Bank Account and ATM Withdrawls Please Help...

[Nixx302]

Ok, I called the Bay Shore Office and they said that I would have a $5000 Refund check after the school takes their money. Now, should I send this check back to the states and let my parents deposit it into my Wamu account and I just use my Wamu ATM card on campus? Or should I deposit it into a bank account in granada and use the ATM card for that bank to withdraw money?

I just spoke to someone from the school and they told me that if I withdraw money on campus using my Wamu acount, it will charge me a fee of 5%. Also, someone told me that recently, the campus bank has started a new thing where they also charge you 5% when you withdraw money using their own ATM. What do most students there do and does anyone know about these 5% charges?? Thanks for all the responses in advance.

[jaywalk81]

Ok, I called the Bay Shore Office and they said that I would have a $5000 Refund check after the school takes their money. Now, should I send this check back to the states and let my parents deposit it into my Wamu account and I just use my Wamu ATM card on campus? Or should I deposit it into a bank account in granada and use the ATM card for that bank to withdraw money?

I just spoke to someone from the school and they told me that if I withdraw money on campus using my Wamu acount, it will charge me a fee of 5%. Also, someone told me that recently, the campus bank has started a new thing where they also charge you 5% when you withdraw money using their own ATM. What do most students there do and does anyone know about these 5% charges?? Thanks for all the responses in advance.
thats up to u really.
i never opened a acct on campus and just withdraw money from my back acct. the charge is typically 5US per transaction. but i just withdraw enough money to last for the month everytime so dont have to worry about the fees and such.
its really up to u what u wanna do.

[emt036]

the campus bank has started a new thing where they also charge you 5% when you withdraw money using their own ATM.

Really? That's the first I heard of it... That sucks... :samurai:

[drO]

I never opened an account in Grenada, I just used my US account. My roommate did open an account there, and she said the major downside was that it took them forever to issue her an ATM card. During the time that she didn't have the card she would have to go to the bank and withdraw money and there was always a huge line she had to wait in. I never had any problems with using my US account, so if I were you that's the way I would go.

[Groove]

You'll be fine either way. I opened a local account and deposited all my money, then wired it all to a U.S. account and withdrew money from my U.S. account for everything. The charge per withdrawal isn't too bad, and it costs around $100 to transfer your refund check to the states. I didn't have a lot of faith in the Grenada RBTT bank, but I'm sure it's fine.

[Flounder]

hey can one use paypal with the gnd back accounts?

[jaywalk81]

hey can one use paypal with the gnd back accounts?
not sure about that one. never tried it.

[emt036]

hey can one use paypal with the gnd back accounts?
I don't think so... Last term I tried to set up an account for EMC to collect member dues, and you had to have a US address/bank.

[shell499]

How much cash should we travel with? I know it depends on how much laptop tax you have to pay, but say with a $1000 laptop. I don't want to have to convert a bunch of US money to EC since you probably lose some in the transition fees. Just an estimate would be great. Thanks

[jaywalk81]

How much cash should we travel with? I know it depends on how much laptop tax you have to pay, but say with a $1000 laptop. I don't want to have to convert a bunch of US money to EC since you probably lose some in the transition fees. Just an estimate would be great. Thanks
u can pay the duty fee in US. i bought down with me around $500 US just to start me off for a few days in gnd. dont bring any big bills. stay with 20s, 10s, 5s, and lotsa 1s.

[shell499]

Did you have to convert what was left over after customs to EC then or can you use US dollars in Grenada? Do they try to rip you off with the conversion if you do that?

[rokshana]

Did you have to convert what was left over after customs to EC then or can you use US dollars in Grenada? Do they try to rip you off with the conversion if you do that?

better off converting to EC- stores do take the US$, but the conversion rate is something like 2.60 to the US$, while at the bank its more like 2.67(doesn't seem to be much, but with larger sums it can add up).

[jaywalk81]

convert it! yes some will rip u off. its just so much easier to do the conversion at 2.5 in ur head so most of the clerks will use that instead of 2.67

[orthonut]

You'll be fine either way. I opened a local account and deposited all my money, then wired it all to a U.S. account and withdrew money from my U.S. account for everything. The charge per withdrawal isn't too bad, and it costs around $100 to transfer your refund check to the states. I didn't have a lot of faith in the Grenada RBTT bank, but I'm sure it's fine.

Groove! You solved my dilemma. Thanks, you're a stud (or stud-ette)!

[martin]

Ok, I called the Bay Shore Office and they said that I would have a $5000 Refund check after the school takes their money. Now, should I send this check back to the states and let my parents deposit it into my Wamu account and I just use my Wamu ATM card on campus? Or should I deposit it into a bank account in granada and use the ATM card for that bank to withdraw money?

I just spoke to someone from the school and they told me that if I withdraw money on campus using my Wamu acount, it will charge me a fee of 5%. Also, someone told me that recently, the campus bank has started a new thing where they also charge you 5% when you withdraw money using their own ATM. What do most students there do and does anyone know about these 5% charges?? Thanks for all the responses in advance.

I sent my check home because I heard of a number of horror story where students had difficulty taking out the money from RBTT bank after the hurricane. My friend got back the money 3 months after request. It was really tough to get all the money out once you deposit in RBTT. It's better to send back home and use Wamu ATM to take out money.

I used Wamu ATM card and I was charged $3 per transaction last year. It's very convenient and I have control. Most of the time, I use the Visa function of Wamu ATM card to purchase food from Spiceland shopping mall. There's no transacation for using Visa.

[martin]

You'll be fine either way. I opened a local account and deposited all my money, then wired it all to a U.S. account and withdrew money from my U.S. account for everything. The charge per withdrawal isn't too bad, and it costs around $100 to transfer your refund check to the states. I didn't have a lot of faith in the Grenada RBTT bank, but I'm sure it's fine.

I would rather ask financial aid office to send the check home. It doesn't cost anything. It might take two or three weeks. It's better than spending $100 for wired transfer.