Post all information here regarding the process of opening a bank account in Mexico for U.S residents who are relocating there to continue their poker careers.

Feel free to include information on FM-2 and FM-3 visas as well and which banks require you to have these.

I will be moving to Mexico at the end of July. Will post updates then

If you know the bank manager personally you can get an account without an FM3. Otherwise all banks require it.

Below is an email exchange from last week*:

My reply:

Dear Jennifer,

Thank you for the quick response.** I am currently not an HSBC client, and do not have $100k to become a Premier account holder. The purpose of opening an account in Mexico is that I plan to travel to Rosarito, TJ, La Paz and Cabo on a regular basis in the future in order to visit friends who live down in those areas, and would like to have access to funds while I am in Mexico for extended periods of time. Having an account will hopefully help me to avoid things like ATM fees, high currency exchange fees, etc. Will opening a checking account with HSBC be an option for me?

Cordially,
Cafe Noir

Jennifer seems nice. You will note "FM2" and "FM3" are terms not present in her email, as are any verifiable IOIs. I have not gone in and attempted to open an account, but that's the info I was able to glean from a Vice President, Premier Relationship Manager from the Latin America International Center, for what that's worth. If someone has opened an HSBC account successfully without an FM2/FM3, that would be good information to include in this thread.



* I have another email exchange that's also dated last week that's very similar to this one. I will likely post it in this thread as it has slightly different information.

**Slightly sarcastic in tone: Response time is stated as being under 24hr, when in fact she took 48hr.

hmmmmm

i wonder what they would say if you didn't have a 100k..

edit: if you can ask them to be specific on the FM status that is required, that would be awesome.

I wouldn't recommend an HSBC account for poker.

Mexico and other developing countries are more relaxed than the US about this sort of thing. The law in many countries is that foreigners need a special permit to open a bank account, but the reality is that many banks will open an account with just passport and proof of residence.

I think you misread, I specified I did not have the 100k for the premier account (in which case I could just do it all through the US).

Why not?

HSBC closes any accounts that are identified as doing transactions with poker sites.

^ Are you sure you're not thinking of HSBC US? I'm sure the US branch has very different policies than HSBC in Canada, Mexico, etc. The company is headquartered in London where gambling is explicitly legalized..

I have certainly read of Americanos opening foreign HSBC accounts having them closed for making gambling transactions. Search 2+2 for HSBC and you'll probably find more info.

^ Will do. I will admit I had the opposite impression because most of what I had read was about how awesome the Premier accounts are (and also which I'm sure they're less strict with), so thank you for that.


Obviously I feel I should now ask, which Mexican banks are good for poker transactions?

Take this from someone that lived less than 10 miles from the border for a while and when we could hear gunshots at the house(On the water at SPI Texas) from Mexico I decided to leave. Mexico is getting very very dangerous for gringo's I had a good friend that lived in SPI she was mexican with a green card and wouldn't cross the border. The ONLY safe place in Mexico right now IMHO is Cozumel.

I posted already in another thread but had a question regarding a tourist visa vs work visa in Mexico. Can you make money playing poker in Mexico on a tourist visa without having to get a work visa?

You are misinformed. Do a little research next time. Anywhere near the border is obv unsafe for obvious reasons.

Almost all cities are not safe

Sources? Because this is simply false.

please try to contribute to the thread and don't post false/off subject information like this. Thanks peeps.

LOLOLOL - Ignorance at it's best (worst?)

I have been living here in Mexico for almost 2 years. Have all bank accounts open, FM3, utility bills, Neteller accounts and cards, fully verified with all poker sites, etc.

I have gotten the process done for a few others as well. I consider myself an authority on the subject. Will be posting a travel opportunity later as well for anyone interested in coming here.

thanks lostinthesaus.. we need the information for sure. post anything here you'd like to share

Have a few questions on banking and have posted in other forums with no help. I just joined 2plus2 after BF so not sure if this question as already been asked/answered in another thread. I live in Vegas but prefer to play online. I used to play higher stakes cash games live but I couldn't see myself playing in the casinos for too much longer (besides wsop live tournys). I switched to MTT's on FTP and had success for two months before BF. I am looking at moving to TJ because I have friends there there and not far from vegas.

Had a few questions regarding banking. Can you get a bank account with just a tourist visa? Also, anyone living in TJ know if you can deposit USD into MX bank account instead of pesos (to avoid conversion cost). Any advice would be great and feel free to add me on skype derek.bowen88

From what I've read on 2+2 and random websites you need a fm3 form. Type that into google. The top 5 sites have good info on acquiring them. It doesn't seem that hard, a few people said it takes around a month.

check out Belize, their probably the #1 spot for off shore bank accounts. I read on a site they want immigrants opening bank accounts with them.

Once you get to Mexico you have to wait a month until you have the fm3 form to open a bank account? Or do you just have to show the bank it's in progress? I was also looking at moving to Mexico for a month and then trying to cash out all my money on FTP. After the month in TJ I would move back to Vegas for the next couple of months to finish out my lease if I can't find someone to sublease. Has anyone tried this? For anyone who has already moved to MX or knows another poker player who has how long has it taken to withdrawal money from FTP? How long has it been taking to send a bank wire or check from FTP to MX?

Any advice would be great derek.bowen88 on skype. Like I said I'm living in Vegas and it's frustrating not being able to play any of the events due to money being locked up online. Any helpful answers would great!

If I don't plan on being in Mexico for longer than 6 months I still need a fm3 to open a MX bank account? Reading some conflicting things online.