Citibank in Colombia is the worst

webmanco says on Aug 8, 2008, 19:08:

What city?, what branch?

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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IloveCidy says on Aug 8, 2008, 19:14:

In Cartagena. I wasted all morning there.

I miss my novia!

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Terry2 says on Aug 8, 2008, 19:30:

Same problem here with HSBC. It seems that their connection to any banks outside of Colombia is zilch! I have an ATM card and they just looked at it like it wasn't real.

Had to go the 1 million peso advance on my Mastercard. .... a few times......

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Gator says on Aug 8, 2008, 19:49:

Another reason to use the ATM's At times the bureaucracy of a Colombian bank rivals that of 18th century Tsarist Russia.

You would have gotten a somewhat lessor rate at a casa de cambio but the time saved would have been worth it. Just your passport (original please) would have been all you needed.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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RJQuilla says on Aug 8, 2008, 21:45:

Yep, it is such a big production with much wasted time. The ATM is so much easier with little hassle.

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Cartagena Hooker says on Aug 8, 2008, 22:17:

I have banked at that branch for four years and the manager Diana Lucia speaks perfect english. She attended university in Atlanta. Changing money at a bank in Colombia is a losing proposition.Colombian banks do not routinely change dollars and seldom escort patrons off the premises when they are not disruptive.

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miamimike says on Aug 9, 2008, 02:49:

One of the reasons Colombia will not Progress until simple banking matters such as this are simplified and made transparent. That was ridiculous,,,

On Sept 17, 2008: Senator John McCain said, as he had many times before, that he believed the fundamentals of the economy were "strong."Hours later he backpedaled, explaining that he had meant that American workers were Strong.

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sloopskipper says on Aug 9, 2008, 04:17:

The currency exchange question comes up regularly here, and the consensus always seems to be, don’t bring cash and expect to get it exchanged. Use an ATM card for painless exchange, and probably at better rates in Colombia or elsewhere.

But, some people disregard the advice and travel to Colombia with cash, and expect to buy pesos, and then complain when they can’t?

I survived quite nicely in Cartagena with an AmEx for Bancolombia ATMs, and Visa/MC as backup. I used secure ATMs inside the bank.

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sloopskipper says on Aug 9, 2008, 04:40:

Although this happened some years ago, these sorts of stories are not limited to Colombia.

We lived in Central Pennsylvania and when my in-laws made their first visit to the USA they brought American Express Traveler’s Checks (in $US).

My wife took her mother to our bank, which was the largest local bank. The teller asked Mam if she had an account, of course not.

ID? She produced her passport. Well this young girl had heard of passports, but had never seen one.

Driver’s license? She produced both Netherlands and International License. Teller wanted to know if she didn’t have a REAL driver’s license.

End of the story, my wife had to counter-sign every damned traveler’s check, which of course proved nothing.

Also, before the time of ATMs, we were once “trapped " in a bank in Paris when trying to cash a small traveler’s check for a light lunch, before leaving the city.

They searched my passport for my France entry stamp, which I didn’t have because we entered the country by train. The bank had two sets of locking doors and you couldn’t leave until they pushed the button, and our train back to Amsterdam was due to leave in less than an hour.

After what seemed an eternity, they gave me Francs and we were outa there.

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rocinante says on Aug 9, 2008, 06:25:

"One of the reasons Colombia will not Progress until simple banking matters such as this are simplified and made transparent. That was ridiculous,,," MiamiMike

You are so right on.

But Sloop if people take your advice, the advice given here for years and allow Colombia to maintain policies in "simple banking matters" there will never be a progression in Colombian banks.

We need to stop using no fee ATMs that give us instant cash and the best exchange rate and swim upstream into the banks with dollars, not heeding the sage advice given here for years in order to make a stand so Colombia will learn and progress.

Makes perfect sense to me.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Not that the US president actually runs the US." Feb 5, 2008

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sloopskipper says on Aug 9, 2008, 06:56:

I hear ya', roci, but I doubt that IloveCidy feels like he made any sort of contribution to the advance of civilized banking in the country.

That has to come from the industry. Hopefully there will sometime be a banker who realizes the benefit (competitive advantage) of offering good service, and he'll end up taking business away from the idiots. But, probably not in my lifetime.

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webmanco says on Aug 9, 2008, 07:00:

I do wired transfers from CitiBank, I had not have any trouble so far.

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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rocinante says on Aug 9, 2008, 07:07:

sloopy I was being totally sarcastic. There is nothing worng with banking system in Colombia. out of every 1000 baking customes 1 is a foreigner who wants poilicies changed to suit him?

I dislike foreigners in any country trying to change the country to be more like their own. When in Rome - deal with it - if not, GTFH.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Not that the US president actually runs the US." Feb 5, 2008

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sloopskipper says on Aug 9, 2008, 07:49:

I'm sure all the Colombians on here will agree that it is a wonderful system.

