|
Banking and Bank Services in Costa Rica
The Costa Rican banks will not open an account for you without at least one recommendation letter. Ask your realtor or your attorney to help you open a bank account.
There are government banks and also many private banks many of which are affiliated with international banks. In the last few years there has been a trend towards privatization, so now private banks can offer many of the same services the state banks do.
Regarding the latter, you should make sure that the bank you choose works with a U.S. correspondent bank to avoid untimely delays in cashing checks. There are dollar accounts, certificates of deposit, and an ATM cards.
All banks have different requirements for opening accounts or obtaining credit cards, possibly entailing banking or personal references, identification and most certainly minimum deposits. Requirements will vary slightly from bank to bank.
Permanent and non-residents may open a savings account in state and private banks. All that is needed is a minimum deposit, in some cases a letter of reference and a passport or cédula. To open a local checking account you have to be a resident and may be asked to provide a Costa Rican ID card or passport as a means of identification.
You may be asked to show your water, telephone and electric bills in your name to prove you live here. If you can’t provide these documents you’ll need two references from banks in the U.S. or from two account holders in the same bank where you wish to open your account. If opening a checking account in local currency you’ll need an initial deposit. A local dollar checking account may require an initial deposit too.
If you have a Costa Rican Corporation you may also opening a local corporate checking account, or Cuenta Corriente Empresarial. You’ll have to provide the following: Passport or cédula (Costa Rican ID), the name of the corporation or Personería Jurídica, proof that it is active, a letter from person who has general power of attorney of your corporation authorizing those people who can sign on the account along with their ID numbers and an initial deposit.
|
