15 replies to this topic

[jmc]

Hi, i am new on this forum and was wondering if anyone could recommend me a banking institution in Tijuna... Just read your guys blog's and it seems that some should rather be avoided, right :?

PS: Planning to move my production company to Tijuna in the next few months, so any tips or places to go to meet people, find a place to live, do some biking and rock climbing, are welcome...

THX!

[PLAYAZ]

Well if u speak spanish , any bank would be good I guess.
If you dont speak spanish then yes some banks have spanish online banking only :!:
ie HSBC

others ' may' be in English...

Santander
Bancomer
Banamex

and maybe others could give you more names....
Well they all pretty much hang up on you on the phone anyway if you dont speak spanish. :wink:

And you need an FM3 VISA to open an account, some branches supposedly dont need it, you also need proof of local residence, phone bill etc.

[Tj 4 Rent]

Do you really need an account at a Mexican bank if you have a us bank with a relationship with a local bank. You can get pesos out of thier atm. Ask your current bank what is their relationship with a Mexican bank and they will tell you who they work with.

If you need a bank account in Mexico then I reccomend bancomer or banamex. They seem to be the most reasonable regarding thier services and fees.

And call me I have a nice room in a 2 bedroom apartment for $250 and a couple rooms in a mansion for $400 or $500 including all services even maids.

John
858.964.0872

[jmc]

Very useful information, John and everyone, and probably looking for a place i will be over the summer, so thanks also for the offer. Hey, maybe i should remove my previous post that says "opening a new business in Tijuna" since it could raise some jealousy from locals. Whatchuthink? Plus, even if i'm of course always open to job opportunities and truly love my job, it's not really NOT a new business but a new place to establish myself because "Hell A" is just too free-king expenses.

Kay, one more question: does anyone knows if there's some rock climbing around TJ and/or an indoor climbing facility? Might be dreaming or planning to open a little one...

Oh, and also, if anyone knows: is it better to enter Mexico with an American Visa or a French passport? And how hard is it to get a work permit and/or citizenship in Mexico, when you're french... Just curious.

[jmc]

Really cool info about the LA Fitness and outdoor climbing wall! Going to check it out online. Might not move to TJ before nor start production before Xmas but it's getting exciting. Thanks for your help. JM

[Daniel]

Some Mexican banks have a US partner. For example, just over the border on Camino de la Plaza (across from Plaza de las Americas) is Bancomer USA. Open a savings account for $250.00 and you get a free checking account and debit card. You can use your debit card for free at any Banocomer Mexico.

Your US account is in dollars and US insured. Of course, you get pesos, not dollars, at the ATMs in Mexico.

BTW, this US branch is open 7 days a week. That's right even Sundays, making banking with them very easy.

[bigloudj]

I beleive that Bancomers partner in the US is Bank of America.

[Chiquito]

Bank of America has connections with Santender Serafin, maybe others.

[the.ronin]

Bank of America has connections with Santender Serafin, maybe others.

Just Santander ... they are slowly buying more and more of the bank and will ultimately acquire it.

[Daniel]

Bank of America has connections with Santender Serafin, maybe others.

I thought they had a Mexican partner. Yet the BofA in San Ysidro said they didn't. (Looks like I need to speak with somebody else at a different branch.)

[libertythor]

Here is an advantage to having a bank account in Tijuana: You can withdraw dollars at any Banorte ATM.

I suggest getting one not to replace your US account..but to add convenience and establish some evidence of your presence in Mexico for immigration purposes.

Here are some alliances that the banks have with US banks.

Bancomer - Wells Fargo (You can setup an "interaccount" between your Wells Fargo account and Bancomer account to have an ammount automatically transferred to Bancomer.) Also with the interaccount, you won´t have ATM fees when you withdraw from Bancomer accounts with your Wells Fargo card.

Santander Serfin - Bank of America (You can withdraw money from Bank of America ATMs at no charge with your Santander card. I think it might work the other way around too.)

[the.ronin]

Santander Serfin - Bank of America (You can withdraw money from Bank of America ATMs at no charge with your Santander card. I think it might work the other way around too.)

Yes it does ... and get the best exchange rate possible too.

[TJDave]

I have a banking (or money transfer) question...

What would be the cheapest or easiest way for someone in Mexico, say Acapulco, to send money to the US?

I have a Wells Fargo account and and Intercuenta account associated to Bancomer... I know how to transfer money from US to MEX, but not the other way around... Wells Fargo has not responded to my query yet.

[George Costanza]

Tjdave if you need some money I am sure me and the guys could get a few bucks together. :oops:

I know a sure fire way is Western Union. I used to get western unions from time to time from all parts of the world and it would get transfered within 1hr and would cost the sender around $12-$30.00 depending on the amount.

To recieve the cash they only ask for a DL and the transfer code. It is much more complicated for someone in Mexico to Receive WU than say someone in the states.

For an international bank all they need is you routing number and your banks name and address and that's it.
I used to sell rare test pressing of rap albums to Japan and I would get WU's and Wire transfers all the time.
Never had an issue and the senders never complained.

good luck
Milky

[TJDave]

Milky... I had thought of Western Union, but I was wondering if there was anything cheaper (I thought the charge was around $30US regardless of the amount).

It's an involved situation, but the short version is that my suegro needs a medical device that costs 12,000 pesos in Acapulco but I found the same machine here in the states for half the price. His three oldest children want to pitch in to pay for it, so they need to send me the money to make the purchase. $200 each is a lot better than $400 each, but if you start tacking on $30 in transfer fees, the S&H of the device, well, you get the picture.

Thanks.

[boozr619]

I own a business too, i consider myself a local and I'm not jealous of you, well you're probably not even in town by now.