Korean Job Discussion Forums

[DerJon]

I am planning a short trip back to the US, and then another one to Guam. I was wondering, what kinds of fees come with using a KEB Global Visa Plus Check Card in the US, or any other country for that matter. Has anyone done this? Is it cheaper than using their wire service? Are there daily withdrawl limits?

Thanks in advance!

[lifeinkorea]

It's probably cheaper to transfer more money than paying as you go with a card.

I would find a safe bank in the country you will live and wire the funds. In this case, any school would be fine.

[crossmr]

You can't use it at stores or anything like that even though it's a visa check card. You can only use it at ATMs which are part of the Plus network. So there is no "paying as you go" with that card.

In terms of fees you'd have to ask the bank. I haven't had a chance to use mine in a foreign ATM, so I'm not sure what kind of fee there would be. I had used my Canadian card in a US ATM through the Plus system before and I don't recall the fee being excessive, but remember there are limits to each withdrawal, so to get the same amount of money you might have to make several withdrawals which would multiply those fees.

[DerJon]

I know it's old, but I'd like to update this:

I used it in the US and got charged a $2.00 fee at the ATM, not by the US bank, but by KEB. Then there was a slight (1.5%) premium on the official exchange rate.

I only took $20 out, just to see if it would work. Not cost effective, but sure enough it did work at a Pennsylvania ATM!

[Milwaukiedave]

If you have a US account and are going to be in the US it's better to transfer money ahead of time and use it via your US debitcard. I have an account with a credit union and they only charge $5 for an incoming wire transfer (verses $20 or more at some banks).