Costa Rica Banking

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Firstly it is important to know that there are two types of banks, Government and Private, both of which have their advantages and disadvantages.

The banks operated by the Costa Rican Government include Banco Nacional, Banco Costa Rica, and Banco Credito Agricola. All money in these banks is guaranteed. These banks also have locations all over the country from which you can access your funds, however line-ups can be long.

There are also now many private banks, many affiliated with international banks. These banks are overseen by the government, and often provide better service, however they may have less branches available.

Most Banks now offer savings and checking accounts in Dollars or Colónes, however some of the differences may include time to cash foreign checks, whether your account is foreign or national (national checks are no good outside Costa Rica) or even whether they have Automated Tellers to access your account outside office hours. Many also offer Credit or Debit cards, if you meet the requirements (but not all are internationally accepted either.) All banks will also have different requirements for opening accounts or obtaining credit cards, possibly including banking or personal references, identification, and most likely minimum deposits.

It is also very important to note that while interest is much higher on colón accounts, there is a monthly devaluation of the colón to the dollar, so you won't be earning as much as you think. It is better to have your money primarily in dollars to avoid the devaluation, and change money when you need it. Interest can vary greatly between different banks as well, which is another reason why it may pay to shop around. Some offer different types of accounts, so if you watch where your money is, you can really make it work for you.

To open a business account in a national bank, you'll be asking your attorney for help. Among other things you'll need the original letters of incorporation of your company, certification of the company's legal representatives and two recommendation letters from individuals with checking accounts in that bank. Your attorney can supply you with these letters. The legal charges for something like this are minimal.

There are no "official" money-changing places in Costa Rica. Stores, taxi drivers, street corner money changers can do it, and will. Is this better than going to the bank? Banks in Costa Rica are notoriously slow. Going to El Banco de Costa Rica for something as simple as changing a few dollars into colónes might require an hour of standing in line.

Service at private banks, such as BANEX, Banco Mercantil, is much better. Here, your money changing can be accomplished in a matter of minutes, plus most of these places are air conditioned and the tellers friendlier and more helpful. To exchange your money you must show your passport. There is a fee for exchanging dollars in a private bank, usually about $3.

The Banking hours for the National Banks are Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm; for private banks, Monday through Friday from 8am to 3:30 or 4:00pm. Most banks are closed on weekends.

You can use credit cards to get cash from a bank. However, your credit card company might charge you a fee (sometimes 1%) for the favor. Visa and MasterCard's are accepted in almost all establishments. American Express is accepted at larger hotels, car rental companies and for airline ticket sales.