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What's the least worse bank in Colombia?

I´m working in Medellin and I need to open a bank account here so I can get paid.

At the moment, I'm thinking Bancolombia is best simply because they seem to have the most cajeros in the city (and I've heard that using another bank´s cajero will cost me).

However, I've also heard that Bancolombia is horrendous in every other way... long queues, horrendous bureaucracy, and a nightmare actually opening the account.

So what´s the verdict from those with experience?

Thanks

By glassoman on Aug 25, 2008, 19:56 in Friendly Talkzone.

Buongone says on Aug 25, 2008, 23:25:

Are you a Gringo? Or Colombiano? Could make a big difference. From what I hear !! Might need a Cedula.

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viajero123 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 26, 2008, 01:00:

Since you are working, having a letter from your employer certifying that you work for them will open the doors in most banks. Of course, provided you have a cedula. Make sure you ask your employer before setting up a bank account because sometimes they only pay in salaries to certain banks and because someimtes they might have contacts in a certain branch that will make things smoother.

I bank with Bancolombia and I'm happy (or as happy as a Colombian bank might let you be). Free ATM withdrawals at all Bancolombia ATMs with a large network, free online banking and online bill pay and a few branches with little queues in Bogota if I do need to pop in for something.

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johnny2008 says on Aug 26, 2008, 02:34:

Do they have Citibank in Medellin? There are many branches in Bogotá. I have a Citibank UK account and Citibank allows free international transfers between about 20 countries, three of which are UK, USA and Colombia. A benefit worth thinking about.

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dwmte7 says on Aug 26, 2008, 05:37:

well, that's a tough question....they all try pretty hard at being difficult. language proficiency or no. i've been with bancolombia (BIC) for about 20 yrs now and although i don't feel prompted to take the mgr to lunch, they've always taken care of my banking needs.

dwmte

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Bill Turley (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 26, 2008, 06:07:

I have been quite satisfied with what is now HSBC. When I first came here the school I worked at had a strong connection with Lloyds bank which became HSBC. I have had very bad service from Banco de Bogota, they actuall have held my money for 20 days for no reason except to may money from it.. I need to Banco de Bogota because it is one of 3 that can work with the US Social Security. HSBC is not able to get direct deposit from SSA

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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dwmte7 says on Aug 26, 2008, 06:48:

bill...i've never transferred my ss checks there...does bancolombia work with dir. deposit?

dwmte

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elmodefoque says on Aug 26, 2008, 06:53:

GUYSSSS
I HAVE A REAL FOKIN PROBLEM
I FORGOT MY BANCO DE BOGOTA PIN NUMBER, NOW I CAN'T GET TO MY 450 MIL MILLONES FROM HERE, NYC.
WHAT DO I FOKIN DO?????? HELP

I'll get there, when I get there!

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webmanco says on Aug 26, 2008, 07:00:

Call your nephew

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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elmodefoque says on Aug 26, 2008, 07:06:

i had to change the pin cus of that modefoque, but i changed it while i was in barranquilla DRUNK!
NOW I CAN'T REMEMBER

I'll get there, when I get there!

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webmanco says on Aug 26, 2008, 07:09:

He will tell you the new pin..............

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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elmodefoque says on Aug 26, 2008, 08:27:

en serio, que ago??
what the fok to do?? I got like a half a milllon fokin dollars in A fokin third world bank and cant even withdraw un fokin peso

HELLLLLPPPPPPPP!!!

any colombian bankers out there???

I'll get there, when I get there!

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joelg says on Aug 26, 2008, 08:28:

citibank branch in central medellin close to oviedo shopping center

do what you like, take risks, build something

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) says on Aug 26, 2008, 09:00:

Elmo, Are you in Curramba right now? Have you tried calling them or going into a branch? They should be able to let you reset your PIN.

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elmodefoque says on Aug 26, 2008, 09:08:

CG, thanks!
I'm in NYC getting ready to hit curramba for a quick businees trip
anyways, i just remembered my pin # after spending all morning trying.
It turns out i only have 12 mil pesos in my fokin account.
looks like all my money still in the USA,
I better get someone to handle my money, i'm really getting senile.
i forget all my pin numbers and where my money be at.
i think i might die the way i came, with nothing, sin un culo, pelao y mondao all cus
i could not keep taps of my fokin cash.

I'll get there, when I get there!

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Bill Turley (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 26, 2008, 09:49:

BanColombia I am sure does accept the direct Deposit of SSA checks. It was one of the options that the Embasy gave me when they stopped the personal messenger service. I foolishly choose Banco de Bogota because there was a branch in Guateque.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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glassoman says on Aug 26, 2008, 13:04:

Thanks for all the advice. It's still looking like Bancolombia because it will be easier to avoid being charged for withdrawing money.

However, I just found out that there's a bank at my University which is part of "ATH" group (I think it's called).. anyone know about ATH?

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YankeeInMDE says on Aug 26, 2008, 14:43:

I have yet to find a good bank in Colombia and I have been here over 3 years. These banks CHARGE for accepting deposits from 3rd parties as well as the majority of the time you wish to access your money, whether it be by ATM (even at their own ATM's), cash withdrawl, and more.
I will never understand why someone should be charged to have someone put $$ in their account or to access their own $$.
Crazy!

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Bill Turley (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 26, 2008, 14:48:

BancoBogota is a ATH bank as are several others. There are machine all over that are ATH

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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Hostal Tamarindo says on Aug 26, 2008, 16:06:

Most companies and schools work with a particular bank, you usually are not given an option. If you can choose don't go with Bancolombia, after their merge with Conavi they have gone down hill. I use Citibank now and even though they don' have many cash machines their service is great and the 1pm - 7pm schedule at the blockbuster office is super, not to mention short lines most of the time. I've also heard that they are pretty good if you need to do transactions between Citibank US and Citibank Colombia.

Natalie Cobo - Hostal Tamarindo, Medellín

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IloveCidy says on Aug 26, 2008, 17:57:

All the banks in Colombia suck. They look like the DVM in NY.

I miss my novia!

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manINred says on Aug 26, 2008, 20:46:

Bancolombia is a terrible, disgrace of a bank. They have no moral qualms with ripping off their own customers. They even go so far as to steal money from their own customers.

Conavi, before merging with Bancolombia, I heard was very good (very obviously being relative to the terrible standard of Colombian banks).

I have heard decent things about Davivienda, that's the one I deal with while in Colombia.

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manINred says on Aug 26, 2008, 20:47:

Trust me, the amount of chagrin, grief and inconvienience that I have seen my friends and family in Colombia go through at the hands of Bancolombia forces me to warn people away from this disgrace of a corporation.

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dwmte7 says on Aug 27, 2008, 07:12:

ditto that, jack.

dwmte

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IloveCidy says on Aug 27, 2008, 15:00:

Every bank I ever went into it was an hour line to see a teller. The line is out the door. That is a sucky bank if you ask me.

I miss my novia!

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dwmte7 says on Aug 27, 2008, 16:19:

the best rule to avoid the lines, is to go upstairs to mgmt and see if they can cut through the b.s. for you. i always did that. i hate lines. and all the mensajeros with their bags full of paperwork, who further tie up the tellers with a shit load of stuff to transact. at that level, all banks are the same. get to know a bank officer, take them to lunch and 'buy' a little special service.

dwmte

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