Ray

Been using about a year. Pretty much flawless!

Our 3rd Annual Poker Fun....is like the Poker Runs done in the US by Car and Motorcycle Clubs. Ours is a 'Fun' because we WALK or drive around Boquete to various locations, where a playing card is drawn 'for your hand', and the BEST HAND wins a prize. There are 7 card draw locations, and you can purchase 'Wild Cards (up to 3) at the final stop. Best Hand wins our Prize, and there's a Lottery for additional Gift Certificates and prizes. The action begins at the Clubhouse at BCP at 2PM, on Saturday, Feb. 3rd where official score cards are purchased (2/$10, additional @ $5). Lottery tickets will be sold at the final stop.....Big Daddy's for final judging. Help us......Help the Community of Boquete.ACCB-PokerRunSign2018.pdf ACCB, the 'Association of Charity of Community of Boquete', is a Panama Association (Resolution: 02-PJ-02-2018). More information can be found on our website at: accboquete.org

We have, and maintain, a legal address in the US.with family. Our bank and investment accounts with authorized co-signers,, State drivers licenses, Social Security, health insurance come to mind. Our son has access to much of this. We will be changing those soon as our son is building a new home, and selling ‘our old address’. He has mail forwarding setup, and we will have to update our then current info to several sources. We typically return to the US, about once a year, sometimes more. Are in contact with our health insurance (only good in the US) agent periodically. For example, we thought my wife had a heart attack a couple years ago. Brief time in hospital, no surgery. Returned to US, visited Dr., and placed in hospital for an angiogram, which was negative, but US hospital and Dr.’s service was covered by our US insurance. We were out of pocket in Panama. Our choice! There are other options. You might consider something similar.....if you have family you trust to keep you posted about arriving mail, etc. Much can be scanned and emailed if needed. And phones (Skype, FaceTime) work to businesses as well if personal contact needed. Lost a paragraph so starting this paragraph again. Our bank accounts are accessible online, so we can manage our finances from here. Changed our business and personal bank last trip home as it was purchased by a larger bank we had no interest in. We can transfer money from here among banks/accounts. And have numbers to call bank personnel from anywhere. One of our banks reimburses ATM Fees For withdrawals, so works like a free checking account and we run on cash in Panama.....occasionally use a credit/debit card (like at a Pricemart, like a US Costco). You will likely find you need VPN’s (Virtual private networks) which show you as at another location (ie such as in the US.) There are also DNS relocation services as well. We have a subscription to one of those for our Apple TV to work with US programming. VPN’s on computers and iPhones and iPads....to access US locations as well. Relatively inexpensive to have access to US sources which limit international access. I think you’ll find most US businesses you may need or have contact with, do not object to what you may have to do to maintain a business relation with them....just to keep the money rolling in. Good luck with your relocation.....and NEW LIFE!

We have used Jose Saenz (jose@goldenfrog.net) in Panama City, for visits to the Embassy, my Panama drivers license and other taxi trips over the years here. He drove friends of ours here in Boquete, about 3 years ago with about 15 suitcases and boxes, and their golden lab dog. He and his daughter do airport runs and custom tours of Panama as well. You might contact him about your needs. He speaks English, and has been doing this type of thing for a very long time. Born and raised in Panama City. Ray ray2cleo@yahoo.com

Sorry I don't have information about that. Have only wired a $200 amount which cost $40 if I remember correctly, over 4 years ago. Perhaps someone else could answer. I just used my normal personal/business bank. But there are other options I'm sure.

Panama banks are beginning to charge for all the US Govt. demands under FATCA or whatever. Charge for the required accounting and reporting of American overseas accounts by foreign banks willing to hold American citizens money. Mostly just reinforces our decision to evade all US except family, and our banking is left in US to avoid this stuff.

I will only comment on the internet services I'm familiar with, and television. We have Cable Onda (national cable TV service with Spanish language channels + Fox news) for internet. Since arriving at our current residence the speed has improved, and may be higher or lower than other areas. But it has always been adequate for email, online searches and TV services. Currently we have about 20MB download. Probably max. speed for the area. Up to 50 MB (maybe more by now) in Panama City area, I've been told. Outlying areas are not generally served by the cable, and the only alternative is Planet Telecom (land lines & satellite??). It is very expensive (been told $100 + by those required to use due to location) and slow, about 3-4MB speed. Assuming one locates where there is adequate internet service available, there are options for television beyond Cable Onda. The USTV Now network, operating out of Harrisburg, PA area, have an American TV internet offering of about 28 channels. 6 basic channels are available for FREE with your sign up (to be able to log in and use). The monthly charge is $29 per month for the full channel offering, and there is an option for a DVR service as well. They also have a trial subscription of $19 per month for the full channel service for the first 3 months. See ustvnow.com for details. You must be 'outside' the US to qualify for the service. Additionally there are other options dependent upon family 'connections' for other US viewing access. A VPN (virtual private network) is a required connection which can make it 'appear' you are somewhere you are not. My current service can put me in 9 US locations, and 20+ foreign countries. An online search for VPN's will find options. By using a VPN, with the explosion of 'On Demand' services being offered by US cable companies (Comcast/Xfinity, Frontier Communications, and the like as well as several networks) it is possible to log into family subscriptions and view On Demand and Live programming. 'Chiriqui Chatter' (authored by Don Ray, US Embassy warden in David, Panama) has had recent articles about his use of KODI and TVMC for other on demand programming. Other info: Panama computers are Spanish language.....few exceptions....maybe special orders. Television sets are compatible with US specs, or US manufactured. There are places, more where more populated, where devices can be purchased and serviced/repaired. Many cell phones are US compatible, changeable sims. Pre-paid or subscription accounts are available, and internet data plans are also available from several companies.....Mas Movil, Digicel, Claro, Movistar are the major companies nationwide.

We have lived in Boquete for over 2 years, and have absolutely no need for a bank account here. We maintain our personal accounts in our bank there (used for decades) where we lived in the US (near other family), and have changed US address to the families'. A son is signed onto our accounts, so could deal with any issues there (trust is imperative). Our Social Security and other checks deposit there. Investment accounts are linked. Our debit and credit cards work here. Cash is withdrawn when needed (depending on the banks ATMs working...occasionally not!). Our Capitol One accounts reimburse ATM fees (actually post the credit on the statements before the debit amount)....much the same as the Schwab accounts mentioned previously by others. Maximum daily withdrawals generally $500, but may vary with bank rules. We have never had a 'foreign transaction fee' applied to anything. The Panama Balboa is valued equal to the US dollar. So no exchange rates to deal with either. Only fee we ever paid was a wire fee for a deposit (from the US) for a short term rental house. Sadly upon arrival the road to the rental was impassible by car, and we ended forfeiting to cancel and relocate elsewhere. Largest expense is our rent, and pay owner in Costa Rica thru PayPal. Have no need for a vehicle, but occasionally rent a car....about $45 per day. Taxis are plentiful in the area, and having a couple of driver phone numbers is helpful.