Comments on: Banks in Costa Rica http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2007/08/05/banks-in-costa-rica/ The Blog for Travelers, Retirees, Expats and anyone who needs to know the REAL Costa Rica. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:00:32 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: JERRY http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2007/08/05/banks-in-costa-rica/comment-page-1/#comment-15541 JERRY Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:04:57 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2007/08/05/banks-in-costa-rica/#comment-15541 WE HAVE A BANK ACCOUNT WITH SCOTIABANK. VERY PLEASE WITH THEIR SERVICES. CURRENTLY LIVING PERMANENTLY WITH RESIDENCY STATUS IN CR. HAVING PROBLEMS WITH RECEIVING MY USA COMPANY PENSION. THEY INFORM ME THAT I MUST HAVE A USA BANK ACCOUNT AND USA HOME ADDRESS AND ID. THEN THEY CAN WIRE THE FUNDS TO THE BANK. WHAT CAN I DO? HAD REQUIREMENTS BEFORE BUT NOW WHICH TO CHANGE BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER (CO-OWNER) IS STEALING MONEY FROM THE ACCOUNT. WE HAVE A BANK ACCOUNT WITH SCOTIABANK. VERY PLEASE WITH THEIR SERVICES. CURRENTLY LIVING PERMANENTLY WITH RESIDENCY STATUS IN CR. HAVING PROBLEMS WITH RECEIVING MY USA COMPANY PENSION. THEY INFORM ME THAT I MUST HAVE A USA BANK ACCOUNT AND USA HOME ADDRESS AND ID. THEN THEY CAN WIRE THE FUNDS TO THE BANK. WHAT CAN I DO? HAD REQUIREMENTS BEFORE BUT NOW WHICH TO CHANGE BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER (CO-OWNER) IS STEALING MONEY FROM THE ACCOUNT.

]]> By: Ben http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2007/08/05/banks-in-costa-rica/comment-page-1/#comment-13566 Ben Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:22:04 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2007/08/05/banks-in-costa-rica/#comment-13566 Nice post Tim! I also have accounts with the three banks listed here. Scotiabank - the most foreigner-friendly. My branch in San Ramon usually has someone who speaks English. Before jumping through all of the hoops to open an account there, they told me that I could use their online website to automatically pay my bills. After opening the account, I found their online services to be mostly useless and down most of the time. However, they did try to make it up for me and paid my bills manually each month for free. My lights were only shut off once. This is not a regular practice though. They are also active in the community by donating to poor schools, etc. BAC - I found Tim's account accurate with the exception that I was able to transfer funds online to a different BAC customer's account with just their account number (no need to go to the branch). BNCR - Longest Lines and most useful website. I am still waiting for them to add RACSA to their PAR (autopay) program, though. Nice post Tim! I also have accounts with the three banks listed here.

Scotiabank – the most foreigner-friendly. My branch in San Ramon usually has someone who speaks English. Before jumping through all of the hoops to open an account there, they told me that I could use their online website to automatically pay my bills. After opening the account, I found their online services to be mostly useless and down most of the time. However, they did try to make it up for me and paid my bills manually each month for free. My lights were only shut off once. This is not a regular practice though. They are also active in the community by donating to poor schools, etc.

BAC – I found Tim’s account accurate with the exception that I was able to transfer funds online to a different BAC customer’s account with just their account number (no need to go to the branch).

BNCR – Longest Lines and most useful website. I am still waiting for them to add RACSA to their PAR (autopay) program, though.

