TT - Cuba - Opening a bank/credit account for Cuba

Can you please advice how to open an account (Canadian or other 'safe country' based) and have access to a credit card that an american resident-citizen can use in Cuba?
I would like to do the tramits from home (NY), even better if can be done online.
Any experiences?
Thanks.

do it in Canada unless you are a resident.

I know you can do it in one of those "offshore" type island tax havens but I don't know which one nor any have any info.

It is a simply a debit card which you deposit money onto, then get cash advances or make direct purchases once in Cuba. You incur charges to deposit the money on the card, which maybe you could do over the net in Cuba should an emergency arise and you run out of funds. If it works out, it could be a nifty way of handling money.

Open an account in a Cuban bank and get their debt card.

there is someway to do this through the internet paypal system i think. i havent set down to think it through yet though. In Cuba you can open a bank account in a national bank if you just want a safe place to store your money while there. BUT you cannot get it out from other cities. at least not the bank i went to. they told me that i could only withdraw the money from the branch that i put it into... so beware of that possibility. I think the best bet is to open an account in another country and send your money to it and then use their ATM in Cuba. I don't know anything about Canada, but I know that anyone can open an account in Venz. you don't have to be a resident. well at least you don't have to prove it. you just have to give them an address. Make it up ... or if you have a friend in another country then just use their address. good luck. I am actually going to figure out a way to do this online for sure in the next few months as soon as i have some spare time but if someone else figures it out let me know!

With BFI, you can cash a cheque at any branch. But you need to be here on something more than a tourist visa.

The easier way: Go to site www.cash2cuba.com, apply for a Transcard debit card, and then send money to it.
Later you can pick up the Transcard in Havana and the money will be there in USDollars.

If you find out how to achieve this using Paypal services or similar, please let me know about it. You can write me at erich1974@hotmail.com.
I know all the other adviced ways, but all of them are way to expensive (I'm planing to do this at least every month and those services usually charge 7 to 10% of the transaction). Transcard charges 5% which is still a lot of money, specially for a cuban.

I thought this was for you. I use Paypal for certain purchases and I can't think of any way to use it aone, or in combination with other services to do what you want.

Transcard charges you once, when you deposit. I seriously doubt you can move any money electronically, to Cuba, for any less than that. Especially for relatively modest amounts on a monthly basis.

ourman [Wed 29 May, 11:09] PST (Gumly Gumly -17)	Opening a bank/credit account for Cuba - (9 replies) Can you please advice how to open an account (Canadian or other 'safe country' based) and have access to a credit card that an american resident-citizen can use in Cuba? I would like to do the tramits from home (NY), even better if can be done online. Any experiences? Thanks.
greslogo [Wed 29 May, 11:44] PST (Gumly Gumly -17)	1. You can't do it in Canada unless you are a resident. I know you can do it in one of those "offshore" type island tax havens but I don't know which one nor any have any info.
Sonney [Wed 29 May, 13:00] PST (Gumly Gumly -17)	2. You might try a Transcard It is a simply a debit card which you deposit money onto, then get cash advances or make direct purchases once in Cuba. You incur charges to deposit the money on the card, which maybe you could do over the net in Cuba should an emergency arise and you run out of funds. If it works out, it could be a nifty way of handling money.
CubaKing [Wed 29 May, 15:10] PST (Gumly Gumly -17)	3. Best bet!!! Open an account in a Cuban bank and get their debt card.

Hoz [Thu 30 May, 10:33] PST (Gumly Gumly -17)	4. Offshore info http://www.scotiabank.com/cda/content/0,,CID52_LIDen,00.html
lacha [Thu 30 May, 11:44] PST (Gumly Gumly -17)	5. paypal there is someway to do this through the internet paypal system i think. i havent set down to think it through yet though. In Cuba you can open a bank account in a national bank if you just want a safe place to store your money while there. BUT you cannot get it out from other cities. at least not the bank i went to. they told me that i could only withdraw the money from the branch that i put it into... so beware of that possibility. I think the best bet is to open an account in another country and send your money to it and then use their ATM in Cuba. I don't know anything about Canada, but I know that anyone can open an account in Venz. you don't have to be a resident. well at least you don't have to prove it. you just have to give them an address. Make it up ... or if you have a friend in another country then just use their address. good luck. I am actually going to figure out a way to do this online for sure in the next few months as soon as i have some spare time but if someone else figures it out let me know!
BeardoUK [Fri 31 May, 00:01] PST (Gumly Gumly -17)	6. bank accounts With BFI, you can cash a cheque at any branch. But you need to be here on something more than a tourist visa.
localcuban [Fri 31 May, 10:31] PST (Gumly Gumly -17)	7. Cash2Cuba.com The easier way: Go to site www.cash2cuba.com, apply for a Transcard debit card, and then send money to it. Later you can pick up the Transcard in Havana and the money will be there in USDollars.