Help for those new Canadians
Dec 29th 2008, 2:25 pm
#16
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Re: Help for those new Canadians
Just to clarify, you are going to live initially in Belleville, Ontario then move 1500km to PEI? That's another substantial upheaval for the family. Why not emigrate directly to PEI?
Dec 29th 2008, 2:37 pm
#18
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Re: Help for those new Canadians
Yes, I suspected that.
Dec 29th 2008, 5:59 pm
#19
50 and wanting to go back
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Bradford uk
Posts: 280
Dec 30th 2008, 2:33 am
#20
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Location: Near Kingston, Ontario
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Re: Help for those new Canadians
Hi Shelley,
My wife (Natwest employee also) and I are on "the list" so will hopefully be making the move to Toronto in the next 6 - 12 months, we've done lots of research visits but have not thought about opening a bank account until now.
can we open one even though we're still in the UK or do we have to wait until we are in Canada ?
many thanks in advance.
Chris
My wife (Natwest employee also) and I are on "the list" so will hopefully be making the move to Toronto in the next 6 - 12 months, we've done lots of research visits but have not thought about opening a bank account until now.
can we open one even though we're still in the UK or do we have to wait until we are in Canada ?
many thanks in advance.
Chris
Yes to can open a new account before you get to Canada- just go to HSBC Canada website and look under tab "Immigration and Travel"
http://www.hsbc.ca/1/2/en/personal/i...l-services-new
is a link to open a new account!!!
Sorry for not replying sooner =have had no power for 2 days due to severe storms in Ontario!!
Jan 5th 2009, 1:59 pm
#21
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Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Posts: 30,768
Re: Help for those new Canadians
Fire Away... I've lived in the area for ten plus years. It's a good spot if you can find a decent job, although I dont really understand the lure of the county over the rest of Quinte...unless you like to shovel lake effect snow...
Last edited by iaink; Jan 5th 2009 at 2:07 pm.
Jan 5th 2009, 2:02 pm
#22
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Re: Help for those new Canadians
Sorry I don't know much about PEI- Belleville is a nice place though..have been there once....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belleville,_Ontario
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belleville,_Ontario
Jan 5th 2009, 3:13 pm
#23
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Location: Now back in Edinburgh
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Re: Help for those new Canadians
Hi there- I have been a member of this site for a long time now.
I am from the UK originally and have been in Canada since 2002, now a proud CDN citizen.
I would be more than happy to give advice to any new CDN who wants to have help with Financial stuff. e. g bank accounts, mortgages etc... as I have over 30+ years experience, formally as a Nat West Mortgage advisor in the UK, then in Canada a Financial services Manager with Bank of Montreal, and Scotiabank...
Feel free to ask me whatever you want- establishing credit, how to get a mortgage, job advice etc......
I am from the UK originally and have been in Canada since 2002, now a proud CDN citizen.
I would be more than happy to give advice to any new CDN who wants to have help with Financial stuff. e. g bank accounts, mortgages etc... as I have over 30+ years experience, formally as a Nat West Mortgage advisor in the UK, then in Canada a Financial services Manager with Bank of Montreal, and Scotiabank...
Feel free to ask me whatever you want- establishing credit, how to get a mortgage, job advice etc......
That is very nice of you and I will keep you in mind.
Thanks
Jan 5th 2009, 4:34 pm
#24
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Joined: Dec 2008
Location: VAN VAN COUVER COUVER!!!!
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Re: Help for those new Canadians
i went to my local HSBC today as they seem to be a conveniently consistent entity both here and in canada.
i was somewhat disappointed though, to find the branch is little more than a row of telephone kiosks, allowing you to dial up an anonymous call center operative somewhere.
i had hoped to secure a face to face meeting with someone who would consider the specifics of my current situation and future aspirations and advise accordingly.
all i did receive however, was the notion that HSBC are heavily promoting their off shore services (ie in the Isle of Man or Jersey) and seemed not to care a jot that they could profit from my exchanging a life saving's worth of Sterling into Loonie.
is the situation like this in canada, specifically BC?
and what is the best way of moving large sums from here over to there?
is it worth looking for a bank that might treat me favourably once i am ready and able to commit to a mortgage agreement (which i hope to do within 6 months of renting once landing over there)?
many thanks.
i was somewhat disappointed though, to find the branch is little more than a row of telephone kiosks, allowing you to dial up an anonymous call center operative somewhere.
i had hoped to secure a face to face meeting with someone who would consider the specifics of my current situation and future aspirations and advise accordingly.
all i did receive however, was the notion that HSBC are heavily promoting their off shore services (ie in the Isle of Man or Jersey) and seemed not to care a jot that they could profit from my exchanging a life saving's worth of Sterling into Loonie.
is the situation like this in canada, specifically BC?
and what is the best way of moving large sums from here over to there?
is it worth looking for a bank that might treat me favourably once i am ready and able to commit to a mortgage agreement (which i hope to do within 6 months of renting once landing over there)?
many thanks.
