Miracle Island: Russians will be served by Ceylon banks

From Monday, citizens of the Russian Federation will be able to open an account in the People’s Bank of Sri Lanka

From November 21, Sri Lanka will start serving Russians in its national bank, opening accounts for citizens of the Russian Federation and issuing plastic cards. This is a convincing victory of the island in the battle with Goa and Thai for the mass Russian tourist in terms of equal prices. At the same time, Ceylon bank cards are accepted all over the world. We found out whether it is difficult for an ordinary Russian to open an account on the island, and what needs to be done for this.

According to the Sri Lankan press, the Russians will be served by the local People’s Bank – People’s Bank, the most massive locally.

“The Sri Lankans are great fellows,” they say at the Russian Embassy in Colombo. – In October, they declared their intention to open accounts for the Russians. But then many other countries spoke. But Ceylon said – Ceylon did. The date became known only today, but there is no doubt that everything will go according to plan.

However, they do not yet know the detailed algorithm for opening an account in our embassy. But they confirm: Visa and MasterCard, received by the Russians in the People’s Bank of Sri Lanka, will work all over the world. More detailed information is available from the capital’s travel agency working with Sri Lanka. They still advise to wait for official instructions, but they are ready to open the general algorithm.

– The bank that invites Russians to open accounts is located in Colombo, the capital of the island, – the travel agency explains. -The most important point is that the card can only be obtained on the spot, in Colombo. They will not send plastic. With this, the tourism industry Sri decided to stimulate the mass tourist from the Russian Federation.

– But you can keep the card after the trip?

– Of course. Just go for it, relax at the same time. The main thing is that at the time of departure, at least $ 50 should remain on your account, otherwise it will be closed as funds for the service are debited. During your holiday in Sri, you can withdraw cash in Sri Lankan rupees at any ATM and pay with a card in any store, restaurant and other commercial structures.

– And when you left with the card, what’s next?

– Then you can use it in all countries of the world, except Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria and Sudan, where Sri Lankan plastic is not served. I think you will be given a list of these countries. In the rest, you can also carry out cashless payments using a Sri Lankan card and withdraw cash by converting it into local currency.

As for the algorithm, the efforts to open the card should begin 2-3 weeks before the planned trip to Sri Lanka. You need to fill out two special forms online and send them along with a copy of your passport to a special box of the Sri People’s Bank.

– Be careful when filling in data about yourself, for them the bank gives a special questionnaire, – they warn in the travel agency. This information will be carefully checked. It’s a shame if a random error creeps in and becomes a reason for refusal.

According to people familiar with it, you can fill out all the forms yourself, but you can also contact the office of a Russian partner bank, whose head office is in Moscow.

If the bank’s prospective customer has successfully passed the verification, they will receive an email with the details of their new Ceylon account. A mobile bank is immediately connected with all relevant notifications in instant messengers.

– And how to put money on it? And in what currency?

– In rubles, – they answer in the office of the partner bank. – You come to us with printouts of applications that you sent to a Sri Lankan bank by e-mail, with a notice of opening an account and two passports – a general civil and a foreign one. You can also deposit in foreign currency, foreign currency accounts are serviced free of charge.

For a transfer in rupees and into another currency from a ruble account, there is a rather tangible commission, but only a potential client will know the detailed billing. And then everything is simple: upon arrival in Sri, new Russian clients of the Sri Lankan People’s Bank will be met by its representatives and handed plastic. The card will not be registered and for a period of 5 years. For issuing a card and annual maintenance, the Sri Lankan side takes only 500 rupees (80 rubles). And the bank that opened the service for Russians is the largest in the country: 743 branches throughout the island.