Hi guys. New here.

We are planning to move to Perth next year (towards the end of the year). And we're going for a short visit in February where we want to setup bank accounts and start putting money in ready for when we get there. Also look at schools as we have 5 children we need to get enrolled.

Once we are back in the UK how easy is it to transfer money to an Aus bank account? Can you just do it through normal back transfer or do you have to use a transfer company?

There will probably be more questions as I go. 😄

Bank accounts are easy to set up, but money transfers can cost money. I would look at companies such as money Corp.

I am guessing you already have visas?

You are aware that Perth is in a poor economic situation with jobs hard to get?

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

We dont have visa's yet. Starting the process in Sept.

Im a nurse and my husband is a teacher so hopefully we will be ok in finding jobs. My husbands family lives over there which is why we have picked Perth, however if it is too difficult to find jobs we are willing to go to other areas.

Yes, I would research the specialist money transfer firms.

I have a list of contacts at half a dozen of these companies - if you would like me to send them to you please feel able to send an email (click on my name to the left of this post).

Best regards.

The big 4 banks in Australia have UK offices that can help with account opening:

> https://www.anz.com/unitedkingdom/en...nd/choose-anz/

> https://www.nationalaustraliabank.co...ingdom/en/home

> United Kingdom | Westpac Australia's First Bank > Australia's First Bank

> https://www.commbank.com.au/personal...om-the-uk.html

=> You should be able to progress bank account opening before you arrive in Australia.

Best regards.

We did this - opened an account with Westpac in London and did security checks there so they sent cards to UK address ready.

IIRC though, I think we had to show our visas.

We just did it with Westpac on line and picked up the cards when we arrived, no need for a trip to London.

Yes - no need for the trip but if you live near London anyway it clears one hurdle before you arrive.

If you organize some cash before you leave $100 Dollar bills are slightly more common in use than the 50 Pound note but if you stick to $50 and under you will be fairly alright for most places. Going from Sydney to Heathrow I found that getting a travel card from the ANZ at the airport gave me a better rate than the others so it may be worthwhile checking around rather than just hitting the "professional" money changers. I am with the Commonwealth Bank and they had pretty much a flat-rate for withdraws when we were in Europe that were cheaper than International Money transfers so another thing worth looking at with your banks. I wouldn't use a travel card for the whole trip as the top-up delay left us very short on funds until they processed. You can be delayed due to the time zone as Monday morning here is Sunday night there! We got stuck due to the business hours and work days as we would be trying to do things during the day only to be delayed due to the differences.