One of the strange things about banking in Mexico is the popularity of bank transfers. Meaning, instead of writing a check, you go to the bank and deposit the money directly into someone else’s account. This is how I paid the carpenter, when we got shelves installed in the kitchen. It’s also how we pay our rent and our bills.
Usually I don’t mind the “transferencias bancarias,” as they’re called, but sometimes it can get annoying. Last month, when I wanted to attend a Mexican wine dinner at a cooking school south of town, they would only confirm my reservation if I deposited the fee in their bank account first. (It’s like, Dude umm… what if I had to cancel at the last minute?) I wrote down the account number wrong and then I was so frustrated I didn’t want to go anymore. Then I got a stomach bacteria, so I couldn’t have gone anyway.
Had to stop by Banamex this morning to deposit money into the American Benevolent Society’s account. They’re throwing a Fourth of July party this weekend with beer and hot dogs and potato salad, so of course you know we’re going. Unfortunately, Banamex kind of stresses me out. The lines are always long, and they’ve got tons of windows, and I never know which section I’m supposed to go to.
Today I walked up to a little machine and pressed a button, which spit out a number. But the number-display screen wasn’t working, so they had a man in a Banamex uniform calling them out. (I thought: In Mexico, you really get paid to be the number-shouter-outer?) He was on 135 when I walked in; I had 166. Tried to pull out my newspaper and read, but the guy called them out rapid-fire, so you really had to pay attention.
“155!” he’d bark.
And then someone would jump up and rush to the window. I wondered how invalids were supposed to make bank transfers here. It’d be impossible.
After about 10 minutes it was finally my turn, and I deposited the money fine. (Deep, heaving sigh of relief.) The teller printed me a receipt and stamped the back. I have to fax that to the ABS, so they know I’ve paid.
On a related banking note, I will soon have my own Mexican ATM card. Not at Banamex — at Ixe, where the lines are much shorter. We had to make a special request since I’m not the principal name on the account. (I am the co-principal, which is much, much different.) Crayton had to sign the form authorizing me to receive my own card. Luckily he left the “monthly allowance” part blank.
Thanks, honey.
hahaaa!
I think Ixe is your best bet, we haye Banaex unfurtunately we do have to use it for our business.
eso es tan retro, por qué simplemente no haces tus transacciones por Internet, yo tiene más de dos años que no piso un banco.
Arturo: Realmente me encanta vivir una vida retro (todavía uso una molcajete para moler las especias), pero tuve que irme al banco porque no funcionó lo del Internet. Me ha pasado eso varias veces. Que suerte tienes que no has ido por dos años… ni lo puedo creer. Es una fantasia.