opening bank account

Noelito40 says on Jun 6, 2008, 09:32:

Wish I could be the bringer of good news larryrn, but if you do a search in PBH on Bank accounts yo´'ll find that it's nigh on impossible for an Extanjera to open an account here without a personal introduction from a native. Your best bet though would appear to be Davivienda who seem to have the most lax rules. The docs you need include, photocopy of cedula, statement showing the source of the funds...

Best of luck...

Noelito

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britabroad says on Jun 6, 2008, 09:43:

I'd second what Noelito says above. You usually need to be living here and have a cedula or other proof of residence before a bank will touch you. Even then you'll often need to have a letter of introduction from your own bank at home.
I think that even for a Divivienda account you'll need to have a Colombian national with you, and you might have to open a joint account with them.
An option is using someone like Western Union to wire the cash to you, but there's a maximum amount that they'll handle in one go - about $5000US I think.

Leave the big stick at home...carry a cannon!

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Lisa Zee says on Jun 6, 2008, 09:51:

You have to prove that you are working. The best is "rosca" Have a friend that has an acct. at the bank, introduce you to the manager, and have a letter from "your work" and the above advise.
Buena suerte.

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panthdave says on Jun 6, 2008, 10:24:

Can somebody tell me the real benefit of having a Colombian Bank Account except you keep Pesos instead of dollars in an account.

I really cannot find any pro switching my banking from the United States to Colombia even a Cedula...maybe as a credit reference the bank...I don't know...

panthdave Miami

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rocinante says on Jun 6, 2008, 11:14:

Having a Bancolombia or similar account allows you to pay your rent (usually) and bills (Cable, phone, utilities) on line. So if you are frequently out of the country you can just pay your bills from anywhere at anytime or automatically. If you want to transfer money from another country into Colombia you have a landing pad. Also having the account means getting other things like credit or post pago phone a bit easier. Also there is a sense of belonging (not that that is important to everyone) by having a local account to transact business.

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

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aztec says on Jun 6, 2008, 11:37:

This question has to be in the top 5 most asked on PBH. I am sure if you search (see top) PBH you will find more information than you can digest.

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larryrn says on Jun 6, 2008, 12:10:

Well, for one. If I transfer dollars today to an account in Colombia then at least my money will be worth something. I want to invest money now while I get 1690 vs waiting. Look at this, invest 75k us and with a 100 drop in the peso the amount of dollars increases by 4k. I applied for a equity line here and the bank says were are sorry but you have no equity. I say I put 25 percent down when I bought the house 3 years ago and the tell me ny equity now is 3 percent. Option a, cut the losses and bail to Colombia with no debt in the US or option b, keep the house, rent part of it for 50 percent of expenses and pray the economy in the us will improve. Asking around the people here at the hospital they all think its going to get worse before better and this slump will not turn around for 5 or more years. Look at the debt, price of oil and the economy as a whole.

So today headlines CNN dow down 300 points. More good news.

Is it this hard for Colombians to open a bank account in the US?

So if I get a cosigner then I can open a bank account in Colombia?

--- Larry Snyder - http://www.rn.org - Your Source for Online Nursing Education!

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larryrn says on Jun 6, 2008, 12:11:

Well, for one. If I transfer dollars today to an account in Colombia then at least my money will be worth something. I want to invest money now while I get 1690 vs waiting. Look at this, invest 75k us and with a 100 drop in the peso the amount of dollars increases by 4k. I applied for a equity line here and the bank says were are sorry but you have no equity. I say I put 25 percent down when I bought the house 3 years ago and the tell me ny equity now is 3 percent. Option a, cut the losses and bail to Colombia with no debt in the US or option b, keep the house, rent part of it for 50 percent of expenses and pray the economy in the us will improve. Asking around the people here at the hospital they all think its going to get worse before better and this slump will not turn around for 5 or more years. Look at the debt, price of oil and the economy as a whole.

So today headlines CNN dow down 300 points. More good news.

Is it this hard for Colombians to open a bank account in the US?

So if I get a cosigner then I can open a bank account in Colombia?

--- Larry Snyder - http://www.rn.org - Your Source for Online Nursing Education!

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larryrn says on Jun 6, 2008, 12:11:

Well, for one. If I transfer dollars today to an account in Colombia then at least my money will be worth something. I want to invest money now while I get 1690 vs waiting. Look at this, invest 75k us and with a 100 drop in the peso the amount of dollars increases by 4k. I applied for a equity line here and the bank says were are sorry but you have no equity. I say I put 25 percent down when I bought the house 3 years ago and the tell me ny equity now is 3 percent. Option a, cut the losses and bail to Colombia with no debt in the US or option b, keep the house, rent part of it for 50 percent of expenses and pray the economy in the us will improve. Asking around the people here at the hospital they all think its going to get worse before better and this slump will not turn around for 5 or more years. Look at the debt, price of oil and the economy as a whole.

So today headlines CNN dow down 300 points. More good news.

Is it this hard for Colombians to open a bank account in the US?

So if I get a cosigner then I can open a bank account in Colombia?

--- Larry Snyder - http://www.rn.org - Your Source for Online Nursing Education!

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