> >But what I have really learned is that it is very difficult and costly to
> >get access to your *own* money if you are not sitting in front of a teller
> >at you local branch!
One trick is to meet with your branch manager (or whatever title they
give to the person with power at your branch) before your trip to ask
about what is possible in such cases. It may require you send hiM/her/it
a signed letter authorizing his/her/it to transfer/wire money based on a
telephone conversation from you (and may include some "password" to
authenticate youself).
If you're only gone for a couple of weeks, then there is no point in
such arrangements since your credit card will cover you. (and bank
employees would suggest some traveller's cheques as backup).
But if you're only a trip longer than a month, then such arrangements
become worth it and a branch manager will realise your trip is long
enough that such an arrangement is not futile.
If you haven't made any pre-arrangements, it becomes much harder to move
money around.
Of course, as banks move to "branchless" structures, it becomes much
harder to find a person whom you can trust and vice versa for such arrangements. |