Thread: Anybody can open an account here KITAS OR NO!

Now I don't know where I read it, it may have been here on the forum and I've forgotten already - Alzheimer's, but I understand that if you take a Balinese friend with you to the BPD (bank pembangunan bali) a local bank here then anybody can open an account there and the charges and conditions are very good I'm told. No need for Kitas or any particular visa requirements.

I'm also told they are lousy for international banking but great for savings and the "usual" sort of banking stuff...

Does anybody have any detailed info? Thanks in advance. :)

I opened bank accounts in Lombok without a Kitas without problem at BNI & BII. At the times - here on the forum some people were saying you had to have a KITAS, maybe so, and maybe I got away with it because in Lombok they are less used to Tourists.

Here in Bali I have opened another account and I was told then that I had to have a KITAS. That was okay as these days I do have one. I have never heard it said that you can open account if you bring a Balinese friend with you.

You cannot open an account without a KITAS. That is the banking law designed to stop illegal transfer of money. Having said that I did as have others.

A lot depends on who you know and what the individual banker wants to do. I was refused in many banks until I found a friend to help. It is the same if you want to buy a car or get a driving licence.

Do you think there is much risk doing this, if you open an account without a KITAS? Like if you ever had trouble with your money that they could just say the account was opened illegally in the first place?

Another question I have is what Indonesian bank seems to be the most foreigner friendly? Like internet banking in English and the best for doing international transfers etc.

Commonwealth Bank in Bali is connected to Australia's Commonwealth Bank (CBA). They have a name to protect

A friend was telling me just recently how the Commonwealth bank in Australia, allowed her husbands bank account to be closed and funds moved to another person's bank account - on just the autharisation of a fax, which was not sent by him. ....

Another question I have is what Indonesian bank seems to be the most foreigner friendly? Like internet banking in English and the best for doing international transfers etc.

BCA has internet banking.

No - not fishy. Though there is more to the story (but not my place to go into details here)- but a fax was sent by a third party and the account was closed on the basis of that and funds were put into that party's account. The bank did refund all the money once it was proved that the fax was not from the account holder.

""Does anybody have any detailed info? Thanks in advance.""

No matter what nationality you are or to which bank you go, if you bring enough $$$ they will open an account for you :lol :lol:

Not you as an individual would be wrong, but all the people who handle your paperwork at the bank would be wrong in accepting you as an client...so no way they could hold your funds with the comment "the account was illegaly opened in the first place"

international banking and internet banking, I personally use either the BCA or the Mandiri. both in English..and no long delays (holding your money on a transit account) or strange fee's!

friendly greetings...Gilbert.