Korean Job Discussion Forums

[panchotino]

just been looking at KEB's website and it seems rather good.
I leave Korea in Seprtember and, like most, i am getting raped with exchange rates so i was going to leave my money here till 2010. The great news is with KEB, they have an international debit card ( i know they'll charge a hefty fee for using it ) but also, internet banking including remittances.
Okay, so does anyone here use this service? What are the fees? Whenever i go on vacation, i use KEB for currency exchange as they seem to have decent rates ( although they are a tad strict on the stamping passport thing if you change over 1million ) but with the online service, i don't need to go to the branch.
Too good to be true?
their saving accounts seem to be okay aswell.

[losing_touch]

I use KEB. I think the fee for remittance online is 8000 KRW. I don't recall the fee for using the card abroad, but it was negligible if it even exists. Using the internet banking is quite simple, and sending money is very, very easy.

[toonchoon]

don't look. act. go to the itaewon branch and open the account. make sure to ask questions as answers will not just fly out at you, but you'll have a piece of mind having your money in the KEB account, and your debit card you can use back home.

[warren pease]

I've seen a couple of posts like this praising KEB. Is this bank really superior to others such as woori? What are the differences?

[toonchoon]

[Juregen]

KEB is trying really hard to be an expat bank.

[subicslugger]

In my opinion, the big difference between KEB and other banks is that they actually WANT foreigners' business.

[Xuanzang]

[Savant]

I like KEB. Their Internet Banking is fairly straight-forward.

I've found the tellers to be courteous and polite. Always I go with my Korean girlfriend if I need something complicated explained but they do their best to speak to me in English.

Was in their Sinseol-dong branch last week looking for Dollars and Thai Baht, and the teller apologised for the Won's poor exchange rate. She said she would give me a discount for changing more currency next time.

[tonyvu]

would it be ok to request keb as the bank i want to go with when i meet my co-teacher/handler for the first time or would it be just easier to get an account and intl debit card alone?


By the way, im going to busan...

[oldtactics]

I love KEB. I love them I love them I love them. Their internet banking and transfer accounts are the best I've ever used, and the tellers are all super helpful even at non-expat branches. I've had nothing but positive experiences with them.

[nene]

I agree, KEB has been great for me. The only time I've had an issue is when my debit card got attached to the wrong account just before I was leaving for Thailand. They made a mistake in setting it up, but then they tracked me down (I didn't have a cell phone, but they found out where I worked and called me there) and explained that I would need to visit a branch before I left. I started freaking out because there is no branch in my little town and I was flying out the next morning. No worries, their branch in the basement of ICN opens at 6am Saturday morning with good English speakers. That's service.

Has anyone used their internet banking from abroad? I'm going to be transferring money after I've left the country also, and I'm worried that there might be issues making the transfer from an IP address that places me outside Korea. Anyone successfully done this? (Worst case, I use the debit card, but that could get pricey on a year's worth of savings.)

[pokesplort]

I was also wondering if its difficult to use the online remittance from abroad. common sense tells me its not a problem. then again common sense has failed me more than once while i've been here.

Also, what do most people do when they leave? leave the bank account open and transfer money out? is it a hassle to close an account after you have already left the country? just curious. i leave in a few months and i don't want to get screwed for either closing it too soon or too late. thanks guys!

[Looney]

[Misera]