Korean Job Discussion Forums

[julian_w]

So I've come back to Gwangju which I'm really enjoying,
but the branch office of the bank which I have to deal with for school is useless both for sending money home and for getting a real live credit card. It's a Gwangju Bank branch.

I went to another branch and was given a 'Nice Check' card and told it was able to be used to purchase things online. Not only is it useless online, it is useless after midnight. (It's not nice, it's f'n rude.)

The local KB branch is also useless on the credit card front. I know different branches have different people dealing with different issues, and so one may have different experiences at each place.

Can anyone recommend a bank and branch in down town Gwangju to which I can set up an automatic deposit from the branch into which my pay is paid by my school, and where I can get both a credit card (for necessary online purchases) and (possibly automatic) transfers home?

Or, can you simply recommend a bank and branch where they at least speak decent English and don't say and do stupid things to foreigners?

[blurgalurgalurga]

Hey Julian! You want 'standard charter.' they have international debit cards.

[julian_w]

Thanks, Blurgie,

I did hear that they were good.

I have no idea where they are in Gwangju though.

And, do you actually bank with them there?

If so, is there someone there with whom I can avoid practising my rudimentary Korean skills and getting headaches?

[OiGirl]

Korea Exchange Bank, Geumnam branch. You know the building well.

I have no problems whatsoever there.

Some, but not all, CSRs speak English. I never deal with the tellers.

All the ATMs can work in English (true of every KEB, I think) and there are Global ATMs at this location (not true of every KEB location.)

Wiring money home is very, very simple, with none of the hassles described by others here. I recently opened an East One foreign remittance account. I haven't used it yet, but others have reported here that is works well.

You may be able to get a credit card with your visa status.

Your experiences may vary, of course!

There is a Standard Chartered farther down on Geumnamro. I think I changed money there 10 years ago when it was a Jeil Bank.