12 keys, 5 bank accounts

I don't know why, but some things in Costa Rica you end up with far more of than you really need. For example, I have 12 keys to this house. 12. It's not a big, giant house, either: 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms -- I mean, granted, it's a nice size house, the biggest house I've ever lived in, but not one that should require 12 keys. There is a different key to each door, and another key to the gate out front. Three sliding doors, a front door, a door to the garage, a back door, and a door from the washroom to the garage. That's 7 keys right there, plus the gate key is 8. Oh yeah, then there's a security door with a deadbolt from the house to the garage, so that's another key, bringing our total to 9. I guess the other remaining 3 keys fit the interior doors. Is that weird? It seems weird. Though every house I've lived in in Costa Rica is pretty much the same: a big handful of keys for one small house.

And I also have too many bank accounts. The oldest is with Banco Cuscatlan, which I opened years ago when we first moved here, because the company that I worked for also had an account there, and it was easy to get an account as a foreigner at that time. Then I wanted to get an international debit card, so I opened an account at Banex (now HSBC); if you don't remember my Banex saga, feel free to read all about it. I'm only keeping HSBC because... well... honestly I don't know why I'm keeping that account open, actually! Oh yeah, okay, it is quick with international direct transfers (within 24 hours as opposed to Cusc, which can take up to 3 days). I really never use it, though. Lately, when the need arises, I've been doing wire transfers via Cusc, and just sucking up the extra couple of days in order not to have to deal with the morons at HSBC nee Banex. I deposit international checks at Cusc, though, because they have the shortest wait time on any bank I've found so far (10-14 days, depending on which teller you get). If you know of another bank with a shorter time, please let me know! Banco Nacional has about a 30-day wait time. Ouch! Hope you don't need that money any time soon! Oh, I'm getting on esposo's account at Nacional, which he only has because of work, otherwise we both really despise Nacional and wonder why anyone would actually choose that bank. They're terrible, and slow, and have had some problems with people's accounts having money taken from them without the account holders' knowledge. Yeah, that makes you feel secure! Ok, so bank #4 is BAC, which I opened in order to get the international debit card when I was having all of those problems with Banex. Now, for some weird reason, they don't let foreigners deposit international checks in their own accounts until a year has passed, so I haven't really used BAC as much as I thought I would. I'll tell you, though, they are a top-notch bank with great customer service. Other than the minor fact that the woman who "opened" my account there was completely clueless and kept waiting for paperwork I'd already provided, I've been very happy with them (a tip: use the Santa Ana/Lindora branch rather than the Escazu/Paco branch). Bank #5 is Promerica, where I have the loan for my car. I don't really know why they opened a bank account for me. Something about being able to transfer funds online to pay my loan. However, I'd still have to go to the bank to deposit funds into the account, so why wouldn't I just pay the loan instead? It doesn't really make sense, and I doubt I'll ever use that particular account.

There you have it. Five bank accounts, 12 keys. Go figure.