Expat Advice: Financial Issues in Foreign Transaction Fees are set by your bank and/or credit card company. Before you move, you should research their particular policies. As an example/recommendation: Charles Schwab has a high yield checking account that has no foreign transaction fees and rebates ATM fees. It is such a deal, but you must sign up while still in the States! US bank account and ATMs here works pretty well, subject to daily withdrawal limits, of course. I have lived here in Cayo for almost two years and just recently got approved for a Belize bank account with Atlantic Bank. I earlier got an Atlantic International Bank account, which makes it easy to wire funds from US accounts for larger amounts. But be warned, the banking sign-up adventure is almost as frustrating as dealing with Immigration! Bureaucracy here for anything requires an extensive paper trail and creates many delays. That being said, day-to-day life here is simple and relaxed. , Belize

What advice would you offer others about banking as an expat in your country? What do you wish you had known about banking when you first arrived?

Foreign Transaction Fees are set by your bank and/or credit card company. Before you move, you should research their particular policies. As an example/recommendation: Charles Schwab has a high yield checking account that has no foreign transaction fees and rebates ATM fees. It is such a deal, but you must sign up while still in the States! US bank account and ATMs here works pretty well, subject to daily withdrawal limits, of course. I have lived here in Cayo for almost two years and just recently got approved for a Belize bank account with Atlantic Bank. I earlier got an Atlantic International Bank account, which makes it easy to wire funds from US accounts for larger amounts. But be warned, the banking sign-up adventure is almost as frustrating as dealing with Immigration! Bureaucracy here for anything requires an extensive paper trail and creates many delays. That being said, day-to-day life here is simple and relaxed.