Opening Bca Checking Account

[Silet]

Just one more thing I forgot in the above, the last time I went to a BCA Branch which would have been in October 2016 as above, they insisted on taking our photographs.

Have a nice day when you go ( better take some bungkus to tide you over !)

 

[Euc-]

Is it perhaps possible that you guys are mixing 2 different accounts up?

BCA has "Tahapan BCA" and "Tahapan Gold" accounts, BOTH of which come with either a silver, gold or platinum debit card which sets the limit of money you can withdraw/transfer per day. The "Tahapan Gold" is supposed to be a "business account", which promises to print each transaction you do in your bankbook with more details as the regular "Tahapan" account. The regular Tahapan BCA not offering this "facility", will just put all transactions together in 2 lines (in/out) if its too many.

As atlantis says, better give the "Tahapan Gold" a miss, as for a regular non-business person it offers, IMHO, no benefits.

I've been banking with BCA for the last 4 years, and besides a small hick-up with a replacement credit-card taking almost a month to be delivered, they've been pretty ok. All bankbook print-outs have always been the combined versions, as I visit the branch perhaps once a year or so.

 

[Silet]

Is it perhaps possible that you guys are mixing 2 different accounts up?

BCA has "Tahapan BCA" and "Tahapan Gold" accounts, BOTH of which come with either a silver, gold or platinum debit card which sets the limit of money you can withdraw/transfer per day. The "Tahapan Gold" is supposed to be a "business account", which promises to print each transaction you do in your bankbook with more details as the regular "Tahapan" account. The regular Tahapan BCA not offering this "facility", will just put all transactions together in 2 lines (in/out) if its too many.

As atlantis says, better give the "Tahapan Gold" a miss, as for a regular non-business person it offers, IMHO, no benefits.

I've been banking with BCA for the last 4 years, and besides a small hick-up with a replacement credit-card taking almost a month to be delivered, they've been pretty ok. All bankbook print-outs have always been the combined versions, as I visit the branch perhaps once a year or so.

Yes this is highly possible, I wasn't aware of what you write above. When I opened my accounts I was asked what card I would like Gold or Platinum, I asked the difference and decided the Gold card daily maximum would more than suffice my needs.

 

[atlantis]

Yes this is highly possible, I wasn't aware of what you write above.

@Silet,
I gave a call yesterday to BCA Manado and confirm that with a Tahapan Gold you are screwed. All transactions are recorded and printed on the book and this even if you don't come for a year or more in BCA.
Anyway, many thanks for having given me some hope that it could be otherwise.

The worse in it is that I didn't even choose to have a Tahapan Gold account. I first opened a normal Tahapan BCA account some 16 years ago and was reasonnably happy with it. However, when I chose to become a nasabah prioritas, because the perks they were offering were suiting my banking needs, they "upgraded' my Tahapan BCA in a Tahapan Gold. I don't really recall having asked for it or being explained the difference.

It was fine at the time because when you wait in a finely air-conditioned lounge, sipping coffee, enjoying snacks and reading Kompas comfortably seated in a nice armchair, strangely you don't really see the time wasted as bothering. When I cancelled my prioritas account I had no choice offered than keeping this Tahapan Gold and, strangely, seating 3 hours on a chair, in front of a busy CSO, doing nothing started to feel a bit different.

 

[Smallworld]

..the number of transaction quickly becomes important and I get in trouble whenever I need to go to a loket for an operation which requires my book to be updated.

The last time it happened (I needed a large sum in cash and therefore had to update the bank book to the last transaction) I stayed three and half hours with the CSO, printing 17 books requiring 17 signatures from me! A total joke and half a day wasted but I had no choice.

...

Strange I only drop off my most recent blue book, show them my ID and collect all books on the afternoon when I sign all the books. I don't stay at bank during printout process. 2-3 books per month. I don't have privileged account with bca.

 

[atlantis]

Strange I only drop off my most recent blue book, show them my ID and collect all books on the afternoon when I sign all the books. I don't stay at bank during printout process. 2-3 books per month. I don't have privileged account with bca.

I apparently need to type my pin and slip my card for each damn book issued. Another great security feature associated with the Tahapan Gold perhaps?
What is strange is that you are not required to do that. Do you hold the same type of BCA account than me?

 

[Davita]

Just been talking to my brother in law who tells me he was told you cannot get a credit card in Indonesia if over 60. I find that hard to believe as I have a credit card in Rp. from HSBC Jakarta....and use it extensively.... and you all know how old I am.
I asked where he got this from and he said BCA.
Anyone confirm?

 

[Smallworld]

I apparently need to type my pin and slip my card for each damn book issued. Another great security feature associated with the Tahapan Gold perhaps?
What is strange is that you are not required to do that. Do you hold the same type of BCA account than me?

