Debit card denial in colombian for colombian wife

larryheath950 · 2025-07-25T18:28:57+02:00

Learn why debit and credit card applications are denied at Bancolombia for Colombians, including experiences and advice for resolving issues.

larryheath950 Member

Member since 04 November 2024

larryheath950Member25 July 2025 16:28:57

has anyone had experience with debit or credit card denial from Bancolombia. I recenly went to apply for a credit card at bancolombia and was denied because they said i owed 299.000 to transito. then my wife went today to bancolombia and was denied ed a debit card. i cnnot understand whay as bancolombia gave me a debit card and I am america. any advice

ChineduOpara Serial expat

Member since 08 August 2021

ChineduOparaSerial expat27 July 2025 02:43:45

368

@larryheath950

Well if you opened a Bancolombia bank account, you automatically get a debit card. Just like with basically all banks. Credit cards, however, are a whole other ball game... them offering you a CC is completely discretionary, depending on MANY factors.

Xavier Varela-Rosales Active member

Member since 27 September 2021

Xavier Varela-RosalesActive member27 July 2025 21:14:29

You do get a debit card automatically when you open a bank account however, if you're trying to get a credit card with Bancolombia it works the same way as in other countries you have to have credit history, if you don't that's a reason why they may deny you a credit card. If you have a cell phone in Colombia then you are building good credit if you pay on time every month, I do recommend you try first applying for a credit card with someone like Farabella which may be easier. I had the same problem when I moved here and couldn't get a CC but I was moving so much money in Bancolombia because I was building a house that one day the offered me the CC without asking.

ChineduOpara Serial expat

Member since 08 August 2021

ChineduOparaSerial expat28 July 2025 02:59:24

368

@Xavier Varela-Rosales

Your story mirrors mine. I had already given up on building credit in Colombia, then one day... boom, out of literally nowhere, Bancolombia offered me a CC and I accepted. Now I've had it for like 1 month.

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South American Voyager Contributor

Member since 11 January 2022

South American VoyagerContributor28 July 2025 14:32:09

125

Good comments here on this post. I too have been a Bancolombia client for 10 plus years and my experience has been very good. Have had real estate mortgages (all paid off), numerous credit cards, lines of credit, have wired large sums through my Bancolombia account, etc. over the past decade.

My advice is for the OP to track down the supposedly 299.000 pesos that is owed to Transito, get it resolved, perhaps a photo fine of some sort? Do you have a car or moto? What city are you located in?

May I also suggest that you get friendly with your local Bancolombia branch manager, I did and henceforth every time I had an issue with either my credit cards or account or getting a large sum of money wired through the manager was "Johnny on the spot".

And yes credit cards and credit history works the same here as it does in other countries, takes time to build a good solid history.

Godspeed!