Day 12 - Banking

Banking

Let me describe my Monday ordeal.  I am running low on dollars to change into Bolivianos.  When I lived here before, I would walk to the Central Plaza and write a check at the casa de cambio (money exchange).  So my plan today was to learn how it’s done a quarter of a century later.

The other day, when I changed some money I asked the money changers on the corner where was the best place to get cash from a check.  I was told the Casa Aleman.  I went with check and passport in hand, only to be told they couldn’t do it.  They sent me to the Banco Ganadero around the corner.

The Banco was nice and cool, air conditioned.  In the bank you first have to get a ticket.  Then you wait until a TV shows your number and which teller to speak to.  Mine was called quickly.  The lady was counting thousands of Bolivianos, so she really wasn’t ready.  Finally, I am able to explain my situation.  She says, “Yes, we can do it.”  But she needs to go ask how.  Five minutes later she says she can’t cash a check from out of Bolivia.  But she suggests I check with the Banco Bisi down the road.

So I go to the Banco Bisi and same story.  And then I try to Banco Fassil.  They were more helpful.  They said they were just a small branch, but their main office on the other side of town, could help me.  They were also helpful enough to write down directions to the main bank. 

I realized I was running low on cash and needed to change something from dollars.  I have usually used the corner money changers, but today I learned something and will never, ever go back to them.  So here is what happened.  They showed me the exchange and started counting it out.  I was just changing $100, so I should get 692 Bs. back. He first handed me 500 and let me count it.  I said it was correct.  He took it back and recounted it and gave me the additional 192 in smaller bills.  I then hoped into a taxi to take me to the bank.  Do you see what he did?  When he counted the 500 and gave them back to me, he took out 100.  He stole about $15 dollars from me.  Lesson learned.

The main bank really was on the opposite side of the city from me.  A long taxi drive during a busy part of the day.  I was treated well there and sent to a second floor office, only to be told that I could not cash my check in Bolivia.  He said I could go to every bank in town and I would not get a check cashed.  So I am stuck.

Well, not really.  I talked to several friends and asked for a solution.  I was beginning to think I would be unable to make things work here and wondering what mistake I made coming here.  How would I have money?

After lunch and a rest, I took my debit card and went looking for an ATM.  There is one next door, literally next door.  I put in my card, had the choice of English, put in my PIN, and presto, I had cash.

And that was less than five minutes from my door.

Lessons learned.