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tomtom33 says on Aug 9, 2008, 09:10:

There is nothing wrong with having money stolen from your accounts, and there is nothing wrong with having to wait for hours to see a teller.

Oh and there is nothing wrong with paying 7500 pesos per month to let the bank use your money.

I don't care if anything ever changes in Colombia. That doesn't mean that what exists is efficient or good for anything.

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webmanco says on Aug 9, 2008, 09:18:

Many Colombians do keep their money "under the mattress", bank only if necesary.

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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IloveCidy says on Aug 9, 2008, 09:29:

Nothing wrong with the Colombian banking system, are you kidding me. I have been to many different banks in Colombia and they are always zoos. The banks in Mexico are run so much better. I never had a problem there. What does that tell you.

I miss my novia!

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webmanco says on Aug 9, 2008, 09:36:

That there is something wrong in Mexico :-)

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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jonas says on Aug 9, 2008, 09:37:

But why insist on exchanging your greenbacks at your bank?
Did they offer you a better exchange rate than other places?

Mi alma se la dejo al diablo

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Gator says on Aug 9, 2008, 09:41:

Webmanco -same here we use Citibank International out of New York City with a lot of direct deposits.

Rocinante-I always fall back on what Dorothy said in the "Wizard of Oz,"Gee, Toto, I don't think we are in Kansas anymore."

In country we use Banco Davivienda y Bancolombia before that we dealt only with Conavi(remember the little stylized bee logo?) until Conavi merged with Bancolombia. Never have any real problems with the banks in Colombia. Of course, being a US Citizen, the bank should have made sure you went to the front of the line and how dare them close for lunch. Everyone in who lives Colombia knows the tellers ride their burros to the closest palm tree and take a two hour siesta. Gotta tip that sombrero over the eyes for shade.

I will say this, how would you be treated in you appeared in a bank in the USA, unknown of course, with say $900.000 pesos Colombian and "demanded" it be changed into US dollars

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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wcarmack says on Aug 9, 2008, 09:56:

Within a week of opening an account at the Banco Popular in Chipichapi someone repeatedly accessed the account through the phone for balance checks. (We had gone back to Canada for a few weeks.)

We had only deposited a very modest amount fortunately.

The bottom line: When the account was opened the "telephone banking" pin paper was not given to us. We suspect the bank officer who opened the account.

When we went into the bank to inquire about these charges we told we had made the inquiries so we were responsible for the charges.

The next day we returned with our lawyer and closed out the account.

Woody

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sloopskipper says on Aug 9, 2008, 10:11:

Woody, are you that one in a thousand (foreigners) who wants to change things, and expect the banks to be efficient, and EVEN honest too?

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droble77 says on Aug 9, 2008, 11:28:

Either way, you're going to "pay" but at least ATMs are less hassle.

A reminder of a tip I read here: If you have a Capital One card as has been mentioned on PBH in the past, you avoid some of the withdrawal fees.

There's absolutely no advantage in changing cash at the bank. The rate you're going to get is going to be WORSE than at the ATM so that likely more than neutralizes whatever intl. banking fees you were trying to avoid. Not to mention the time you waste on line. My vacations are not long ones so I'm not going to waste any time queuing up in the banks even if it did save me some pesos. . . which it DOESN'T !!

The fact is, there's a lot of counterfeit dollars out there in Colombia, and the banks just hate taking in dollars from extranjeros that will never show up again in their bank, especially as much of the funny money coming in to Colombia is from foreigners sneaking it in.

I'm amazed how PBHers quickly forget that this is a pais narcotraficante and sadly, that screws everyone over, even the good people. Only the richer and connected locals get to skirt the rules.

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gringoloid says on Aug 9, 2008, 11:38:

i've been paying this 7500 peso a month service charge on my account at Colmena.............does anyone know how to avoid this charge? buy a CD?.....keep a large balance?.....what can you do?

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viajero123 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 9, 2008, 11:57:

sloopskipper says on Aug 9, 2008, 13:26:

Is there a good reason to use a Colombian debit card instead of a U.S. credit card like Capital One (with awards), and to keep more than a minimal balance in a local bank to pay local bills?

Are the fees based on balance & # of transactions, inquiries, and ATM tranactions and/or some flat rate?

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tomtom33 says on Aug 9, 2008, 13:35:

There seem to be flat fees for almost everything. I have not had to pay a fee for going to the teller window and withdrawing cash - yet. At BBVA there is a fee for making a deposit, no kidding. There is a fee for using your ATM card. It is my guess that there would be a fee for paying any kind of bill.

If you can avoid using Colombian banks for anything, you will be better off.

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sloopskipper says on Aug 9, 2008, 13:46:

I can't use my Fidelity bill pay service outside the U.S. or I wouldn't even have a Panamanian Bank, and the only fees I pay are for receiving wires, seven bucks.

Sorry, I lied. I also pay $3.50 for fraud insurance, which we don't need in the U.S. I had considered dropping it as I rarely have more than a thousand in the account.