]]> By: Dr. Max Gamble http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2007/08/05/banks-in-costa-rica/comment-page-1/#comment-12636 Dr. Max Gamble Thu, 17 Jan 2008 06:09:10 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2007/08/05/banks-in-costa-rica/#comment-12636 Greetings! This is my first visit to your site and really enjoyed it. I have been living on and off in Costa Rica since 1980. Luckily, when I opened my first ever bank account in CR I had no problems. However, at that time you could walk around downtown at any hour and feel comlpetely safe. Unfortunately, CR has changed. Anyone who has done any due diligence should already know that there is so much corruption and illegal activities going on here that I applaud the banks for their effort to know their perspective new clients. BCR is at times a difficult bank to deal with unless you do what I have learned to do. Once you experience the "sometimes ridiculous" requirements to open a savings account find yourself a local branch and visit it 2-3 times a week until the smaller branch recognizes you as soon as you walk in. I have found this to work for me and pass this tidbit on hoping it may work for others. Funny thing, I had new savings and checking debit cards issued in 1992 and one was for use in dollars inside CR and the other for international use. Very professional and even had my picture on each of them. However, 2 years ago they told me for "my security" they were going to give me 2 new cards. Well, typically you return the next day for the cards. I did and the new cards did not have any photo. I asked them how this was for my security...photoless. The answer is a nonanswer as far as I am concerned. So, I took the new cards over to the ATM to make sure they worked. They didn't. Long story short. I had to go and return on 3 seperate occasions because they finally figured out that i knew how to use them and was not an idiot but that whatever company they had making the physical cards were defective! Oye. Today, I walked into ScotiaBank for the first time and within an hour i walked out with a Universal account. If you plan on all possible obstacles i.e. banking references etc. you can make banking tolerable but never have the type of service that most of us are used too. The funny thing is ScotiaBank requires a utility bill from where you are living...but it doesn't even need to be in your name. Go figure. Greetings! This is my first visit to your site and really enjoyed it. I have been living on and off in Costa Rica since 1980. Luckily, when I opened my first ever bank account in CR I had no problems. However, at that time you could walk around downtown at any hour and feel comlpetely safe. Unfortunately, CR has changed. Anyone who has done any due diligence should already know that there is so much corruption and illegal activities going on here that I applaud the banks for their effort to know their perspective new clients. BCR is at times a difficult bank to deal with unless you do what I have learned to do. Once you experience the “sometimes ridiculous” requirements to open a savings account find yourself a local branch and visit it 2-3 times a week until the smaller branch recognizes you as soon as you walk in. I have found this to work for me and pass this tidbit on hoping it may work for others. Funny thing, I had new savings and checking debit cards issued in 1992 and one was for use in dollars inside CR and the other for international use. Very professional and even had my picture on each of them. However, 2 years ago they told me for “my security” they were going to give me 2 new cards. Well, typically you return the next day for the cards. I did and the new cards did not have any photo. I asked them how this was for my security…photoless. The answer is a nonanswer as far as I am concerned. So, I took the new cards over to the ATM to make sure they worked. They didn’t. Long story short. I had to go and return on 3 seperate occasions because they finally figured out that i knew how to use them and was not an idiot but that whatever company they had making the physical cards were defective! Oye. Today, I walked into ScotiaBank for the first time and within an hour i walked out with a Universal account. If you plan on all possible obstacles i.e. banking references etc. you can make banking tolerable but never have the type of service that most of us are used too. The funny thing is ScotiaBank requires a utility bill from where you are living…but it doesn’t even need to be in your name. Go figure.

]]> By: Art D http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2007/08/05/banks-in-costa-rica/comment-page-1/#comment-12618 Art D Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:45:03 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2007/08/05/banks-in-costa-rica/#comment-12618 Any comments about all the reports of millions of dollars disappearing from personal accounts in BNCR and BCR? Any recommendations about transferring money in from the US? Any comments about all the reports of millions of dollars disappearing from personal accounts in BNCR and BCR?

Any recommendations about transferring money in from the US?

]]> By: Tim http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2007/08/05/banks-in-costa-rica/comment-page-1/#comment-12135 Tim Mon, 08 Oct 2007 13:04:19 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2007/08/05/banks-in-costa-rica/#comment-12135 This is covered in www.therealcostarica.com. You also might like to visit http://forums.arcr.net This is covered in http://www.therealcostarica.com.

You also might like to visit http://forums.arcr.net

]]> By: Marilyn Clark http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2007/08/05/banks-in-costa-rica/comment-page-1/#comment-12118 Marilyn Clark Sun, 07 Oct 2007 01:10:19 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2007/08/05/banks-in-costa-rica/#comment-12118 Just trying to find out HOW MUCH money a person must deposit in the bank in CR in order to apply for permanent residence. Can this be done online or do you have to do to the bank itself in person? Please write me at my email address, if possible. Thanks so much, Great articles! Just trying to find out HOW MUCH money a person must deposit in the bank in CR in order to apply for permanent residence.

