Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sojourner1]

I bought KEB Visa traveler checks in US dollars and got a real run around on a wild goose chase when it comes to cashing them as few Thais will tender them. I banked at KEB thinking I would get the real deal in financial services that meets the needs of people who travel. My US dollar Visa T/C's were abruptly and often rudely refused dozens of times in Thailand last week when I tried to get cash which had me worried a bit for a while. Why are these T/C's jinxed? lol

With Korea being one of the big economies of the world when measuring wealth or GDP, Korea should have top notch international financial services that are recognized the world over, but Korea operates in a vacuum. It could be that the Won is not a major currency or maybe the banks outside of Korea find it too much of a head ache to do financial business with Koreans.

After about 10 hours of trying over 2 days time, I found that UOB tenders KEB T/C's should you find yourself carrying the almost-junk T/C's you purchased in Korea.

I bet my T/C's I am to cash in the states will require very special handling via Wall Streets' Bank of New York where I will have to go through a special process that will take time instead of normally cashing them with no problems like you do with T/C's purchased in western countries.

[OiGirl]

Which banks sell American Express travelers' checks? (I've never had Visa TCs before.)

[oldfatfarang]

You can buy American Express Trav Checks at Incheon Airport. No problem cashing these AE checks in Thailand.

Perhaps your problems cashing the Korean VISA cheques were linked with the 'reputation' of Koreans and Korean business practices in Thailand. That reputation is not good - not good at all - and it's also spreading to the Phillipines and Vietnam.

[maddog]

I got my Amex TCs from Wooribank. Nothing on them to suggest they were any different to other Amex TCs. I had one or two (literally) problems with Visa TCs, but it was simply as case of crossing the street to another bank. Often, I got better rates on Visa TCs when buying them, and the same rate when exchanging them, so it worked out better.

They are the only two types of TC I would consider using.

MD