Korean Job Discussion Forums

englishRC · Joined: 17 May 2009

I made the mistake of canceling all of my US bank accounts and credit cards when I came here thinking that I wouldn't have any problems getting replacements. After a year and a half of living here I finally got an international debit card from KEB. Very simple, all I needed was my passport. Every other bank I tried turned me down, sometimes with a smirk and a small laugh, "No, no. You're waygookin." So irritating.

Anyway, Im sure this just sounds like an advertisement but it does seem that this is the only bank that should be getting our business.

red_devil · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Location: Korea

Woori Bank is also good. Show up with ARC + passport and they give everything to you on the spot.

phoneboothface · Joined: 26 Apr 2009 Location: Korea

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

SC wouldn't give me an int'l bank card. I even called their headquarters and was told it was illegal for them to do so.

KEB gave me one with no difficulties, and it does work overseas (I used it in Thailand).

hogwonguy1979 · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: the racoon den

Woori Bank wont replace my worn out card with a new one and i've been trying at different branches for 3 years now

ihaveseoul2 · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

OculisOrbis · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

forget anyone else. KEB is the only reliable option for foreigners in korea. it is the only bank that actively promotes its services for foreigners. even if you get a small, hick branch that still likes to say things are illegal when there not - just call the english KEB help line, tell them what asshats youre dealing with and hand the phone to said asshat . your problem will be solved promptly.

englishRC · Joined: 17 May 2009

yeah, SC wouldnt give me one either because I didnt have two forms of ID. Passport +ARC wasnt good enough. They said they could do it if I had a US drivers license, but I threw that away when it expired 3 months ago. I didnt think it would be useful for anything here.

unfortunately, though, i just tried to use the KEB card to pay a US bill and it didnt work. maybe because the charge was about 2800$. i hope thats all it is and not that they gave me a worthless piece of plastic with "visa" and "global check card" written on it just to get me out the door. neither situation would surprise me.

Ukon · Joined: 29 Jan 2008

englishRC · Joined: 17 May 2009

unless they called my school, i dont know how they would know how much i make. also, its just a check card, not a credit card.

i am getting a little worried though because i just tried to make a 12$ payment and it didnt work. ill try my best not to jump to any conclusions just yet.

KoreanNam · Joined: 07 Dec 2008

It was my understanding that the KEB global check card can only be used overseas for ATM transactions and nothing else. So that would elminate paying with it over the internet or using it as a debit card in a foreign country. I have the visa logo on mine too.

englishRC · Joined: 17 May 2009

oh boy...

OculisOrbis · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

englishRC · Joined: 17 May 2009

how long does a bank transfer take? i need to pay an old tuition bill ASAP.

OculisOrbis · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

if you go to a branch with all your home bank info, you can make a wire transfer in about 30 minutes,,,it then takes about a day to hit your home account. since your already there at the branch, it would be wise to setup your remittance account and internet banking, otherwise you'd have to go through basically the same process again, but once you have it then you can make your transfer from home or ATMs. you should be able to have all 3 things setup in about an hour.

ADDED: i see that you said you cancelled your home accounts before you came here.. not sure how to remit money to a company from here, but you could get a money order here and express mail it to whoever you need to pay. i dont know what the korean word for money order is though. money orders cost about 5000won and fast mail would get it to the US in about 3 days.