Checks in Colombia

bhill says on Feb 22, 2007, 12:12:

Check... I really think travelers checks are the only kind she could ever hope to cash. If these are not American Express travelers checks she should probably ask her bank if the accept whatever flavor you mean to send.

If you are sending a lot of money, you may want to consider a bank wire instead.

-Brian

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Gator says on Feb 22, 2007, 14:22:

Follow Tio Brian's Advice NT

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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spigrimace says on Feb 23, 2007, 04:43:

Usually one cannot cash dollar denominated checks here in Colombia. I once even had a check in dollars gotten at Wachovia stateside but drawn on Bancolombia with the look and feel, logo and all of Bancolombia with whom Wachovia has a relaionship, so the check actually said Bancolombia and Wachovia simply had a Bancolombia account in their system where my money was deposited....and down in Colombia, Bancolombia wouldn´t even cash it while it was technically their check! oh well. There are places that will change AMEX travellers checks. Can´t help you where in Bucaramanga. Have someone go to the bank (it will probably take going to 6 banks, 15 phone calls and 3 different answers at every bank where winning rock, papers, scissors will finally get you to yes, but just accpet it and dont try to change it). Also I suggest having her try banks in an area that have an international business flavor. For example, here in Medellin the bank branches in Almacentro usually change AMEX travelers checks while other branches dont. In that mall there are a lot of airline offices, foreign exchange offices and international shipping (freight logistic and also FedEx type) offices. Better chance in a place like that than in a branch say outside the stadium in a residential neighborhood.

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JMCana says on Feb 23, 2007, 05:05:

Depends on objective If you want her to have a large amount of cash at one time then wire-transfers or Moneygram works well. If it is an amount of money that you just want her to be able to withdraw 300,000 to 500,000 pesos at a time, then keep the money in a bank in the USA and give her an ATM card.

Large amounts of cash at one time are not good. Bank tellers have been known to tell other individuals who has how much money and when they may be withdrawing it. Also remember that there is a fee/tax in Colombia for withdrawing money out of the bank.

By keeping the money in an American Bank you have some safety as well. If the ATM card gets lost or stolen, it will be much easier for you to take the money out of the account to keep thieves from getting to it.

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Lowell says on Feb 23, 2007, 06:15:

Checks Better to set up a debit card. Less fees ans much less hassel.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

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pedro says on Feb 23, 2007, 06:33:

Servientrega is a good way to wire money within Colombia.

If it was me, I would do a bank transfer in the US to your travelling sister-in-law (for the equivalent US dollar amount). Or write her a US dollar cheque, for that matter.

Then have your travelling sister-in-law give the money in pesos, either in cash or by Servientrega to the other sister-in-law.

que nota!

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adrienne79 says on Feb 23, 2007, 09:22:

Thanks. I spoke with her last night and I think we decided good ole cash would be our best bet. For somereason I thought she was not comfortable taking the cash but turns out it isn't that much so it should be fine.

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