Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Harkkonenlad]

Has anyone had these travellers checks issued by Kookmin bank? Any problems with using them in the US? They didnt have American Express. Any info would be appreciated, thanks.

[schwa]

I'd guess they'd be fine in the States but they likely wouldnt fly in a lot of other places. Amex seems to be the gold standard of travellers checks & it seems bogus your bank wouldnt carry them. I'd have gone elsewhere.

[bulgogiboy]

I got those from KB last year. I tried to deposit them in citibank and they wouldn't take them.
However, my parents have used that kind on holiday in Europe many times, and they get accepted usually with no probs. Koomin Bank is a huge bank in Korea so i'm sure the travellers cheques they issue must be good in quite a few places. I don't know about where you're from but there are Thomas Cook money exchanges all over the UK where they issue that kind of travellers cheque. They must surely accept them, as it's their company!

If you get the chance, use Amex, but otherwise just take the Thomas Cook. It's better than carrying all your hard-earned cash in dollars, tempting fate...

BB

[bucheon bum]

I'm sure there must be a KB branch that has AmEx. I got Amex checks from a couple KB branches (one in seoul, one in Bucheon) back in October and November. I doubt they've changed their services since then.

Thomas Cook is ok too, accepted about as much as AmEx is.

[desultude]

I was given Thomas Cook and Visa at different times by my bank, but now I insist on Amex, and they have those too. I think you just have to ask.

[jjk]

There are places to get AMEX- KEB sells AMEX, which I found a little harder to change while in Malaysia, KFB (Korea First) sells Thomas Cook Visa, and they have been easy to change everywhere I have been.
Shop around and you will find the T/C you need.