Korean Job Discussion Forums

[red_devil]

So i'm going to open a new checking account where i can wire money to the account to pay off any bills i have in the states. Any recommendations?

I'm looking at these right now:

WaMu
HSBC
Bank of America
Charles Schwab (checking+brokerage)

[moosehead]

check out their internet options - that's your number one priority for a good bank overseas - also check how they are with overseas withdrawals -

also you want to get a check card - visa or mastercard so you can use it overseas

make sure there's 24 hour REAL customer service - a live person - so when your card is cancelled when you tried to use it at the Hong Kong airport and then you've just landed in Johannesburg, S. Africa, you can speak to a live person and say, no, it's not stolen, please re-activate my card because I really do need the thousands of dollars I put in there just for this trip!!

a lot of banks will cancel you immediately when you change countries - I always call and give mine a heads up now -

so to sum up

internet banking
security
customer service

[red_devil]

I found a couple cool things:

The Schwab High Yield Checking + Brokerage account seems like a very good thing. As far as i could see there is no fee's, no minimum balance, both accounts are linked, AND for us in Korea they reimburse all ATM cash fee's.

WaMu FREE Checking has a couple cool things about it:
- 1 free overdraft/NSF fee refund (1 use per year)
- Fee-free outgoing wire transfers (foreign or domestic)
- no monthly service charge
- $1 minimum to open

I went ahead and got them both. Why not.

[losing_touch]

I can highly recommend Schwab. They are fantastic in every sense of the word. Their customer service is the best I have ever seen. There is never a fee for anything, and they bend over backwards to help you. They have become my primary account.