Originally Posted by kullymack

HSBC used to do a passport account from the UK where you could set up your account before you went to Canada and have your converted currency put into it.

Originally Posted by Lemonfish

If you are an HSBC Premier Customer you get refunded your $1.50 charge every time you withdraw from any ATM.

God knows how long they'll keep that up - must be losing them money?

Have been with them for three years over here and fact they don't have many branches doesn't bother me. Do all my banking online anyways and you can mail in cheques if you need to.

Originally Posted by umpalumpa

Hi
We opened a HSBC account here (Ontario) with real ease. We got 1 years banking for free, had one Canadian Dollar account and one Sterling account with them, so we could move money in and transfer it over really easily. It sounded great but to be honest, they don't give great transfer rates, their branches are really sparce out here (as already mentioned) and their service sucks. The one really good thing worth mentioning is that they DID give us a credit card straight away. It's taken a year to try and build some kind of credit history and we are only now starting to get other credit card companies offering us cards, but we have paid off the balance in full without fail all year. That is worth it.
I have now opened an account with Currency Online (part of HiFX) and that seemed to be tip top and we get better rates. HSBC over here are rubbish in comparison to the UK for day to day banking and they charge the earth for making bank transfers or bank drafts. All the things you need when you are starting out for car purchases, rent etc.
I have now closed my HSBC account (true skin-flint I am, I won't pay for banking!) and have opened a Presidents Choice free bank account - brilliant! ATM's in each shopping centre - just like banking in Tesco's - Sweet!
good luck to you!