I thought I'd share my recent experience of bureaucracy which may help other members albeit I imagine the story may not be of so much surprise to members who have been here a long time.

So I've been researching transfer of funds from Australia to Cambodia ie AUD to USD. The best options in terms of the least fees and best exchange rates seem to be Transferwise, AUDSmart and OFX. Whilst I currently have an existing ABA account which I like for the ready access to ATMs in PP, I also thought it might be a good idea to also open an Acleda one on account of:

I recall reading that Acleda fees for swift transfer fees including their intermediary bank fees are less than ABA
AUDSmart claim they can do quicker transfers to Acleda
Acleda offers better rates on term deposits than ABA
ABA customer service is often slow if you have any banking issues
Notwithstanding the above, just seems a good idea as an expat to have another bank option and ATM card.

Acleda deposit qualifications according to the website are as follows:

For Foreigner:
Having a passport which is valid for at least 3 months
Having a residential document in Cambodia certified by local authority, certification of employment, employment contract, business agreement with a partner in Cambodia, or mission document
Having a phone, fax, or email address
https://www.acledabank.com.kh/kh/eng/ps_deposit

So, I have an original lease term agreement and residency statement from the local sangkat albeit both are not current and have expired. So rather than continuing to renew my lease term I have since opted for a month by month agreement. Whilst I thought I might have to get a new current term agreement for the purposes of opening this bank account I nevertheless thought I might be able to get it through by showing my latest monthly receipt showing the same address and paid in advance duly signed and stamped received. Also passport with 1 year retiree visa extension.

So I headed off to the closest Acleda branch on Monivong near Central market and I show my papers and the guy says my residency papers are out of date. I show the receipt for 1 month paid in advance to show the continuity and he says: I talk to the manager. He goes away and comes back: Sorry sir, we need a current residency statement or lease agreement. I ask him what sort of term they require for the lease agreement? He says it doesn't matter...3 month, 6 month whatever. I say OK and think oh well, I can get the landlord to draw up a new one.

The irony of this tho is that after I show such a document to open an account, there will be no follow up action in the future as to where I live and I could easily move out elsewhere after the 3/6 mths anyhow..

So riding back home on the moto, I start thinking...why not try another branch? I remembered there's one inside Aeon 1...so I go there and tell them I'd like to open an account. The girl there asks whether I have a job in Cambodia. I say, no, I'm retired. She says 'Sorry sir, we only open account for customers with a work permit. Company policy.' I say 'really'? Yes Sir..

OK so I head back home thinking I told the other branch I was retired and they didn't seem to care... So I think WTF I'll go to their Head Office on Monivong just up from Calmette. Lots of people...I get a ticket and wait approx. 40 mins for my number to come up..thinking geez this is not much better than the wait at ABA (central market). Anyway, I get a girl that seems to have a bit of a giggle coz I'm a barang and after a few words seems to get lost in the discussion so her colleague next to her takes over and her english is really good.

I show her the papers and passport and she seems fine with it and asks me to fill out an application form. I'm thinking this is all good.. Then she asks me: 'excuse me sir, what is your profession'? I think oh shit! So I say retired and she says 'OK' ....great sigh of relief for me. Then she sets the account up including the app ToenChet for me. Then I ask about internet banking via their website and she says: oh, I have to set that up if you want that. She goes away and I notice she's having a long chat with other staff and referring to my papers. She comes back: sir, my supervisor says your resident papers are out of date. Oh dear! So I show her the receipt for monthly rent paid in advance...she says, OK I call my manager. Along the conversation she asks me: Sir, do you have a current Cambodia driving license? I say yes, she says OK my boss says no problem... Yay!

Anyway, by this time it's 4.30pm (they close at 5pm) and I think she said she can't activate it without funds.. I say OK but she says: sorry sir, cashier closed already can you come back tomorrow to deposit? I'm thinking I don't really wanna have to do that if I have a long wait again so I say can I do that when I come to pick up the debit card in a week. Then she says: how about you give me the cash now and I'll transfer the money from my account to yours.. You beauty!

I gotta say this lady went out of her way to help me and provided great service in a friendly manner. She really wanted to help. So, this adventure started at noon and finished at 5pm including 2 hours at Acleda head office but........