Re: BANKS
 

Brisbane is good, and I should know, as I am sticking here :rofl:

(thought I would try a comment like that... it does seem weird though :lol: )

Re: BANKS
 

Ask your bank if they have a corresponding bank in Australia. When I came over in 1983 I banked with NatWest in the UK and they had a link with ANZ over here, so they transferred my balance to the ANZ here and when I arrived I just had to go into the ANZ in Adelaide and provide proof of identity to access the funds. That may be the easiest way to transfer the money - it doesn't mean you have to stick with that Australian bank once you get here. I bank with the Bendigo nowadays.

Re: BANKS
 

HSBC operate differently to the other banks here - Because you do the 100 point credit check in the UK, then your account is active and ready to go from the minute that you open it. You are free to transfer money in and out and don't have to mess about with this identifying yourself at the bank business.

They also send you Eftpos, Debit cards and a cheque book (to your UK address) that you can use straight away too. I found this was a godsend, as I opened my account many months beforehand, and transferred my funds over when the rate was good, and my banking affairs were all active and running well before I arrived.

Of course, now they do charge £100 service fee for setting it all up, however. You should decide if the additional convenience is worth the additional expense.


S

Re: BANKS
 

So that is what that £100 is for.

Before the UK HSBC charged that fee, there was no similar help on the ID side, and I had to do the ID check, even though I had a UK HSBC account.

Re: BANKS
 

Good to know, thanks mate. I am with HSBC in Europe, been for the past 10 years. I am just wondering if I should stick with them or not in OZ...

I went to my bank (HSBC) last week and asked them about any options to have an account in OZ...oh my oh my, they must be really incompetent cause the guy didn't mention anything, most probably he doesn't even know...

Didn't see lots of good feedback towards them on here either...


Cheers
B!K3R

Re: BANKS
 

You need to direct your query to the International office based in London. Local branches are like chocolate fireguards in this respect!


S

Re: BANKS
 

If you look back about 2005-2006 time, HSBC got loads of good feedback, but things have changed.

I used to give them a good report, but now, they are OK, but nothing really special.

Does his mean that Australian banks are getting better or the HSBC is declining ?

Re: BANKS
 

Barclays have links with HiFX who have links with Westpac. If you are sending funds over it works very quickly if you have the right links. Someone else may be able to tell you what the links are for OzForex, who also get a lot of recommendations.
I still have rental properties in the UK so have maintained my Barclays accounts and deal with them all online. No Probs.

Re: BANKS
 

We used NAB as it is affiliated with Yorkshire Bank. Had no problems until recently when fraud was committed on my account. I appreciate that this can happen to anyone but the fact that NAB allowed my visa debit account to go $1,300 overdrawn on an account which does NOT have an overdraft facility really annoys me. Apparently because of my credit rating they thought it would be ok!! Anyway to cut a long story short, if you do open a visa debit account with NAB and don't want an overdraft reiterate that to them as I have since found out that apparently they can do something to your account to prevent this.

Re: BANKS
 

I switched to ING Direct after my credit union charged me $3 for entering my PIN in an ATM then deciding not to continue the transaction.

ING give me 50 cents if I take $200 cash out when I EFTPOS. They also refund all ATM fees, Australia wide if you withdraw $200 each time.

They don't pay interest on the credit/debit card account though.

Worth a look.

Re: BANKS
 

Ozforex/Tranzfers works very quickly regardless of which banks you are with. I regularly use Tranzfers and not always from the same account. Very very rare for it to take more than 3 days UK to Aus, and 4 the other way.

Re: BANKS
 

:ohmy: Did you take it up with them and get your $3 back?

Re: BANKS
 

You've not got the hang of this Aussie money yet have you?

$3 is the sort of amount where, if you see it on the floor, you make a judgement call on if its worth bending down to pick it up. ;)

Re: BANKS
 

It's the principle of taking the money on a cancelled transaction. Daylight robbery I tell ya.

Re: BANKS
 

applied for a current account and savings account with NAB last night and had account numbers and a name to contact with any queries within 12 hours.

Top service :thumbsup: