BajaNomad

Loreto Bancomer "gringo line"

Phil S - 10-31-2007 at 05:34 PM

So how is the new "gringo" line doing at the Loreto Bank?
Is it still open? How is construction going on the new BanaMex Bank? Or is it open now? How's street construction coming on Juarez Ave? And Salviterra (sp?)

Gringo line?

Dave - 10-31-2007 at 06:03 PM

Is it enforced? Is there a sign?




Is there a teller? :rolleyes:

Don Alley - 10-31-2007 at 06:03 PM

When I deposited a check a week ago, a new manager hustled out to greet me and give me a "Prefered Customer" card. But I know local Mexicans that have them too. The next time I went to the bank, I just got in line...didn't feel like cutting in in front of everyone.

Juarez is nicely paved to Madero, but they still need to finish sidewalk work. The Madero to Malecon section will be finished at a later date. Salvatierra is still mostly unpaved and it doesn't look like it will get done soon. It's late in the year and the money's all gone, they say. There is one section where the street is done, but not the sidewalks, but I saw a photo-shopped poster at city hall showing both done. Vamos por un Loreto mejor y differente!:biggrin:

Salvatierra Pemex: only one entance over a steep drop-off to the unpaved street. No bueno for trailers. Juarez Pemex, steep drop-off over the new curbs; no provision as yet for a proper drive way. New Padre kino Pemex: Business is booming, no left turn allowed into the station so you must approach from the west on Padre Kino. Cheapest station to fill a 5 gallon (18.9 liter) can. Right on at about 19 liters.

The wall around the stinky pump station at the end of Juarez does not work. Maybe they will make it taller.;D

Bruce R Leech - 10-31-2007 at 06:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
Is it enforced? Is there a sign?




Is there a teller? :rolleyes:



I think you asked the right questions here. I hope some will have answers.

I would not go into a Bank that had one of those.:O

DENNIS - 10-31-2007 at 06:27 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bruce R Leech

I would not go into a Bank that had one of those.:O

I wonder if they have drinking fountains for "Gringos Only"?

You're just being silly

Dave - 10-31-2007 at 06:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
I wonder if they have drinking fountains for "Gringos Only"?


What's the first rule about going to Mexico?

Don't drink the water!

Don Alley - 10-31-2007 at 10:00 PM

The Loreto Bancomer has three lines. One for everyone, that's often long, and two short lines, one for Businesses and one for "Prefered Customers."

I don't know exactly what was needed in the past to be a "prefered customer."

So now, with a new local bank coming, and more gringos in Baja, Bancomer is making a push to improve services to North Americans. In some respects, such as the local Bancomer's handling of fideocomisos, that's a welcome development. They also have an English speaking bank officer. And apparently now all gringos with an account are given prefered customer cards. Our account is modest, and we never asked for the card but the manager came to the teller window and gave me one.

I have, however, seen locals Mexicans use the prefered customer line. And on my last visit to the bank I saw Americans, including a local business man, waiting in the regular line.

If there are any gringos who prefer the special treatment of an automatic prefered customer card based on nationality, and use the short line, well, their head's in a different place than mine.

rob - 11-1-2007 at 09:34 AM

Don - re Preferred card. I received one of those a couple of years ago and proudly went to Bancomer on 16 Sep in La Paz. It was payday and FULL - man was I glad to be one of the chosen!

There were only two people in line ahead of me in the Preferred Customer line, versus dozens in the Ordinary People line.

Thirty five minutes later, as all the familiar faces in the Ordinary People line had come and long gone, there were STILL two people ahead of me in Preferred line. They were both hotel accountants depositing what looked like the last 6 months takings . . . .

Preferred customer (at least at 16 Sep) means "commercial" . . .

Don Alley - 11-1-2007 at 11:54 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by lencho
Quote:
Originally posted by Don Alley
If there are any gringos who prefer the special treatment of an automatic prefered customer card based on nationality, and use the short line, well, their head's in a different place than mine.