Yes I have tahapan gold bca account. The only time you have to put pin all the time is when you use the automatic printing machines for buku biru. If you go to cashier - in my case at least- I do not put my pin or swap my debit card or sign any additional documents. I only give them my last book, ask them to print and collect later on. This is in Jababeka BCA branch bank.

 

[atlantis]

Yes I have tahapan gold bca account. The only time you have to put pin all the time is when you use the automatic printing machines for buku biru. If you go to cashier - in my case at least- I do not put my pin or swap my debit card or sign any additional documents. I only give them my last book, ask them to print and collect later on. This is in Jababeka BCA branch bank.

This is pretty interesting because it would mean that BCA has different rules and procedures varying from one branch to another.

 

[Smallworld]

Also you mentioned you have not printed for about 1 year. Since Nov 2016 there is some rule saying you won't be able to print out more than 2 last month transactions. Just a rumor -maybe I haven't waited so long yet to test it. So I can't confirm. Better ask your branch manager.

 

[Silet]

@Silet,
I gave a call yesterday to BCA Manado and confirm that with a Tahapan Gold you are screwed. All transactions are recorded and printed on the book and this even if you don't come for a year or more in BCA.
Anyway, many thanks for having given me some hope that it could be otherwise.

The worse in it is that I didn't even choose to have a Tahapan Gold account. I first opened a normal Tahapan BCA account some 16 years ago and was reasonnably happy with it. However, when I chose to become a nasabah prioritas, because the perks they were offering were suiting my banking needs, they "upgraded' my Tahapan BCA in a Tahapan Gold. I don't really recall having asked for it or being explained the difference.

It was fine at the time because when you wait in a finely air-conditioned lounge, sipping coffee, enjoying snacks and reading Kompas comfortably seated in a nice armchair, strangely you don't really see the time wasted as bothering. When I cancelled my prioritas account I had no choice offered than keeping this Tahapan Gold and, strangely, seating 3 hours on a chair, in front of a busy CSO, doing nothing started to feel a bit different.

Hi Atlantis, First of all I would like to thank you for your very kind reply. The reason for my post is to offer my apologies to you for although innocently, it seems I misled you in my posts above and I am sorry for that, after reading Euc- post #42 in became apparent that I was wrong.
I still held out some hope for you though in that you may be able to opt for how much is printed.

I can understand that some business people would want all printed as it would help with their accounts and balancing their books etc but I could not and still cannot understand why it must be enforced on those who do not wish it.

You posted about your phone call to the bank and it seems that is not possible. BCA bureaucracy again seems to rule over common sense.

I hate going there but of course needs must but I have never known a Bank on the planet like this, ever.

It seems now though after reading Smallword's posts, there may be some light at the end of the tunnel in the manner of what I had hoped.

You can, by the way, use any BCA Branch you choose to do this business, at least that is what I was informed by my BCA Branch. You do of course need proof of identity in the form of your Passport and KITAS/KITAP along with your Bank Book and Card etc.

I'll leave you now as Smallworld has more experience in the account you hold and I still hold hope that you can get this sorted to your satisfaction.

 

[jstar]

Just been talking to my brother in law who tells me he was told you cannot get a credit card in Indonesia if over 60. I find that hard to believe as I have a credit card in Rp. from HSBC Jakarta....and use it extensively.... and you all know how old I am.
I asked where he got this from and he said BCA.
Anyone confirm?

Normally the main card holder should be between 21 and 65 years old, and the secondary card holder between 17 and 70. That is for new credit cards only though, and I don't know if it's a BI regulation or whether the banks just follow a common standard.

 

[atlantis]

it seems I misled you

@Silet,
No worries, you did not mislead me. Quite the opposite in fact.

I should be going to BCA for matters which will require the print of books. I should have plenty of time to question the CSO. Will report here.

Salam dari Manado.

 

[Anglian]

Just been talking to my brother in law who tells me he was told you cannot get a credit card in Indonesia if over 60. I find that hard to believe as I have a credit card in Rp. from HSBC Jakarta....and use it extensively.... and you all know how old I am.
I asked where he got this from and he said BCA.
Anyone confirm?

Yes I'm afraid that's true, I dutifully filled out an application form for a BCA credit card, handed it in only for the young lady point out the small print that at 73 I couldn't have a credit card, but I was going to open an account at Citi bank, they said I could have a credit card, I didn't follow the application through as I got fed up with all the forms they wanted,

 

[Davita]

Normally the main card holder should be between 21 and 65 years old, and the secondary card holder between 17 and 70. That is for new credit cards only though, and I don't know if it's a BI regulation or whether the banks just follow a common standard.

