A BANK ACCOUNT IN MEXICO

Doing anything financial in Mexico is always a problem, so I was prepared (I thought) for spending some time to open an account.  I had thought about it since I moved here and I was told that with my FM3 card I could open one.  One, if I ever needed a large sum of money, it would be difficult (if not impossible) to get it from an ATM machine.  With an open account here, I could have my bank transfer money when (and if) I needed it.

I have also been talking about visiting Cuba.  I really did not want to use a charge or debit card in Cuba that could access what little money have left in the U.S, and I was told they do not like American currency.  Why, I am not sure since the exchange rate is 1000 Cuban pesos per dollar.  I thought with a small account here and carrying some Mexican pesos,  I would be fine, since my friend assured me that it would be quite cheap..

Armed with my passport and FM3 card and my check book from the United States I entered the bank where I use the ATM machine.  That bank is associated with Bank of American so I pay no ATM fee, nor do I pay a conversion fee.  There were at least 5 windows, but everyone was seated in the middle of the room.  There was one young man seated at the only desk in the lobby, but he was on the phone.  I stood in front of him for at least ten minutes and when he refused to acknowledge my presence, I sat at the chair in front of him.  At this point he put the person on hold, so I told him that I wanted to open an account.  He motioned to the group of chairs in the middle of the room and said,  ":Sit down".

  I sat there for a while then realized that everyone was getting a numbers out of a machine by the door.  Numbers were posted on a screen telling you which window to go to.  I got a number and sat down again.  Then I notice that the numbers on the screen were past the number I held in my hand and went back to the man at the desk.  He said, "Sit down!"  Finally my number came up (maybe they run them backwards here).  I went to the window and told the girl I wanted to open an account.  She told me to see the man in the cubicle around the corner.  He too was on the phone.   I sat down and waited while he remained on the phone for another 5 or 10 minutes, then I finally had the opportunity to tell him why I was there,.  He spoke not one word of English, so he called the young man at the first desk.  I was pleased to discover he spoke more that two words,  ("Sit down!") I asked if I could open the account with a check.  No! he said, We do not take checks.  Now I am familiar with paperless banking, but it did seem a little odd.  I asked him how I could get money from a US bank to his bank.  He handed me a paper with the routing number of Morgan Chase in New York.  Well, that is nice I said, but I don't bank with Chase in New York and I would prefer to have an account open before having money transferred.  He said,  "Six thousand Pesos" and proper I.D".  At that point I left went outside to their ATM and drew out 6,000 pesos.  But when I returned someone else was sitting at the desk so I had to wait again.

Finally I got his attention and he took my passport and then he asked for a utility bill.  I have my electric bill at home but not with me.  "We cannot open an account without a utility bill"  Why my passport and residency card (with my photo on it ) from the Mexican government is not enough, no on can explain.  I left to get the electric bill and returned after lunch (I was hungry by then).  Of course everyone was busy with other clients so I had to wait again.  Not to be out maneuvered by someone else, so rather than sit, I stood by his cubicle.  At last he was done, but unfortunately I had not brought the latest electric bill.  After a deep sigh (and a little sobbing)  he brought up my latest bill on his computer.  Then he wanted two references: their name, telephone number, and addresses.  Phone numbers are in my phone, addressed I do not have.  No one here uses addresses as even cab drivers don't know addresses.  Then he said, just put down your address.  Does any of this make any sense to you??

Then he asked me to sign my name.  Not once, not twice, but at least 20 times (sometimes twice on a page and then again on the back)  At last I handed over the signatures and 6,000 pesos and shortly he handed me an ATM card, but said I could not use it for five days (is that 5 working days, or 5 Mexican days?).   I could understand had I given them a check, but I gave them cash!!  Oh, well it is Mexico.

But Wait!!  There is more.  The first young man suddenly rushed over and told me that my signatures did not look like the one in my passport.  I would have to sign them all again.  My hand had already begun to cramp and by this time I was shaking a little,  As carefully as I could I repeated the 20 signatures and explained that the passport was 4 or 5 years old when I wasn't quite so old.  In fact it said,  "I was a young man when I first walked in here"  He said he was satisfied and to come back in five days.  Again I asked about transferring money from my U.S. account and he pointed to Morgan Chase.

Then I found out that my bank in the U.S, will not do international transfers on the internet.  There is no way to initiate a transfer without returning to the U.S.  Oh, well I thought at least I could use it in Cuba.  I asked for the name of a bank I could use in Cuba, but he either did not understand or just decided to ignore me.
I waited for over a week to go back to the bank with several questions.  One, I wanted to know how I could use the card in Cuba and I wanted a debit/charge card with my name on it.  It took an equal amount of time to get someone's attention and he pretended not to understand a word I said.  Finally I found someone who (I think) understood English and was told that the card was of no use in Cuba.  I could not use it at an ATM nor could I book flights or charge with it.  And NO! they do not give out charge cards or debit card with names on it.  I decided that the account was of absolutely no benefit to me and told them I wanted to close the account.  I was told to go outside and use the ATM machine.  Would you believe it was OUT OF ORDER!!   True, I swear I still don't have my money back.  Ahhh Mexico!!

I have since found out that there is one bank here that does issue a charge/debit card that is usable in Cuba both for cash, booking flights to Cuba and for use as a charge card in Cuba.  I have yet to muster up the necessary energy (and patience) to start all over again


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