A current account is normally called a cheque account.

However you can get some savings accounts with cheque books. And most* savings accounts allow EFTPOS. Thus you will often be asked when using a card in a shop whether you want to use Cheque, Savings or Credit.

* Linked savings accounts don't do EFTPOS. With these you normally move the money into another account before using it. Some Bankwest and ING accounts are examples of this. Note that normal interbank transfers happen overnight in Aus rather than the 3-5 days typically found in the UK. So moving money from linked accounts is not a chore. Linked accounts normally give you a better rate of interest than normal savings account.

The £100 thing sound like a rip-off. You'll survive perfectly well without it.

That £100 charge would be a total waste. You don't need a credit report.

Whatever bank account you get to begin with, remember, you can always change it later.

NAB - Moving to Australia may be worth looking at and choose the NAB Classic Banking with "Unlimited banking with no monthly account fees ever"

We have had a Westpac account for 2 years and are just in the process of moving over to Commonwealth as our new mortgage is with them.

Westpac have been very good since we set up the accounts from the UK so hoping we havent made the wrong decision although given my dealings with CommBank up to now I think their service will be on par (hopefully).

ANZ avoid like the plague I have a business account with them and they are horrendous...

NAB - no fees - no need to say more. Why anyone would want an account with any other bank and actually pay a monthly fee for exactly the same services is beyond me still.

i've never paid a monthly fee with Westpac and I wont with Commonwealth

Well you are lucky. Westpac wouldn't give me a fee free account even though I earn nearly $100,000 a year and had been with them 2 years.

Hence, why I am now with ING, who are brilliant.

Westpac give fee free accounts to the low income people... it seems you do not qualify...

They are easily the worst bank I have ever had. Good riddance.

I recently tried to open a sterling business account with ANZ. Was told it would have to go through various chains of approval and would likely be rejected as merely wanting to hold a currency was deemed speculative and frowned upon.

I would avoid all Australian banks. HSBC, Citibank, ING are much more enlightened. Credit Unions are also good for customer service.

ING are great. 24/7 customer service!

I defintiely wouldnt be classed as low income so they obviously have some options for "higher" earners.

For those better off, all you need to do is deposit $2,000 a month ($24,000 per year) into your account, and the fees are waived.

Do have to wonder how many people in the middle actually do pay fees ?

Thinking about it, our Westpac account is fee free for the "low income" sector, but we have enough to go in the account to get a fee free account based on income of $2,000+ per month aswell

Westpac refused to give my wife and I fee free banking even though we both paid substantially more than $2000 a month into our accounts.

That'll explain it then

It would be very interesting to find out the reason for that .... email them and ask why ....

Most banks give fee free banking when you deposit a regular salary.