BANK ACCOUNTS and NON-Residents in Costa Rica - & BIG Change in Online Banking - DIMEX Cards

A BUNCH of HUGE changes have taken effect (starting October 2012) geared towards NON-Residents that have banking accounts within Costa Rica OR that might want to open a bank account IN Costa Rica.

WHO DOES THIS EFFECT?

Do you (or someone you know) have a bank account in Costa Rica?  If you are planning on RECEIVING any ONLINE BANK TRANSFERS or WIRE from someone that does NOT bank at your same bank, they must provide a SINPE number (National System for Electronic Payments).

BUT - NOW - to make such a transaction, YOU MUST NOW have a DIMEX or DIDI card or the Transfer•Wire will NOT go through!!!

WHO CAN GET A DIMEX OR DIDI CARD?

In order to get either one of these IDs, people with LEGAL residency (a Cedula) or diplomats must have a checking account, a savings account or a credit card with one of the banks in Costa Rica (private or public).

All foreign nationals in Costa Rica who need to make payments or transfer money online MUST now use official government IDs: DIMEX or DIDI.

The Immigration Identification Document for Foreign Persons (DIMEX) and the Diplomatic Identification Document (DIDI) are the only valid forms of ID as of October 2012, Costa Rica’s Central Bank (BCCR) confirmed.

DIMEX is an identification issued by the Immigration Administration that is granted to LEGAL RESIDENTS. It allows holders to complete bank transactions via the Internet.

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NOTE there have been CONFLICTING stories about this like here it says people with residency in waiting SHOULD be able to open a bank account (this article is about the DIMEX card).  AHHHH - life in Costa Rica!!!  Who knows!  Try it share back what your experience was (if you do not want to post something in "Comments", email me at LivingLifeInCostaRica@gmail.com)
TicoTimes.net/More-news/Top-Story/More-control-on-bank-transfers_Friday-May-25-2012

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WHERE DOES ONE GET A DIMEX or DIDI CARD?

DIMEX is a card issued to Nationals and people with legal Residency (a Cedula) via Immigration•Migracion.

DIDI is the card issued by the Foreign Ministry to diplomats accredited in Costa Rica.

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I NEED YOUR HELP TO GET SOME MORE DETAILS•ANSWERS!!

Do you know a bank official at one of the National Banks that has CLEAR knowledge of this new rule (I don't know if it's actually a "law" [but I want to find that out also]) and ideally speaks GOOD English that can help us get more clarity to my questions below??  (you know me - a Ms Detailed and Ms Wanting the FULL Picture kinda gal!!!). 

PLEASE contact me ASAP at LivingLifeInCostaRica@gmail.com  or  8-378-6679 (but currently the ringer on my cell isn't working so please send me a text with the contact information and I will call them back).

I'm going to look further into to this (as soon as I can find someone that works at a bank that has access to having the FACTS to these questions and that speaks GOOD English [vs someone that just says "yes" to everything or someone that has something to gain from pushing people into getting residency]) to get some more answers to:

•   Does this mean that non-residents can no longer open a checking account in Costa Rica?

•   Does this mean people with their residency in process can or can not open a checking account in Costa Rica?

•   Can non-residents still keep their checking accounts - and just not send payments to people/businesses with checking accounts at other banks?

•   Can non-residents still keep their checking accounts and still transfer to others within the same bank?

•   If non-residents can not keep their checking accounts, when will they close?

•   If non-residents can not keep their checking accounts, will the banks notify them and how? (I ask this as when Costa Rica was bullied by the U.S. to require U.S. Citizens to sign some tax papers to have full disclosure and provide documentation on where your money was coming from [remember - we're all drug dealing, money laundering, terrorists] - CR shut down our accounts and you couldn't get that money back till you provided that documentation - and MANY people were NOT notified of it and like myself, ONLY found out when we went to use the account!!!).

•   If non-residents can not keep their checking accounts - what is needed to close their accounts

•   Does this effect people making payments to Utilities (like ICE, RACSA, etc.) that have automatic systems set up when banking online.

•   Does this effect people doing ANYTHING online - like just checking their balances?

Can anyone else think of any other questions - or have any contacts in the know where I can get these answers!!!

E- me at  -  LivingLifeInCostaRica@gmail.com

BIG NOTE:

WHY DID THEY BANK CLOSE MY ACCOUNT WIHT NO WARNING?

For those that haven't learned the hard way (like I did), did you know that if you do NOT show SOME sort of activity in your bank account within I believe it's 90 days - there's a GOOD chance the bank AUTOMATICALLY CLOSE YOUR ACCOUNT - and in MY case (as has been the case with MOST people I've spoken with), I was NEVER notified of it!!  I only found out when I went to deposit some money into it - a few months after it was closed!!

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LEARN MORE ABOUT WHY NON-RESIDENTS CAN NOT OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT IN COSTA RICA NOW

LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2013/04/NOBankAccountsForNonResidents.html

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LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2012/10/change-in-online-banking-non-residents.html