Job Discussion Forums

[koshechka]

hello,
just wanted to see if anyone knew of a bank that didn't charge a maintenance fee. so far all seem to do this and it's a pain in the bum. or, if anyone has been able to receive large sums of money from abroad, the states in this case, how did you transfer it?
thanks, sorry for such boring, financial questions but these are my concerns presently.

que esten muy bien,
koshechka

[chini]

Hi, there are two ways to avoid maintenance fees in a basic current account.
Firstly, you need to have a certain amount of products that go along with a current account - for example, credit card, credit line, Redbanc, at least 2 PAC�s (Pago automatico de cuentas) and maybe a compulsory insurance.

The Second is to always keep your balance above a certain amount ... Each bank is different, but usually its around 300,000 pesos a month.

The best way is to open an account with an "ejecutivo" that is a "pituto".

[eileen]

some companies that you work for might have a "convenio" to get you a free cuenta vista, which is a no-interest savings account from which you can make withdrawals, and they don't charge you unless you make more than four per month (if you have the convenio). If you want a cuenta corriente (checking account, can do online xfers and online billpaying), I think there's always a monthly fee. I have Santander Santiago, and there is a monthly fee.

[koshechka]

thank you both,
i do think that there will always be a fee. at least that is what i�ve been told in various banks. i am thinking about banco de chile because the other bank, security bank or something like that, asks for a property to protect their trust in me. it�s a bit strange but that's how it is. eileen, how much does santander charge in fees? i think that banco de chile is something like 4,000. and, yes, i do already have a cuenta vista that was opened for me by the university where i work but i cannot transfer money from the states into it.
so, chini do you know of a bank where getting all these products and subscribing to pac i can avoid being charged?
thanks a lot,

[matttheboy]

if you want to receive large amounts of money from abroad it's usually better to avoid normal banks as they tend to give you crappy exchange rates. stockbroking firms or exchange houses are often a better bet but it depends on how much money you want to bring in-their fee might negate any saving on the exchange rate if the amount's not particulalry large, for example. when we bought our house in valpo we brought the money in via a capitulo 14 which is a way of getting investment money into the country free of taxes and other minor government restrictions. this was all arrange by my girlfriend's family who work in finance and international banking (luckily enough) but i can find out costs and how to do it if you need the info.

[chini]

I have an account in Banco Chile and BBVA. I much prefer Chile! If you go onto their website there are about 3-4 easy, basic accounts that you can open, one for around 2,500 a month. They�re "cuenta conmigo" accounts and aimed at university kids just starting out. The only problem you may or may not have is that they require that you have "residencia definitiva", although - depending on your income - they sometimes waver that.

[chini]

Take a look at this
http://www.bancoedwards.cl/novedades/2006/cuentaconmigo/contenido.html

You can get a current account (checking account) for as little as 990 pesos a month

[koshechka]

thanks for the banco edwards bit, i'm going to go there on monday and report back, i don't as of yet have the permanencia definitiva, but i'm in the process.
have a great weekend

[Hugeshark]

Any update on the best way to go about banking? I'll be in Santaigo in 3 weeks.

Do banks in Santago charge large fee for withdrawal from my American accounts.