soonbethere

:curse: Banks, is anyone happy (well as much as they can be) with their bank in Oz?
I can't believe how bad it is here with regards to bank charges, we have a mortgage with ANZ (and that was a nightmare to get sorted due to total incompetencies) we bank with Westpac and wanted to set up a direct payment to ANZ, we aren't allowed to do this, we have to do either a periodical payment which costs $2 a throw, (which are fortnightly) and the bank charges $5 per month anyway, just to have the account with Westpac, then the ANZ charge $8 per month for having a mortgage with them (!!!) I have tried to sort out some way of getting round these unbelievable payments but hit a brick wall at every turn. I have been told that i will need to make payments myself through internet banking, which, for a full time working mum is a complete pain in the rear!
so the big question is, who do you bank with and are they any good!!

AndyR1976

When you find a country that has banks that you like, let me know!

All financial institutions are pains in the arse in my opinion!!

Pollyana

I've just had a letter from NAB saying that if one checks one balance via an ATM one gets charged for it!

ub40fan

Yup, I have been charged by my bank (ANZ) for taking a balance at someone elses cash point!

They get you every which way here.

What made us laugh when we went in to activate our accounts, and they were explaining the charges to us, we remarked that you don't get bank charges in UK on a normal amount.

She looked stunned and asked "how do they make their money then?"

When we said through investing all our money - she just said oh!

I love the banks here - NOT - but they have you over a barrel really. I mean, you can't exactly keep it under the mattress can you?

LisaD_uk

wouldn't it be nice to tell them to kiss ones arse

CadburysFingers

Dont wish to deliberately buck the trend here, but we are with NAB and they are superb. Account charge is $3 a month and everything is unlimited, EFTPOS etc. Have been in to see them a time or two about this and that, and they are always superb.

soonbethere

Thats good to hear, sorry to pry, but do you know if they charge extra to pay your mortgage to another bank?
I may give them a call, thanks!

soonbethere

Vash the Stampede

I get that all the time in the UK; £1.50 seems to be the standard rate. Work that out in Australian $ and see if it's more or less than the ATMs are charging you.

You should have added "They also make their money by charging ridiculous amounts for default fees and overdrafts". Hence this thread.

Nothing is free; particularly when it comes from a bank. You may not be charged overtly - but you'll be charged one way or another.

soonbethere

We were NEVER charged for looking at our bank balance from anther ATM in the UK, we were never charged any fee's either, (NATWEST) as long as your in the 'black' there were no fee's, if we wanted an 'advantage gold account' then there were charges per month, but this account brought free travel insurance, cheap purchases with electrical goods, cheaper insurance (home, car) and goodness knows what else, and to think we used to think the monthly fee of 8 pounds was expensive!
At least we weren't charged for general usage,
what really hacks me off is when you go to the bank the 'tellers' want you to fill the forms (paying in forms or withdrawal forms) to the exact little lines, BSB number and cheque no of the payee, and goodness knows what else, and then they charge us for doing so, what the hell are the tellers for???
And... if you want an account with a cheque book, they charge for that too, have you noticed how everyone wants paying by credit card, i don't think so matey, now thats another story!
why cant we have a cashline card....?? switch i miss you !

Vash the Stampede

That's really great for you, but it hasn't been my experience.

Mark my words, they were making money somehow. Banks aren't charities; they don't stand on the high street giving out free cash to every passing punter.

Yes, that's one of my primary gripes with Australian banks too. Cheques should be free, like they are in the UK. Having said that, cheques are pretty inconvenient, and most Australians just don't bother using them.

I had an ANZ Maestro card when I lived in Australia. Very good account; a $5 monthly fee is all I paid.

northernbird

I agree. We bank with ANZ. $5 per month (2 quid) and as long as we don't use other cashpoints (easily done plenty of ANZ ones) then that is all we pay. Our mortgage is with NAB and we pay nothing to pay them by direct debit. We have just remortgaged to do some renovations, we banked our cheque just 2 weeks after application. All straight forward and easy.

robo43

Read or heard somewhere that after the big US banks, Australias are the most Profiable per number of accounts held.

rob

Vash the Stampede

That wouldn't surprise me in the least.

TheSubMainMan

I guess they must be struggling to turn a profit if they have to resort to these small charges. Give em a break!