Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tenchu77491]

I want to use my KEB bank account I made in Incheon, but I want to use it in Seoul. Is that ok? Can I still have all of my services in Seoul?

[GoldMember]

Is this a trick question?

[tenchu77491]

I heard some 'branches' are very picky about where they are being used. Will I be stuck with ATMs or can I actually enter the branch and use my bank book and what not?

[Otherside]

No you can't.

All banks in Korea are location specific. Koreans have very strong bonds to their hometowns, thus someone moving from say, Incheon to Seoul or Busan is almost unheard of. An exception to this rule is Jeju, with Jeju being the "Korean Hawaii" it is swamped with tourists from the mainland and they obviously need banking services, so your account will be fine there. Be warned! It does NOT work the other way, an account opened on Jeju will NOT work on the mainland.

[Big Mac]

Oh my God...are you serious?

Of course you can go into any branch and get the same services as you would at the branch where you opened your account.

I opened one of my accounts at a branch in Seoul and have never once returned to that branch. I live in a different province and have never had a problem getting services.

[tenchu77491]

That's great. Only problem is I can't find a KEB around me but ill just pay the transaction fee at another atm for the time being

[Adventurer]

[Robot_Teacher]

Of course, domestic ATM's all take any domestic cards while only a few ATM's can accept foreign cards. I used my Gangwondo Nonghyup ATM card at a KEB in Seoul. My American ATM card works at KEB ATM's, but not Nonghyup ATM's and I never even requested international services as it's an automatic given with American accounts. At least in my case it was for both my savings and checking accounts and I don't have a lot of money in those accounts. Brokerage accounts won't do any in or out international transactions though.

[ThingsComeAround]

as another poster stated, domestic ATMs may be used all over.

Do you want to do other things, like send money home?

Have you moved to Seoul?

Since I have sent money home from another location (other than home branch) I had to sign a waiver (to protect the bank) that I am who I am and that the transaction was legit.

OTOH, I also moved to a new area, walked into my local branch, and told the teller my new address to update it in the bank's system. Not too difficult.

[lifeinkorea]

I would just go to where you want to go, look around, see a KEB? Yes, great. If not, GET ANOTHER ACCOUNT with a bank you do see!!!

Doesn't need to be all planned out in my opinion.