www.CostaRicaTicas.com

This discussion has unnerved me. I am a Canadian who deals with Scotiabank in Canada. The IRS would not be interested in me. Am I to go through this same kind of misery? I hoped to gain a little convenience and make a good impression there but if this is the way things are run I seem to be doing my self no favours. Do Canadians get the same treatment?

OK the answer is that I'm NOT DONE yet. I went to the bank yesterday so they could make copies of ALL my immigration stamps. After they copied everthing (my 5th trip) I asked for the letters that they supposedly typed for my signiture. SURPRISE..... I'd have to come back in 3 days to sign the papers because they haven't done them yet. ..........HELP!!!!!!!! Trip number 6 coming up. They told me to wait for them to call me to return for the signing. Damn a Presidencial signing in the U.S. isn't this complicated.

Well, Brother VB, maybe if you weren't such a charismatic, richly-endowed, sexy beast, you'd have been one-and-done, and the girls (and some of the guys) wouldn't have wanted to see you again. My take on the situation anyway...

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

That's certainly true,but besides all that,it's getting to be a pain in the ass.

No need to ever bank in CR. Since you are filling out all the forms anyhow that are going to the IRS and presumably still filing tax returns as required by US citizens, you can do pretty much anything you want to do with a US domestic bank account with ATM card. Why get involved in the mess of CR banking when you don't have to?

"No need to ever bank in CR. Since you are filling out all the forms anyhow that are going to the IRS and presumably still filing tax returns as required by US citizens, you can do pretty much anything you want to do with a US domestic bank account with ATM card. Why get involved in the mess of CR banking when you don't have to?

I'll take this as my answer. Thanks.

I have a question. Would I be able to open a bank account in Costa Rica with out living there? And if so what would I need to bring in order to open it? I would like to find a bank that I can move money to during the year for my trips down there. Any help would be appreciated.

I suggest bringing your first born Ch*ld in case they need him/her

I have been banking in Costa Rica for over 9 years. I need to supply my current passport and an authenticated source of income to show them were my money is coming from. I do own property here, in a S.A., they (BCR) asked about where it was and I just gave them directions. I used to have a permanent residency, but lost it when I was sick in USA for over a year, did not return within a year. I have also banked at other banks ad have found the requirements differ from branch to branch and are also different depending on the attendent you get at the bank. I opened my account in a small compo town branch and they know me thier. When I try to do business at the San Jose BCR main branch, I sometimes get the run around. I suggest opening an account at a small branch outside of San Jose. I need my account in CR due to the fact I have several income streams coming from CR from rentals and contracts. I can spend this money anywhere in the world with my CR Visa debit card.

Agree, but with the caveat that if you have no account in CR and your US ATM card is lost or stolen, it will normally take at least a couple of weeks for your replacement card to arrive. Better have some backup source of cash.

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It's faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, and more money--Tom T. Hall
No man is a failure who is enjoying life--William Faulkner

I've lived in CR for more than 10 years and do have a local bank account that I use to pay utility bills, etc, over the internet but except for internet bill payment, I can't see a good reason for most people to have an account here. All of my income is US based and deposited to my accounts in the US. I withdraw cash at the ATMs as needed and use my Visa check card for purchases.

this has nothing to do with the US. this is basic "know your customer" stuff. i work for a bank - i am responsible for loading terabytes of data from operation's systems daily to data warehouses for fraud analysis (fraud detection, claims, policy and strategy). every new banking channel subjects a bank to another potential threat from fraud rings around the world (lots of new channels due to the internet). the "inconvenience" experienced in Costa Rica has nothing to do with banking and everything to do with how all things administrative is done in Costa Rica.

btw, we operate a large claims call center in SJ.

It has everything to due with the U.S. "know your customer" originated in the U.S. and was exported to Costa Rica, as well as other countries, by the U.S. and directly tied to monetary assistance in the "war on drugs".

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Ok, don't understand the immigration aspect of the bank. Just went to cash a check made out to someone else, but signed over to me. No problem. He didn't only check passport, but carefully looked for my entrance stamp. I saw that mentioned earlier, why? If I had been over my visa, does the bank report to immigration and detain me until they come. I'm fine with my passport and it wasn't a hassle.. Just curious..

To say that CR is doing this purely because the US exported it is ridiculous. You really think if it wasn't for the US, CR would not be doing this? CR, the country that is surrounded by a lot of countries which aren't on the up and up would allow people to bank there, especially foreigners, without identifying them.... you really think that? To suggest they wouldn't have a basic "know your customer" routine unless the US told them is saying they could care less about who is banking in there. You do not think CR wants to know who is banking in their country the same as the US, UK, Spain, Russia, even Iran and more want to know who is banking in their country, really?

In this day and age, banks in countries that have no relationship with the US need to know their customers and you can bet your life on it that they do. This isn't only to protect the bank and to report sh#t to the gov't, it is to protect the customer too. A lot of fraud is detected and stopped through basic know your customer measures, but you wouldn't know this because you haven't worked in a long time and probably never worked in banking.