Can this be done online or do you have to do to the bank itself in person?

Please write me at my email address, if possible. Thanks so much, Great articles!

]]> By: Steve Broyles http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2007/08/05/banks-in-costa-rica/comment-page-1/#comment-11892 Steve Broyles Wed, 12 Sep 2007 19:48:42 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2007/08/05/banks-in-costa-rica/#comment-11892 For what is is worth, I've got debit cards from Banco Nacional that work just fine in the USA and also work.... sometimes... online. The trick to doing online payments with a Tico debit card is to make sure that you have the address written exactly the same way on the bank's records and whatever online form you are using. Sometimes calling the online vendor after you order to clarify the situation can help too. Another plus to BNCR: if you ignore the language difficulties, BNCR has a very good website- I can pay almost any bill you name online, and set up the account to auto-pay them as well. Handy. I've also got accounts with Banco Costa Rica, and generally like them, but prefer BNCR. I also work with Cuscatlan (helping clients get mortgages)... my experiences there are mixed, but generally positive. Thanks for the informative post(s)! -Steve For what is is worth, I’ve got debit cards from Banco Nacional that work just fine in the USA and also work…. sometimes… online. The trick to doing online payments with a Tico debit card is to make sure that you have the address written exactly the same way on the bank’s records and whatever online form you are using.

Sometimes calling the online vendor after you order to clarify the situation can help too.

Another plus to BNCR: if you ignore the language difficulties, BNCR has a very good website- I can pay almost any bill you name online, and set up the account to auto-pay them as well. Handy.

I’ve also got accounts with Banco Costa Rica, and generally like them, but prefer BNCR. I also work with Cuscatlan (helping clients get mortgages)… my experiences there are mixed, but generally positive.

Thanks for the informative post(s)!
-Steve

]]> By: Doug Ward http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2007/08/05/banks-in-costa-rica/comment-page-1/#comment-11872 Doug Ward Thu, 06 Sep 2007 09:53:10 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2007/08/05/banks-in-costa-rica/#comment-11872 I have been dealing exclusively with BCR and have a good relationship with the manager who changed the maximum withdraw and transfer policies to give me more flexibility. On the other hand.. I live in The REAL Costa Rica.. Not the impersonal, overinfested, central valley. For the poster moving near La Tigre...Just ask a local restauranteur or shopkeeper you befriend " Which bank is best" You'll love that area. Business owners here in Tilaran use BCR but also keep BN accts. Tim is right..Open a couple different ones for different purposes. I have been dealing exclusively with BCR and have a good relationship with the manager who changed the maximum withdraw and transfer policies to give me more flexibility.
On the other hand.. I live in The REAL Costa Rica.. Not the impersonal, overinfested, central valley.
For the poster moving near La Tigre…Just ask a local restauranteur or shopkeeper you befriend ” Which bank is best”
You’ll love that area.

Business owners here in Tilaran use BCR but also keep BN accts.

Tim is right..Open a couple different ones for different purposes.

]]> By: Tim http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2007/08/05/banks-in-costa-rica/comment-page-1/#comment-11861 Tim Mon, 03 Sep 2007 13:08:27 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2007/08/05/banks-in-costa-rica/#comment-11861 I am sorry, I do not. I do know another businessman who has his accounts there and seems satisfied. Also, HSBC is now here in a BIG way... and they might be good. I am sorry, I do not. I do know another businessman who has his accounts there and seems satisfied.

Also, HSBC is now here in a BIG way… and they might be good.

]]> By: Rhett http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2007/08/05/banks-in-costa-rica/comment-page-1/#comment-11860 Rhett Mon, 03 Sep 2007 10:47:45 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2007/08/05/banks-in-costa-rica/#comment-11860 Have you any experience with Banco Cuscatlan? Have you any experience with Banco Cuscatlan?

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