>
Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2002 16:27:06 -0700
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4807.1700
Maybe someone who knows international banking and financial commerce can
comment more accurately than I can. One thing I learned in the
globalization efforts of the WTO, this is pretty much the last sector of
business to get to globalization. So one lesson I learned moving to Munich
from USA, then back to USA, is that there is no such thing as an
"international bank". For example, even if there is a Citibank on your
street corner in USA and another Citibank branch in downtown Munich, they
are not the same business unit and there is no advantage that the two
different banks might have the same name and logo. Any type of transaction
deals with the other bank as it would with any other foreign bank.
Maybe this has recently changed. I am no longer current.
I also remember that wire transfers are quite expensive. I could almost be
cheaper to just leave your account open in the other country and draw funds
from it via a credit or ATM card.
To deposit a USA check and access the money, your option #3 might be the
easiest. Maybe someday in the USA the banks will invent a way for people to
deposit into your account directly without using a check just by using your
bank account number ... like people do in Germany or Switzerland. If this
exists and I missed it, please let me know.
Another interesting option which I haven't checked out in great detail is to
"wire" money via the Internet using services such as www.paypal.com which
people use to pay for ebay auctions, etc. I think they allow international
operation now too. I'm not sure.
-chris
----- Original Message -----
From: "Laurent Piguet" <piguet_at_yahoo.com>
To: <swiss-list_at_swiss-list.com>
Sent: Monday, July 29, 2002 1:59 PM
Subject: Re: swiss-list: Money, Money, Money
>
> I would probably just open an account with a bank that offer online
> banking. Then have people send the checks simply to the bank, marking "for
> deposit only" on the back.
>
> You can then wire the money into your swiss account in the best (cheapest)
> possible way, or use a linked credit card, like you mentioned.
>
> I am not sure this would actually work as described, but we have used
> something similar for a while and it worked ok. An alternative is to have
> people mail the check to someone you know, and have them mark it "for
> deposit only", the send it to the bank (I know this works).
>
> Laurent
>
> At 22:14 29/07/02, Christian Heuss wrote:
>
> >Hello Swiss-List members,
> >
> >soon, we will leave the US and go back to Switzerland. - As freelance
> >science writer I'll continue working for American clients from
> >Switzerland. As you know, the usual mode here is to receive a check,
> >that you walk to the bank to cash-in. - But, what's the easiest &
> >cheapest way to cash in an American check in Switzerland?
> >
> >I see several options:
> >
> >1.) Cash-in the check in Switzerland (probably a high fee; don't know
> >how much).
> >
> >2.) Cash-in the check in Switzerland, but in the branch of an American
> >Bank that you have an account with.
> >
> >3.) Send the check from Switzerland to your bank overhere, and get
> >access to the money via a Mastercard.
> >
> >Are there any check-free options, like direct money transfer?
> >
> >I'd appreciate any experiences, ideas or alike
> >
> >Best
> >- Christian
> >
> >=========
> >Christian Heuss
> >629 Escalona Drive
> >Santa Cruz, CA 95060
> >phone (831) 457-2358
> >fax (347) 214-6513
> >email christian.heuss_at_nasw.org
> >
> >
> >
> >=================================================================
> >To unsubscribe from the swiss-list mailing list send the
> >message body of "unsubscribe swiss-list" to majordomo_at_swiss-list.com
> >or visit http://www.swiss-list.com/mailing/
>
> --
> Laurent Piguet piguet_at_yahoo.com
> Rte de Chanivaz 4 Mobile: +41-79-310-3249
> CH-1164 Buchillon
>
>
> =================================================================
> To unsubscribe from the swiss-list mailing list send the
> message body of "unsubscribe swiss-list" to majordomo_at_swiss-list.com
> or visit http://www.swiss-list.com/mailing/
=================================================================
To unsubscribe from the swiss-list mailing list send the
message body of "unsubscribe swiss-list" to majordomo_at_swiss-list.com
or visit http://www.swiss-list.com/mailing/
Received on Mon Jul 29 2002 - 23:47:47 PDT