Yes I'm afraid that's true, I dutifully filled out an application form for a BCA credit card, handed it in only for the young lady point out the small print that at 73 I couldn't have a credit card, but I was going to open an account at Citi bank, they said I could have a credit card, I didn't follow the application through as I got fed up with all the forms they wanted,

Thanks guys...
I got a C/C from HSBC Jakarta when I was around 75. However, I had an HSBC Premier account in other countries, so that may have influenced them but they wouldn't let me open an account in Jakarta until I had a Kitas.
I like being the primary card holder as my wife is secondary....everytime she uses the card to purchase I get a text message as soon as the card is swiped. Just yesterday I was at home and got a message that she was in a shoe shop...so I immediately whatsapp'ed "how are the shoes?" She was shocked and kept looking around for me thinking I was spying on her.

 

[atlantis]

Just been talking to my brother in law who tells me he was told you cannot get a credit card in Indonesia if over 60. I find that hard to believe as I have a credit card in Rp. from HSBC Jakarta....and use it extensively.... and you all know how old I am.
I asked where he got this from and he said BCA.
Anyone confirm?

It is not an official requirement of BI. This limit of age set at 60 y.o (or older) varies from a bank to another and is set to prevent risk to the bank.

Official limits for credit card issuance are set by Peraturan Bank Indonesia nomor 14/2/Pbi/2012 tentang perubahan atas PBI 11/11/PBI/2009 tentang Penyelenggaraan Kegiatan Alat Pembayaran dengan Menggunakan Kartu which took full force on January 2013.

There is indeed a limit of age, but this is a limit concerning the MINIMUM age of an applicant for a Credit Card. It is 21 years old for a main Credit Card and 17 y.o for an additional credit card attached to a main Credit Card. No legal limit for a MAXIMUM age.

There are also conditions of minimum of income (Rp 3.000.000 / month) and credit limit for those whose income is comprised in between Rp 3.000.000 / month and Rp 10.000.000 / month). For those with an income above Rp 10.000.000 / month only the sky is the limit (and the willingness of the bank to accept the risk).

 

[Anglian]

Thanks guys...
I got a C/C from HSBC Jakarta when I was around 75. However, I had an HSBC Premier account in other countries, so that may have influenced them but they wouldn't let me open an account in Jakarta until I had a Kitas.
I like being the primary card holder as my wife is secondary....everytime she uses the card to purchase I get a text message as soon as the card is swiped. Just yesterday I was at home and got a message that she was in a shoe shop...so I immediately whatsapp'ed "how are the shoes?" She was shocked and kept looking around for me thinking I was spying on her.

That is funny, every husband should have an instant check on the wife's spending, especially if she has a credit card

 

[BrendonN]

Just my two cents, I've opened two accounts, one at BCA and one at CIMB Niaga. It was a painful process to be sure, but I familiarized myself with the FATCA documents ahead of time and that was very useful as CIMB almost gave me an institution form instead of a personal form!

Anyway, I was approved the same day, got my card, etc. and haven't had to wait for any length of time. I opened my account at BCA after I had a letter from my boss here so that likely had no small influence. They even asked for my SSN ID and I told them that I would give them the number and that should be enough. It was. Next time I went in I brought it so they could make a copy.

Almost done. I bring every document I think I will need, passport, Buku Nikah, kartu keluarga, domicili, KITAS, Kartu Orang Asing, etc. in a nice folder and present the documents one at a time as they are requested to prevent them from being lazy and saying I don't have something. I am also unfailingly polite and somewhat competent in my bahasa Indonesia and that helps but I really don't take no for an answer unless I see that they've tried to accommodate me. It also helps if you understand the FATCA forms.

Finally, I do have an edge... my wife is a fierce little Indonesian woman who never takes no for an answer, can put on an authoritative act and is very crafty. Needless to say she has a way with words and I'd recommend anyone who has an Indonesian SO to have them accompany you.

Anyway, I hope this helped someone in some small way but it's really just my experience to date.

 

[Smallworld]

.....


Almost done. I bring every document I think I will need, passport, Buku Nikah, kartu keluarga, domicili, KITAS, Kartu Orang Asing, etc. in a nice folder ...

If I am not mistaken they will ask for NPWP.

 

[jstar]

Yeah, that's a bit vague. The 'know your customer' program of BI (Bank of Indonesia) in which they published some rules and regulations for the banks more than 15 years ago, does go into detail for companies and mentions specifically the need for NPWP.

But BI only refers to the necessity to have complete (incl. tax) ID information for individuals. (So: If you have/need a NPWP, you need to show it when opening an account.)

And the tax offices don't really help either; many state 'not working' means no tax ID necessary (or even possible!), without taking the 183 day rule into account.