Setting up a Scotiabank account is fairly easy, but you have to go to the bank and make an appointment to go back to the back and set up an account on another day. You also need to bring a letter from AUC stating that you are living in the dorms and noting your room number, or if you are living off campus, a copy of your lease. Make sure you ask the teller exactly what you need to bring with you because it changes from time to time and you don't want to have to make a new appointment. Once the account is set up, however, it is relatively simple to do banking as long as you avoid the end of the month and lunchtime rushes.

the local currency here is dollars and you will have no need for NAFs. in my opinion spending a few bucks per semester to mail your check home is a lot better than dealing with island banks....period

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AUC Post-5th Semester
Undergrad: UC Riverside

I would never let the locals handle any amount of money that I wasn't willing to lose.

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"Always carry a flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."

......ditto

I wonder...if it is possible, that would certainly make things more convenient!

I just talked to the branch manager of my home bank about fed-exing my loan check to them. She was wondering why I didn't just go to a local bank on SXM and wire the money directly to my account - which should result in same-day (or next day) availability of funds. Is this an option? Has anyone had any luck doing this?

Thanks!

__________________
~Slaol

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WCU Biology '07
AUC May '08


"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little."
~Edmund Burke

Get Involved: PM me if interested
http://www.dagodalahera.org/
http://www.ivdn-africa.org/medical_programs.asp

generally people fedex the check home to someone they trust to deposit it. part of the point of fedexing is the elimination of any dealing with the island banks. it is quite common to wait in line forever.

also, there is a check issued from a US bank that they can issue you or one to a local bank. if you deposit a US check into the island bank, it can take a long time to clear (weeks)

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AUC Post-5th Semester
Undergrad: UC Riverside

Which bank are you talking about? I'm going to go in and talk to my Wells Fargo rep soon and see what they can set up for me (at least waive ATM fees)... I would think it would be easiest to wire transfer money to a BofA account from Scotia Bank on SXM since they are affiliated, but ideally I would like to stay with Wells (fed-ex option probably necessary)

Is wells fargo pretty popular on the east coast - relative to Bank of America?

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UCSD --> AUC May08

My wife and I bank with First Citizens Bank. While I do not know for sure about wells fargo vs bank of america, I would venture a guess that the latter is much bigger and more prevalent.

I doubt that FC will waive the atm fees for us, though I will try to ask!

__________________
~Slaol

--------------------------------------------------------------
WCU Biology '07
AUC May '08


"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little."
~Edmund Burke

Get Involved: PM me if interested
http://www.dagodalahera.org/
http://www.ivdn-africa.org/medical_programs.asp

I don't understand what the point of wiring the money. It's just an extra step that potentially screw things up for you if you need the money.

In general, locals have difficulty doing things if it is atypical of the standard way they have been trained. If you want them to do more, there is either confusion, or risk. If you have enough money that you can screw with 14k+ a semester, but all means, try to train one of the locals. If you don't, spend the lousy 40 dollars and send your check via fed ex to somebody in the states who can then deposit for you.

__________________
"Always carry a flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."