Banking

SingSling says on May 4, 2006, 19:47:

Same all over the world Sounds similar to the process I had to go through when I first came to the USA, in any country you would need a copy of your passport and various reference checks these days due to the 'war on terror' and money laundering regulations. I have just been rejected by Citibank here in the USA for not having a long enough credit record at my address, it even took me two attempts to get a Victoria's Secret card!!

And yes I have a US visa and many other credit cards.

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Crazy4Cali says on May 4, 2006, 19:52:

whatever happened to the good ol' days whey you could just walk into a bank with a grocery bag full of cash and they would be happy to have your account.

Gee whiz.

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SingSling says on May 4, 2006, 20:00:

Bank of SingSling Would be happy to take your money...

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Crazy4Cali says on May 4, 2006, 20:17:

That's the spirit!

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tomtom33 says on May 5, 2006, 05:37:

Sing I'll admit that I haven't opened a bank account in maybe three years. The last one I opened was in the US. They asked to see a photo ID. I didn't have to give them a copy of anything. I gave them my social security number and some cash. The account was opened in 10 minutes, and I walked out with a number of starter checks.

I have never had any credit check run to open any bank account in the US. A credit card, of course, is different.

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dwmte says on May 5, 2006, 06:44:

eighteen years ago... when i was manufacturing in colombia (antioquia), it took me nearly six months to get an account. then it was BIC now it's bancolombia.

i was the only foreigner--at least visibly--living in poblado at the time and everyone knew me. they knew i had money, just by where and how i lived, not to mention with whom i hung out with and partied with.

their reason for not giving me an account was because they thought i was a dope trafficker... hmmmm. what else would a gringo with a lot of money be doing in medellin?

finally i confronted the manager at oviedo bancolombia and said if you don't give me an account it's not gonna be because you think i'm a dope dealer. i explained that i employed about 60-70 people and went through 20,000 to 40,000 a month--they knew that as i transferred money all the time. finally the mgr came to my bodega and relented....

an interesting note. there was a time when money could only be transferred through banco de la republic. at their main branch downtown behind the botero sculpture. just imagine getting 20 to $40,000.00 u.s. dollars in colombian pesos (then the rate was 450 col pesos per dollar) in paper grocery bags. it was one scarry trip everytime. i'd get to the door and because of the big plaza out front i'd wait til i could see an empty taxi come around the corner and then run like hell and hope i got in. remember, even a bank guard would lose his job to rip me off for that kind of money. really fricken scarry.

nothing in all my interesting experiences in colombia...having lunch with a family of sicarios, being out in south eastern antioquia, nothing iced my s... more than that. i mean really scarry. it would take me an hour before my heart stopped racing. i was even scarred of the damn taxi drivers. two or three big grocery bags full of cash! and everyone thought that anyone with that much cash...especially a foreigner...had to be a trafficker.

so much for memories,

dw

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michaelz says on May 5, 2006, 07:13:

new accounts Getting a credit card is one thing. Opening a bank account is another.

When mi novia was visiting me in the states last year, she opened a Wachovia checking account in 5 minutes. She showed a picture ID from Colombia, and a US Social Security Card (not for employment purposes) That is all the bank required.

She got her debit card in 10 days and is still using it.

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juanalejo says on May 5, 2006, 07:41:

Accounts It happened to me in the UK, it took me 6 months with letters from all my banks in Colombia, and letters from my company (British) to open an account where I could deposit the travel allowances and not have to carry cash or loose money in exchanging it all the time.

In Colombia go for savings accounts, they usually give no hazzle, just your debit card. I know in Davivienda you walk in make a deposit and walk our with the debit card (as long as you have a legal status in Colombia). In checking it is a little more difficult because they usually include the checking book and an over draft, that is why they check you more in depth.

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caslug says on May 5, 2006, 13:55:

BofA in the US now.. allows non-resident to open a checking acc't with FOREIGN ID(at least Mexican ID). opening bank acc't in the US is a breeze compare to COL(or many countries). I understand that COL has lots of regulation because of trafficing, and the gov't/bank instituion don't want to make it easy to launder money.

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Tom says on May 5, 2006, 14:17:

don't understand hey guys I don't understand why you have all problems in opening an account in Colombia,
when I open my account about 3 years ago, I only showed my Cedula and received within 20min my Debit Card ( Conavi ),
4 month ago I open another account in Granahorra, deposit 500.000 peso signed some forms, received with the account a credit limit of cop 4.000.000,00 and the Debit Card in 30min, last month I went to the Bank filled a form and received after 10 days my Master and Visa Card with a pretty high credit limit !!

hasta la vista

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tomtom33 says on Jun 21, 2006, 05:25:

Exito I just got the word that Conavi will open an account for me. Of course I am now in the US for 4 months, and I have to appear in person(for the 4th time) to actually open the account now that I have been approved. They will hold the paperwork until October when I return.

When I went to work for the US Department of Labor in 1974, my background check took a lot less time than this.

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robi666 says on Jun 21, 2006, 07:24:

Tomtom, I bet that they will ask a new letter from the accountant... the one that you provided will be too old!

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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tomtom33 says on Jun 21, 2006, 11:02:

I think you are right. Maybe I can get a discount on the next letter. I think I paid 50K for the last one.

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