I'm still a bit unclear on this. Are you sure the only reason you were offered the card was due to nationality? If so, sounds like they're opening themselves up for a scandal...

FWIW, I have one of those cards. I'm a Gringo. I have friends who have them. They're Mexicans. In my personal experience nationality has nothing to do with it.

--Larry


OK, as I posted before, I also know nationals with the cards.

But this time the bank officer came to me at the teller window. He introduced himself as the new English speaking bank manager that was there to serve me or whatever. I got the prefered customer card, with a brochure, in English, about the new services Bancomer was offering for its English speaking customers. It's obvious in Loreto that Bancomer is making a big push to get/keep gringo businesses. I've had an account here for five years or so and I haven't been given a card before, and I haven't gotten any prettier or any richer so, yeah, I think it's based on nationality, and I think it's bs. They are catering to gringos here. That's why Phil, and others, call it "the Gringo line."

Scandal? Yeah, but I'm not sure the local gringos are going for it; we may all just get in line with everyone else.

tuna stick - 11-1-2007 at 01:17 PM

For those who are embaressed to use the preferred customer line,Bancomer is building a "Gringo Branch Bank" on Mex 1,a block south of Padre Kino. Should be open before Christmas!:biggrin:

Paula - 11-1-2007 at 02:00 PM

This gringa will be standing in the everyday people line with my neighbors of whatever nationality.

That is unless of course I should have to go to the bank on a Monday or a Fridday and my very busy life does not allow me this luxury:lol::lol:

Don Alley - 11-1-2007 at 07:13 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by tuna stick
For those who are embaressed to use the preferred customer line,Bancomer is building a "Gringo Branch Bank" on Mex 1,a block south of Padre Kino. Should be open before Christmas!:biggrin:


Oh, I thought that the new branch was going to be the regular branch, and the existing branch was going to be the "Gringo Branch."

Whatever, I'll still use the same branch 'cause I ive in Centro and it's easy to get to.

By the way, big development going on near the hwy and Padre Kino, Fonatur's doing it, looks like mostly housing for Mexicans and maybe, rumor has it, a CCC supermarket. The plans were posted at a display downtown, many small lots, some designated "ejido," and one BIG lot. CCC?

Edit: Oh, Paula just told me who you are, Tuna Stick. Hi!:biggrin:

[Edited on 11-2-2007 by Don Alley]

Hook - 11-1-2007 at 08:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lencho
Quote:
Originally posted by Don Alley
I've had an account here for five years or so and I haven't been given a card before, and I haven't gotten any prettier or any richer so, yeah, I think it's based on nationality, and I think it's bs. They are catering to gringos here. That's why Phil, and others, call it "the Gringo line."

Meh. I still find it astounding they'd risk that, but your take on it does sound plausible...

--Larry


Risk what? If the country can pass laws preventing the ownership of land based on nationality, why is this such a big deal? Are there laws preventing this in Mexico?

I am ignorant.

Paula - 11-1-2007 at 09:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lencho
Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
Risk what? If the country can pass laws preventing the ownership of land based on nationality, why is this such a big deal? Are there laws preventing this in Mexico?

I am ignorant.

Laws? I have no clue.

But emotionally, I can imagine how it goes over with the locals that Gringos get to cut the line just because they're Gringos. :lol:

--Larry


And this is why I will never go to the cliente preferido line. I was only joking earlier abut Mondays and Fridays:saint:

Unless the joke's on us.

Dave - 11-1-2007 at 09:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lencho
But emotionally, I can imagine how it goes over with the locals that Gringos get to cut the line just because they're Gringos. :lol:



There are many "gringo only" lines in Mexico. Most aren't labeled. ;)

NO! NO!! NO!!!!

longlegsinlapaz - 11-1-2007 at 09:46 PM

The "Preferred Customer" line is for people of ANY & ALL nationalities who actually have an account with Bancomer! There is purportedly a small number of the general population who has a bank account, but they either have paychecks to cash or are seniors who get their pension checks on the last day of the month. None of you guys never noticed the age group of the majority of people in line on the last day of the month???:lol:

It is NOT a gringo line! It's intent is to give faster service to people who actually keep $$$ there as opposed to those non-customers who merely use it for check cashing!

