Ninijon

Hi,

I'm sure this has been asked before but here goes.

We are off on our validation trip in 2 weeks and would like to open a bank account in preparation for our move later this year in September. We have heard that to open a bank account you have to have what they call '100 points of ID', does anyone know what this is and whether you can open a bank account without having an Australian address?

I know you can open a bank account with Commonwealth while in the UK, however have been told it isn't a real Ozzy bank account just a British account in dollars.

Thanks for any help given.
Janine

tiredwithtwins

try doing a forum search for '100 point test'

gladiatorjw

We are just back from our validation trip and we opened a bank account in Australia. All we needed was our passports.Dont know about the 100 point business. We are with the Commonwealth bank.

Good luck.

wmoore

It's a real account. But whether you do it in the UK or Oz, you still need to show 100 points worth of ID to activate the account.

tootiepoe

Maybe you've heard this already, we are going to Perth in August and we have opened an account with the Commonwealth bank, thhis account will be used to transfer our money, emailed the migrant banking, downloaded app form , sent copies of passports, visas, recent bank statement and utility bill. Account opened within 10 days.

When we get to Perth, just go to the main branch and they then set up what ever accounts we need then and there, need to bring the documents we got when accouint opened and passports, while we are there, ther help with tax file no and medicare, one stop shop really.

Obviously as we have not done all of this yet, can't really comment on process, but friends who went this way 2 years ago, really can't sing their praises high enough.

Hope this helps

Kate C-H

wmoore

I was bored, so .....

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=287355

JAJ

In the first few weeks in Australia a migrant can open a bank account with just a passport and the normal 100 point requirement does not apply.


Jeremy

mamichelle

Copied from: http://www.australia-migration.com/p..._Australia/190

The 100 Point System
If you want to open a bank or credit union account in Australia, you need to pass the '100 point' system to prove your identification.


70 points You can only get points for one item in this section
Birth Certificate
Passport
Citizenship Certificate

40 points These cards must have a photograph or signature
Drivers Licence (full / probationary / learner)
Shooters Licence
Public Service Employee ID card
Commonwealth or State Government financial entitlement card (eg Pension card)

35 points Applies to home buyers or owners only
Land Rates

25 points
Any card on which your name appears:
Medicare card
Credit Card (only 1 per institution)
Store Account card
Video Store Card
Library Card
Union Card

25 points
Documents on which your name and address appear:
Car registration
Utility bill
Rental receipts
Records of another financial institution showing you've been a member for 12 months or more


Some points to note:
* This system, while mechanistic, is arguably better than the identification system prevailing in the UK which seems to depend on the whim of a bank official.
* There is no reason why a foreign birth certificate, passport, naturalisation certificate or driving licence shouldn't be accepted, but you will have to ask (and maybe ask to see a manager if necessary)
* If you open an account within 6 weeks to 3 months (depending on the institution) of arriving to live in Australia, you will need only your passport. This concession only applies to banks, from what I've been told, not credit unions.

Ninijon

Thanks everyone this is good news.
Cheers
Janine

vics

Hi

We opened an account with ANZ in Perth on our validation trip - we just had to show our passports. Couldn't have been easier. We did have to give an Australian address - we used our friends' address - not sure whether you could use a UK address though.

prem_career

Janine

You might be interested to know the settlement services available to migrants and the range of services at the national, state and local levels that migrants in Australia may need. Available here

Regards
Prem