A few hundred signatures later, we now have a Mexican bank account

I’ve been querying friends for a few weeks now on where we should open a bank account.

Pretty much everyone gave a different answer, so a few days ago I visited three banks. In the end I chose Ixe. They required the most pesos to open an account, but the bank executive there was friendly and patient, and he gave me his cell phone number. (As a sidenote, I had the worst experience at Bancomer. The bored-looking rep made me write down all the relevant info on a tiny receipt and he said he’d never heard of their special banking program for foreigners. “Dejame checar,” he said, which means “let me check.” I’m really starting to hate “dejame checar.” It’s a brush-off in sheep’s clothing.) Banamex was okay — I didn’t go with them because the crazy lines there scare me.

So Wednesday we went to Ixe to make it official. The nice exec offered us something to drink from the branch’s tiny cafe, and we declined. I figured it wouldn’t take too long. Naturally, we ended up being there for almost two hours.

We filled out a detailed application that asked us when and where we were born, our nationalities, how long we’ve lived in Mexico. (In the “civil status” section, I left the “regimen conyugal” part blank. Does that mean what I think it does…?) We waited while everything was neatly retyped, and then printed out for us to read. Then we fixed a few errors and waited some more.

After that came the flood of papers. We signed that everything was correct, that we were indeed opening a bank account, that “this is really me, and I am standing here in person, and this is my signature.” Finally we activated our checks and temporary debit card. Interestingly, every check here has to be activated here a special PIN number. I’m guessing that’s so you don’t get robbed blind. Also, even though we opened up a joint account, the checks only come in the principal account holder’s name. (ie, Crayton.) I can sign the checks and get my own debit card. But the checks don’t have my name. Oh well, I’m just the homemaker. I cook things.

We ended up getting renter’s insurance with Ixe, too. So we’re covered if the nearby volcano ever erupts.