The trick to banking in Ajijic

Things, however, have come a long way in the 15 years we have lived here. One no longer has to sign over their first born to make a deposit.

Normally, I am now capable of doing all of our corporate and personal banking without incident and with a minimum of bloodshed.

Most of the banks here now have English speaking staff to help the expats complete their transactions and online there is English now available.

The wonderful English speaking person we have, however, is not actually located in the bank but is happy to explain to you how to do what you need to do.

Today I called the person who deals with our accounts who is located in the bank but was told he was away in Mexico City until Wednesday.

I had a rather tricky transaction to complete and, although, thanks to our wonderful English speaking person, I knew what had to be done I was still a little nervous about completing said transaction with the non-English speaking tellers who do actually work in the bank.

I asked my fluent in Spanish, good looking son to accompany me to attempt this rather intricate transaction.

As it turned out everything went very smoothly. The female teller was already smiling broadly before we even got up to the counter and fell all over herself to help him. I, of course, stood to one side and said and did nothing other than to offer my passport when required.

The transaction was completed with dispatch, much cordiality and with smiles all around.

Had I been alone I would still be at the bank trying to explain what I needed done and whatever paperwork or identification I had with me would not be what they required.

So if you have a slightly out the norm situation to deal with at the bank I recommend you take along a good looking young man (or young women) depending upon the sex of the teller in question.

You will return home with everything completed to your satisfaction as opposed to tearing your hair out, having to go back two or three times with the correct papers, and taking the rest of the day trying to lower your blood pressure. This, of course, is just a suggestion.

Judy Wallis

Banking and Bill Paying in Ajijic, Lake Chapala, Mexico

This was not the case today. I set out this morning to go to Chapala to try to pay my property taxes and get some money into the hands of our daughter in London. Although she was equipped with a credit card to cover her living expenses until money from gainful employment kicked in, for some reason the card was rejected at every ATM she tried even though the credit card company assured me everything was swell with the card and the credit.

So equipped with the Banamex account # of her boyfriend I went with trepidation to try and make a cash deposit into his account which they could access with his debit card for said account. Now if you have ever tried to make a deposit into a Mexican bank account the expression “easier said than done” immediately springs to mind. Usually you need some kind of picture identification and whatever you take with you is not the correct one they need. This, of course, can be very frustrating as you are trying to put money into the bank not stage a heist.

Today at Banamex in Chapala I was very happily surprised. First, I got a parking spot right across from the bank and went in and took my number. Often, you are able to get a bite of lunch and do a bit of shopping and still have plenty of time before your number is called. Not so today. I got # 34 and # 31 was being served. I barely had time to take the money out of wallet that I was hoping to deposit before it was my turn.

The teller actually smiled at me and made the deposit with dispatch into the correct account.

Buoyed by this success I decided to try and pay my property taxes while I was there.

I walked into the Municipal Office (the old Hotel Nido beside Bancomer) and showed my last year’s property tax bill to the person behind the first caja (cage). She showed me where to go to extract yet another number and it was 849. Number 847 was being served and I could not believe my good fortune. I gave my receipt to the girl in caja 2 in minutes and was sent to caja 3 where I was next in line. I paid my taxes happily getting a discount which is available until the end of February.

All of this was accomplished in very short order and I drove home delighted. I remember the days when I would be fuming driving back from Chapala because usually any banking or bill paying in Ajijic, Lake, Chapala could literally take days and increasing my blood pressure markedly into the bargain.

We have come a long way in our little village in the sun. Our daughter has funds in her hands the same day. All in all the services in Ajijic, Lake Chapala are definitely improving. Life is good.