Got this e-mail message from a French friend who's coming to stay with me. When I was in Paris
he paid for my hotel and paid me 650 euros for doing a seminar. He also set me up with another
seminar in Belguim where I made another 650 euros plus room and board.(have arranged a seminar
for him and he'll be staying at my place) Does this happen in Italy too when the banks are robbed?

Hi Villa
Tell me how we can do about money. We were not able to get dollars cash here (my bank was victim
of gun attack and was closed) and it's too late now to get traveller checks.
How much is the dolar in L.A if we get it from Euros ?
if we have cash, will it be possible let it in the house ? Not sure what let it in the house means. Keep it in the house?
By the way, is there possibility to cook in the house, please ?
thanks for all.
I plan to make some reports in most of the cacademies that we will visit (Machado, gracie... )

friendly,
Your French friend

The banks I saw in Paris are not like here in the U.S. where everybody just walks in.
They let one person in at a time. You have to be buzzed in. They can see you and if they
don't want you in there they will not buzz you in. They would
not buzz in my Ameircan Black friend who was with me for example.

The bank at the Universita di Perugia where I went to school was somewhat like this
come to think of it.

This is the French Equivalent of the FDIC here in the US. As far as I know all french banks have to be members and all deposits insured up to 70K Euros. If his bank was robbed his funds may be frozen temporarily while they investigate the crime - but the bank did not take his money, they just need to make sure what exactly is missing.

Most countries have a version of deposit insurance, after learning from having runs on the banks in the past. Italy included, it's called the FITD and insures deposits up to a maximum of 103K Euro.

If the bank is in real trouble your friend should probably contact the FGD and see what their options are.

Here is their FAQ in English:http://www.garantiedesdepots.fr/spip/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=19

Grazie Justin. Makes perfect sence.

Just found out today that Bank of America will exchange euros.

Somebody who use to work there said they wouldn't. There is a $10 fee that

my friend won't have to pay because he'll go through my account.

glad to hear it will be cleared up. I had a few problems with my atm after 9/11 and I had to have my parents go to my bank and ensure them that the cards were not stolen while we were still in Portugal.

Come to think of it, one of the banks I worked for used BoA for their euro exchange rates, funny that an ex-employee would say that.

In fact even little banks often exchange currencies, sometimes at excellent rates with no fees - but it depends upon what they actually have on hand. since my town gets alot of foreign tourists, we always had a few euros, pounds and loonies (canada)to exchange.

Justin