Update Sept. 24, 2025: Bancolombia no longer allows the opening of a bank account using only a passport.

If you’re planning to stay in Colombia for the long haul, you’ll probably find that having a Colombian bank account will make your life a bit easier, as well as help establish presence and seriousness of intent to live in Colombia. After briefly researching various banks, I landed on the major and most widely-recognised one.

So, without further ado, here’s how I opened a bank account at Bancolombia, using my passport and other supporting documentation.

Location and Wait Time

Around 10am I went to the Bancolombia branch inside Único Outlet Mall in Barranquilla. Even at that hour, the waiting hall was full, and there was a line to get INTO the waiting hall. So I stood in line, whipped out my SpanishDict app, and prepared (and verbally drilled) 3-4 Spanish phrases that I might find useful in communicating this special task of abriendo’ing una cuanta bancaria.

Here’s something I didn’t realize at first: Next to the bank entrance, there’s a QR Code that you can scan, open a web page (or the Bancolombia app, available on both Google Play and Apple AppStore), enter some pieces of information, and be assigned a “Turno number” (I think that’s what it’s called)… basically a digital Ticket Number. That way you can just go about your business, until you’re alerted that you should come into the waiting hall. Very convenient. At that moment while in line, I did go through the steps, but did not fully understand what was going on. So I stayed in line… but YOU don’t have to! 😎👍🏾

After some slightly confusing (for me) back and forth with the young and patient door “usher”, he generated me a “Turno number”, and let me into the waiting hall right away. For more waiting 😆 I knocked out 3 lessons and 1 reading exercise in Duolingo, because why TF not, y’know?

By the way, you’ll notice that just about all Bancolombia branches have a fairly long lines. Especially in the mall locations. This is due to several reasons. One being that malls generally have armed security, so there’s less risk of being robbed at an ATM. Another being that there are some special tasks that many customers have to do in-person. Someone also offered another, common-sense explanation: It’s a developing country with banking that’s fairly new to many people… so, some of those people, especially the elderly, aren’t 100% familiar or comfortable doing their banking online.

Eventually my ticket number was called, and I came up to see the banker. He knew few words of English, and he was adept at using Google Translate. Between that, and my basic Spanish – for which he complimented me, yay! – he understood my need, asked for the documents, and got started.

Process

I tend to prep as much as possible for these type of situations (situations in which my phenotype might be a confounding anomaly or even a full-on roadblock). Therefore, in addition to my US Passport, I’d printed out the following documentation:

1. Most recent bank statement
2. 2021 tax return
3. Most recent three pay stubs
4. Employer information, or Employment Confirmation letter. I only had the former because I was technically unemployed… But I didn’t tell them that, because they didn’t ask 😅
5. Pennsylvania State ID. I’d brought this along “just in case”, and I am glad I did – he wanted to see my actual address in Los Estados Unidos.

While the banker was working with these pieces of documentation, I downloaded the Bancolombia mobile app. The banker took maybe 20 minutes total, asking me a few questions along the way, but mostly examining the documents I’d provided. Soon, he had me sign some papers. First I read the important bits with my A1 Spanish skills and a little help from Google Translate. Then, he had me enter a PIN for my new debit card, handed me my document packet + debit card, and lo-and-behold… account-creation process COMPLETE ✨🥳✨

Account Usage and Electronic Banking

After I left the bank itself, I went to the “Multifunctional” ATM next door, to see if I could deposit a crisp 50mil note (cuz you know I be balling like dat 🤑 haha), but I could not find the “deposit” option. And there were people waiting in line behind me, so I figured I’ll try again later. Besides, I was getting a bit hungry after all that time.

The following day, I successfully did an electronic transfer into my new account, using Ria Money Transfer. At first, Ria said the funds had been transferred to my Bancolombia account, AND I got an alert from Bancolombia about an incoming $USD deposit… but my balance still said $0.00. Turns out I had to log into the Bancolombia website, go to the Receive International Transfers, and manually accept the incoming funds. I then enabled the “Auto-Deposit” option, to eliminate this manual step 😎👍🏾

Overall Impression

I had embarked on this errand with my “heart on my sleeve”, mentally prepped, FULLY expecting to be given the good ol’ dUSA treatment – rushed (cuz sometimes I am “slow talker”), addressed rudely (cuz I’m black so regarded as “Less Than Full Human”), mocked or belittled (for not knowing much Español), etc.
I was mentally READY for all that, no cap! 😐✊🏾

However, much to my pleasant surprise, everyone… literally everyone – from the people in line, to the “usher” kid, to the banker – were patient with me, and helpful. They reciprocated my humility with respect, putting me at ease and reducing my anxiety. One sweet abuela in line commented to me that at first, my Spanish made her think I was an Afro-Colombian like her daughter’s boyfriend (yo, why did I get dem digits tho???) 😅

Anyway… the overall process – while a bit time-consuming and arduous – was not as bad as I thought it’d be. Obviously not as smooth and “quick” as it’d be in the good ol’ Money-Bags dUSA, but definitely not as bad as it would be in, say, Nigeria!