If I planned better I can deposit gringo checks but my new bank has a 2 week float. The old one was three.

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mcheasley says on Aug 9, 2008, 14:31:

I was shocked that a Colombian cannot open a bank account if they are not employed.. At least not at Bancolombia!!! Is this a Colomian rule or something???

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Lisa Zee says on Aug 9, 2008, 17:05:

mcheasley, When I was in Medellin last year, I wanted on open an account at a bank and they ask me where did I work and they say if you don`t have a job her in Medellin you can not open one! I was like, but I own property here, they say no!. But If I want to rally open one, I have one of my brothers call the bank. ( YOU NEED ROSCA!) The banks want to know where the money come from, I guess because of mafia problems?

The best way to get money from Citibank is getting it from an ATM. I went to the one in Blockbusters in Poblado, no problem at all!

Feliz Navidad!

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droble77 says on Aug 9, 2008, 19:05:

Lisa, it's because of money laundering. Only the elite business owners and other people with palanca are able to do it easily. . . ;-))

Banks are one of the key institutions in Colombia that help keep the people down. Take Grupo Aval which controls Banco de Bogota, Banco de Occidente, Banco AV Villas, etc.

The president of Grupo Aval is Luis Carlos Sarmiento one of the most powerful, richest men in Colombia, estimated net worth $4.4 billion USD; he directly and indirectly owns more than *90 percent* of Aval's shares! I don't think he cares about the nickel-and-dimeing of Colombian and gringo account owners. In fact, I bet he considers it good for his bottom line. . . ;)

And by the way, he's grooming his son to take over the family business. Head hunter firms and executive searches are not usually needed in Colombia, lol.

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rocinante says on Aug 10, 2008, 06:32:

"Woody, are you that one in a thousand (foreigners) who wants to change things, and expect the banks to be efficient, and EVEN honest too?" Sloopy

That's one foreign customer out of 1000 Colombian customers.

Every Tom Dick and Harry in Colombia banks without a problem. You all have big problems because you expect Colombian banks to have the policies, training and experience to behave like a US Bank. You're dreaming. How many Colombians have their US government deposited SS checks internationally wire transferred?

You hear all over this site how ATMs are the best, keep your stateside account, don't bring dollars into the US, don't count on Colombian banks to do more than simple day to day banking.

But yet you come here and ignore all of that, doing what practically no one in the country does and wonder why something went astray. You are expecting too much.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Not that the US president actually runs the US." Feb 5, 2008

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rocinante says on Aug 10, 2008, 06:38:

The ATM is practically the only solid international money transfer system. period.

How many poeple here, work for a Colombian Company and receive a Colombian Paycheck drawn against a Colombian account?

Have you ever had a problem finding the bank when it was open? Cashing that check? Depositing and withdrawing those checks or cash from your account? Using your ATM card? Taking out and managing a mortgage?

999 Colombian do this every day - no money stolen - "sorry you had to wait in line sir" and there is 1 foreigner who has an outside of your everyday type of transaction who is all pissed off. Gee I wonder why?

"If you can avoid using Colombian banks for anything, you will be better off." tomtom.

Sage advice, learned the hardway. Thanks for blazing the trail. I surely will not do what you did.

I have US funds deposited in a US account and I spread that around to a few other accounts and withdraw at the ATM and deposit in Bancolombia so that I can pay my bills on line. I don't use the Bancolombia card at the ATM since I already took out cash with no fee at 10 pesos less than the real exchange rate.

Some of you are the types that go to "The Greasy Spoon Diner" and order the Steak and Lobster and then wonder why it was crappy. Then you complain "Well they should be able to do Steak and Lobster at 'The Greasy Spoon', it's on the menu and other fancy restaurants have no problem!"

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Not that the US president actually runs the US." Feb 5, 2008

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juicerbud says on Aug 10, 2008, 08:13:

Woody, I am glad to hear that wasn't one of the banks Howard works on!!! Still that stinks!
I hope everything else is good with you!!!

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Buongone says on Aug 10, 2008, 12:13:

The 1st time I went to Cali, I went to the bank in Alaska. Got $3K worth of $100 bills. Stayed at the Intercontinental in Cali. Got to know the Desk Manager. Was cashing bills everyday. Now these seemed to be brand new bills. Out of the 30 bills, 4 of them he said he could not cash. I asked why? He said they were money taken from a bank Robbery in Chicago. He explained from the serial #'s. So I ended up with 4 of them. When at the airport in Panama City when coming back. I tried to cash one at the restaurant at the airport. They just looked at it. Said it was fake. That's BS. So I went next door to some shop. Bought something cheap. She looked at it and took it. Now I just use ATM's. Alot easier.

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scotty says on Aug 10, 2008, 19:27:

avoid HSBC and Citibank, they are both terrible.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

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goin_south says on Aug 10, 2008, 21:11:

(scotty? como esta?)

Why Colombianitas? Personally... I just don't like pink areolar tissue.

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