Korean Job Discussion Forums

biggpoppa · Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

has anyone here tried using their International Debit Card back in Canada? I have one from KB Star and was thinking of keeping money in my Korean account if I can access it from home. Was there a charge or horrible exchange rate when/if it did work?

thank you in advance

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

KB banks give foreigners a lot of hassle about International cards. You need to ask you bank specifically if your card will work in Canadian ATMs. If they say no, request on that will. If they say you can't because you are a foreigner and it is against the law, demand to see the law (it doesn't exist), tell them other banks issue International cards (my bank, Hana bank, did with no hassle) and call the lying racists. Then change banks.

KB bank sucks.

My first Hana bank card only worked in out-of-country banks that do business in Korea, like HSBC. I requested a REAL international card from Hana bank and just had to show them my passport.

Even at Hana bank, though, some foreigners had to go to different branches to get their Intl. card. You'd think Korean banks, which handle the most important thing in the material world, would have some set standards or consistency. They don't.

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

I agree with what BB has said. There are a lot of older threads about this in both the GD forum and the Q&A forum.

I have a couple of debit cards and only one works internationally (with the disclaimer that I haven't tried it yet). The one I got from KEB has a visa logo, but specifically says "good only in Korea" on it. My guess is that one will be worthless outside the country (however, I might try it anyway just for kicks).