Paula - 11-1-2007 at 09:58 PM

Longlegs,

You are in La Paz, not Loreto. We know that it is not exclusively a gringo line. And here in Loreto it does not include all people with accounts at Bancomer. And there is an English speaking officer being very solicitous of people he assumes are English speaking.

longlegsinlapaz - 11-1-2007 at 10:10 PM

THAT IS discrimination! I wouldn't use that line either! My Bancomer doesn't have any English-speakers in residence....when I asked after reading an article in Gringo Gazette, I was told, "That's ONLY in Cabo!"

Bruce R Leech - 11-1-2007 at 11:13 PM

discrimination is legal in Mexico:lol:

elizabeth - 11-2-2007 at 08:17 AM

In Loreto the sign announcing the preferred costumer (sic) is in English (more or less) only. Not both English and Spanish, so it's a good guess that they are trying to cater to the expat community.

Hook - 11-2-2007 at 10:57 AM

Larry, I think the concern is that it is also to the DETRIMENT of the Mexicans.

I cant argue with Dave's comment. It's clear that gringo plates get me past many gate guards without even a question. They just raise the gate even though they have never seen me. Yet a Mexican with national plates gets questioned every time.

It's the whole (perceived) "money talks" thing that seems to be the way of the world now.

Natalie Ann - 11-2-2007 at 11:25 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
It's clear that gringo plates get me past many gate guards without even a question. They just raise the gate even though they have never seen me. Yet a Mexican with national plates gets questioned every time.


Perhaps "they" think we all look alike :lol: and figure you live there.

tuna stick - 11-2-2007 at 12:29 PM

Most U.S. banks won't cash a check if you don't have an account with them.:no:

Huh?

Dave - 11-2-2007 at 01:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by tuna stick
Most U.S. banks won't cash a check if you don't have an account with them.:no:


Are you talking travelers checks?

I don't know of any bank anywhere that will cash a competitor's check without a guarantee. If the payor doesn't have an account then the payee must pledge.

bajalou - 11-2-2007 at 01:18 PM

The banks I've been to recently in the US will NOT cash a check unless you or the check writer have a account with them. No mention of "Pledges" whatever they are, the just say NO.

Haven't tried travelers checks.

And why should they?

Dave - 11-2-2007 at 01:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
The banks I've been to recently in the US will NOT cash a check unless you or the check writer have a account with them.

No mention of "Pledges" whatever they are, the just say NO.


By pledge I mean guarantee. When I present your check at my bank my account becomes the guarantor. the bank's gonna place a hold on the funds until the check clears. When you open an account you sign a contract. Maybe people should start reading them. :rolleyes:

bajalou - 11-2-2007 at 02:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
The banks I've been to recently in the US will NOT cash a check unless you or the check writer have a account with them.

No mention of "Pledges" whatever they are, the just say NO.


By pledge I mean guarantee. When I present your check at my bank my account becomes the guarantor. the bank's gonna place a hold on the funds until the check clears. When you open an account you sign a contract. Maybe people should start reading them. :rolleyes:


But you have a account - If you didn't have a account, would they cash my check for you? That is what I and tuna stick else were talking about.

Dave - 11-2-2007 at 02:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
But you have a account - If you didn't have a account, would they cash my check for you?


No, they wouldn't and they shouldn't. That's my point. If I didn't have an account I would take your check to your bank.

Why would I present your check at a bank where neither of us have an account? Why would I attempt to cash a check anywhere except my bank? And why would any bank, except my own, accept it? How would they know if the check would pay? And since I'm not a customer, which account would they debit?

You're asking banks to trust people? :lol: