Set up banking prior to the move?

There are several banking options on St. Croix. First Bank, Scotia Bank and Bank of St. Croix are the major players.

First Bank has the most branches, the most ATM's, and the broadest hours (the Sunny Isle branch is open until 6 PM on weekdays and has Saturday hours). First Bank also has online banking.

To open a bank account, you need to fill out the application in person... and bring every kind of ID known to mankind. No matter how much you bring, they will ask for still more. Usually you can get them to open the account with what you have with you. One thing they are pretty adamant about is seeing your original Social Security Card. Many people don't carry it with them when they come on a PMV. Sometimes they get the bank account opened and sometimes they get turned away.

Whether you need to set up a bank before your move or wait to do it the week you arrive to live here depends on your personal situation. Having as much done in advance as possible isn't a bad idea if you have the ability to do things early during a PMV. It can take up to a couple of weeks for some off-island checks to clear before the funds become available for withdrawal. Even money orders and bank checks from other banks are held for a few days before you can access the $$.

In Person? I would assume that is the way it is - afterall you are there. Is that a hard and fast rule? We have bank accounts in NZ - and did not have to be there in person. Anyway thanks a bunch, I guess I need to contact some of your suggestions and find out - again - thanks.

It's extremely difficult to even get the Post Office to let you sign up for a PO Box without being both present and with a deed or lease agreement in hand. Banks are not willing to open bank accounts for someone they cannot see in person and verify your identity and signature. You don't have to have a local address to open a bank account. You can set it up initially for the statements to be mailed to your existing mainland address.

Yes, appearing in person to open a bank account is a hard and fast rule and for each person on the account you'll need an original Social Security card and two forms of photo identification (passport and driver's license - mainland license is okay)

Thanks guys and ladies. Incredible. Never heard of a bank making it so hard to deposit money. Hopefully, they make it just as hard to get it out, making your bucks safer from ID theft etc. But on deposits? that is just to wierd. Guess we'll just "have" to make a trip - problems problems. hehe. Thanks again.

Well, from the bank's standpoint.... if they don't verify who is depositing the funds, how can they be certain that it's the right person withdrawing them? They want to know who they're doing business with from the get-go.