angela&rob

I was going to do the commonwealth bank through that migrant banking but I've heard nothing but bad things about them.

What bank would you go with now you know what you know?

Thanks

dazby

Hi there ... we had similar thoughts ... looked into Commonwealth ... mainly because you can visit the branch in London ... anyway ... did heaps of web research and found Westpac to offer the best deals ... we went for a Westpac One account ... 5$ a month service fee and unlimited transactions ... they also have a brilliant savings account paying 5.35% .... we also opened an account with St Georges as they do a multi access card (not sure if there are branches in Perth ??) ... mutli access means visa debit which is good for internet purchases etc etc ... the other banks only offer eftpos ... which is for face to face purchases only ... hope my jibbering helps you

dazza

Centurion

Actually I went in the end for a National Bank of Australia account over my Commonwealth account once here. They have no monthly fee providing your balance is $3000 and the other charges seem to be the best. Maybe worth you checking out.

SunshineGirl

I'm in the process of opening one with ANZ, got put off by Commonwealth.

Amazulu

I opened an HSBC online savings account in Perth this morning. It was very easy. All I needed was my passport & UK drivers licence. The account has no bank charges & pays 4.75% interest on balances above $2k. You need to open it with $2k but do not need to maintain this. As HSBC is not big over here you get 5 free withdrawals from other ATMs & can pay in at any post office. They even offered me a credit card. They were very helpful & friendly.

Three Legs

Just opened an ANZ account ... wonderful.

SuperSeagulls

I opened an account with Westpac and they seem fine - $5 monthly fee for two accounts. I'm still in the Uk though so havent got to use the account much, but internet banking looks good.

SS

Stormz

Police & Nurses

no fees as long as you have $500 in your `current` account.

Great savings account too (5.x%), as long as you don`t dive into it too much (ING bank is better for a savings account, but they`re both MUCH better than other banks).

Branches dotted around. Online banking. If you need cash and there`s no branch near you can always get some when buying groceries/petrol/etc.

Great bank.

baldbutts

Yep ,I agree Police and Nurses,has a friendly old fashioned Building society feel to it,and I only have to keep $350 to incur no fees (Maybe as I opened the account a couple ofm years ago).You can use any old ATM with no charges too ( Mrs BB told me that ATM has another meaning in that disgusting world they call porn ).

Besides,my favourite outfits that I wear around the local shopping forum are, co-incidentally, Police and Nurses ones.


BB-did I type that out loud

windy gale

I have been a westpac customer for 3 years i have 7 accounts they are helpful not always perfect but some of them know my name when i walk in the door,
commonwealth are well i have heard bad thing too.
Westpac morgage isnt the best worth shopping for but a good bank none the less, and i can advertise my business on their business of the week board

cam_uk

i'm still in the UK and i opened an ANZ account just over a week ago ...

got my sort code and account number through post today ...

Tiawamutu

I've heard HSBC are very good as you can keep your U.K money in the account until the exchange rate improves, and transfer it then. Or if you want to leave it in there, and you need funds in the meantime, you can transfer it bit by bit...