how close you are to the truth there....

GregYohn says on Jan 28, 2008, 18:55:

Hola!

For me, I know when I see Bancolombia ATM's I can get 400,000 pesos at one time. I guess that is all I know about the bank!

12VOIP.com gives free calls to Colombia.Greg