kendra1

We visited HSBC today with hope of opening an australian account. We sat for 45 mins waiting to be seen, then the lady who was dealing with us sat tapping away at her computer trying to find some information for us left the room saying she had to find the telephone number. She eventually turned back up and said that with only 3-4 weeks to go we have left it too late, It takes at least 8 weeks to sort out an account. It now looks like we will have to open one on arrival.
Or does anyone have any better suggestions??
K

wmoore

www.migrantbanking.co.uk

Mine took about 10 days to sort (from memory).

kendra1

Thanks, have contacted them
Kx

J+J

Hi,
Just wanted to confirm our account with HSBC took less than 2 weeks to open. Good luck with the account and the move down under

Atticus

What a load of bollox - HSBC that is!

We opened an account with the commonwealth migrant banking (I think the link that has been provided to you?!!). Took two weeks. Download the forms online - complete and send with id requirements and voila following week had a letter through with our account details.

all the best

worzel

Computer says no (Little Britain)

spottydog

I took our completed forms and ID Proof into Commonwealth Migrant Office on Monday and we have details of our account fully set up through the post on Thursday (and this was last week). On the other hand I seem to be having more problems with HSBC/First Direct at present.

beebopaloola

cough, cough, computer says no
HSBC is pants we had same problem!!!!! in Delectable Dewsbury!!!

Sue from Manchester

Beat me to it LOL

chr1sarter

Commonwealth Bank. Downloaded the form, filled it out, got certified copies of passports, which our bank signed for us, at no charge, sent this all off with utility bill, on a Wednesday and got account open on the Friday. Very Quick.

Good Luck

Stormz

Went into HSBC last week and they said it takes 6 weeks. Didn`t even get to the bit asking how much (if any) money needs to be put in.
They need a letter of introduction from Barclays but Barclays won`t give us one... they say they only give out letters when some bank or whatever requests them (and charge you £10 per letter), so she (Barclays) suggested getting the last 3 years statements mailed out to us for free to use as proof we are good customers.
Will just open an account up in Aus when we get there next month (HSBC?).

Hate banks/banking.

vics

We opened an ANZ account in Perth (St Georges Terrace) when we were there on our validation trip in March. Just walked in off the street, it took about half an hour, only needed our passports as ID and a token amount to deposit so the account would be opened. Got our ATM cards within a week.

Think the lady we talked to was called Carole Mather (but can check the paperwork at home if anyone wants to know) - very nice lady who answered all our questions and even took us through the process for registering for internet banking.

Boilerman

We had the same problem but as it turned out it was a blessing.

We couldn't do anything until we arrived here in Brisbane but what we found was that HSBC is not a popular bank in Brisbane and HSBC ATMs are hard to come by. We brought a significant amount of cash (but less than the declarable threshold) and opened an account immediately with the Commonwealth. It ain't ideal but it does work and you can always change your bank later.

In the words of "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe" - Don't panic!

This will obviously be different depending on destination but it illustrates the point.

Oh yes, we didn't even have a permenant address and the Commonwealth Bank were still cool.

Good luck

moneypenny20

But you can use the post office instead of HSBC if you don't have a branch near you.

Hubby says that it's "Galaxy" not "Universe"

Stormz

Think we may as well just try to open an account with HSBC when we get to Perth, as long as it`s not too much hassle.