Korean Job Discussion Forums

[confucianbewildered]

i've seen this posted a bit, but the search function wouldn't work.

i went to several banks today and:


kb, nonghyup and shinhan wouldn't offer debit cards that can be used overseas. does anyone, on an E-2, actually have one of these mystical, miracle functions of modern banking issued by a korean bank?

was there a 3 month waiting period?

or links to other threads.

mods: i put this in genernal discussion as it's an emergency and i need answers and the search function blows,

thanks for any advice

[Maneki Neko]

Standard Chatered First Bank (or in Korean: SC Jeil Bank) will issue you one. Go to the branch in Itaewon on the opposite side of Mickey D's.

[confucianbewildered]

thanks,

i'm all the way down in busan, however. i'll look around and see where they are.

have you used the card overseas yet?

[Maneki Neko]

Oh. I didn't realize you were in Busan. I didn't get mine in Seoul, either. I just know that the Seoul banch in Itaewon is foreigner friendly

May be try a branch in Haeundae?

And yes, I have used mine many times - I acquired it since 2006.

Good luck!

[chris_J2]

Try KEB. I got my debit atm card in 2006, & it expires in 2011. I got my Korean coteacher to ring the Nong Hyup bank in advance, & explain what I wanted, if that makes any difference. But it appears NH & other banks are currently not foreigner friendly? Especially where credit (as opposed to debit) savings accounts are concerned. Make sure the new card has a cirrus & maestro logo so you can use it overseas. So far, it's worked in Japan, China, Mongolia, Russia, Thailand, Canada, USA, & Australia.

[cangel]

Nonghyup gave me a Cirrus card. I have used it all over the world. Woori still refuses to give me one.

Korea, Sparkling!

[OculisOrbis]

just go to KEB. they actually want foreigner business. everything you want, but didnt think you could get with a korean bank. no waiting periods, no security deposits (except some credit cards), no BS.

http://www.keb.co.kr/main/en/

call 1544-3000 to get info.

[MrMr]

Got my nice shiney new KEB Global ATM card today. They swear it will work overseas. They showed me a leaflet in English outlining the choice between two different cards and showed me the service fees for overseas withdrawals. We'll see if it actually works next week in Krabi.

[tommo123456789]

I got my KEB card in December 2008. I know it works in America. I also have online banking that will let me transfer money to America without stepping foot in the bank. It's awesome.

[losing_touch]

Another vote for KEB here. My Global ATM worked in Thailand. I am sure it will work in the states soon. It even says it will work on the back of the card itself. I have nothing but praise for KEB.

[call_the_shots]

[rchristo10]

I'm not sure why you're getting an international card, but here's some advice for you just in case your planning on going to China--so you don't end up like I was my last trip from Shanghai to Beijing.

It really does depend on what card you're using (international debit card or not). In Beijing for example, the Woori Bank International debit card works pretty much everywhere but it doesn't work in Shanghai. In Shanghai, the Jaeil (Standard Charter) Bank card works everywhere, but not the Woori Card.

I went to both banks to figure out the problem and discovered that though the bank looks like a standard Woori/ Standard Charter from the outside, all banks in China are pretty much China-own and government directed (though not necessarily government owned). If you lose your card, then the China-based bank can not replace it despite the name of the bank.

I would recommend contacting foreigners in the areas you plan to visit to see which Korean bank cards will work before visiting any particular city in China to be safe.

About 3 months ago, thinking that this problem had been solved, I traveled from Shanghai to Beijing with a pretty healthy bank account that ended up having a major case of account constipation--I could only withdraw 100 RMB. And to make matters worse, the account actually let me see how much money I had but would not let me withdraw it. I called banks in Korea (and yes, I speak Korean) and all they could tell me was, "we're not sure what the problem is...but the banking system in Korea is changing." Didn't really help my situation though.

Anyways, just remember that the international card may be "international" but that doesn't necessarily mean it will work everywhere or in every city around the world.

*I'm not talking about a random case. I lived in Beijing for 3 years and Woori International Card never failed. I lived in Shanghai for about a year and there it never failed to fail. Vice-versa for Jaeil Bank in Beijing. And this doesn't seem to matter whether there is a China-based affiliate in the city.

**I also remember several years ago in Korea there was a general law passed (that may be overlooked now) that if you have a Korean bank account for more than 3 years (this effected Woori Bank) that you would have all the privileges of a Korean national. I've had my Woori one for about 6 years. The Jaeil Banking problem could be caused by my only having had the account for little more than a year. You should ask around, but with the economic problems these days, I think that this rule has either been forgotten or swept under the carpet; Korea just doesn't want its money going out of the country.