Jan 5th 2009, 7:17 pm
#25
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Location: Near Kingston, Ontario
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Re: Help for those new Canadians
i went to my local HSBC today as they seem to be a conveniently consistent entity both here and in canada.
i was somewhat disappointed though, to find the branch is little more than a row of telephone kiosks, allowing you to dial up an anonymous call center operative somewhere.
i had hoped to secure a face to face meeting with someone who would consider the specifics of my current situation and future aspirations and advise accordingly.
all i did receive however, was the notion that HSBC are heavily promoting their off shore services (ie in the Isle of Man or Jersey) and seemed not to care a jot that they could profit from my exchanging a life saving's worth of Sterling into Loonie.
is the situation like this in canada, specifically BC?
and what is the best way of moving large sums from here over to there?
is it worth looking for a bank that might treat me favourably once i am ready and able to commit to a mortgage agreement (which i hope to do within 6 months of renting once landing over there)?
many thanks.
i was somewhat disappointed though, to find the branch is little more than a row of telephone kiosks, allowing you to dial up an anonymous call center operative somewhere.
i had hoped to secure a face to face meeting with someone who would consider the specifics of my current situation and future aspirations and advise accordingly.
all i did receive however, was the notion that HSBC are heavily promoting their off shore services (ie in the Isle of Man or Jersey) and seemed not to care a jot that they could profit from my exchanging a life saving's worth of Sterling into Loonie.
is the situation like this in canada, specifically BC?
and what is the best way of moving large sums from here over to there?
is it worth looking for a bank that might treat me favourably once i am ready and able to commit to a mortgage agreement (which i hope to do within 6 months of renting once landing over there)?
many thanks.
My recommendations would be TD, BMO,Scotiabank are the best ones..
As far as moving money, the best and safest way is a wire transfer bank to bank..
Expats banking is primarily for high net worth clients and you pay for it too!!
Hope that helps!!
Jan 5th 2009, 10:26 pm
#26
50 and wanting to go back
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Bradford uk
Posts: 280
Re: Help for those new Canadians
Jan 5th 2009, 10:55 pm
#27
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: Help for those new Canadians
i went to my local HSBC today as they seem to be a conveniently consistent entity both here and in canada.
i was somewhat disappointed though, to find the branch is little more than a row of telephone kiosks, allowing you to dial up an anonymous call center operative somewhere.
i had hoped to secure a face to face meeting with someone who would consider the specifics of my current situation and future aspirations and advise accordingly.
...
is the situation like this in canada, specifically BC?
i was somewhat disappointed though, to find the branch is little more than a row of telephone kiosks, allowing you to dial up an anonymous call center operative somewhere.
i had hoped to secure a face to face meeting with someone who would consider the specifics of my current situation and future aspirations and advise accordingly.
...
is the situation like this in canada, specifically BC?
This is true of all banks, not just HSBC. Having said this, I have a very positive relationship with HSBC in the Vancouver area and do not hesitate to recommend them. HSBC has its headquarters in Vancouver and has an extensive branch network. Given the origins of the bank and the demographics of the population here, it is not surprising that their staff have a lot of experience in international banking and money transfers. It is fair to say that other posters on this site, in other locations have been less than impressed.
Jan 5th 2009, 11:21 pm
#28
50 and wanting to go back
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Bradford uk
Posts: 280
Re: Help for those new Canadians
At least in one respect, no it is not like this in Canada. When you go into a bank branch you will get to talk to real people. The tellers do not hide behind bullet proof glass screens. If your business is a little more complicated than the teller can deal with straight away there is almost always someone who will talk to you more privately.
This is true of all banks, not just HSBC. Having said this, I have a very positive relationship with HSBC in the Vancouver area and do not hesitate to recommend them. HSBC has its headquarters in Vancouver and has an extensive branch network. Given the origins of the bank and the demographics of the population here, it is not surprising that their staff have a lot of experience in international banking and money transfers. It is fair to say that other posters on this site, in other locations have been less than impressed.
This is true of all banks, not just HSBC. Having said this, I have a very positive relationship with HSBC in the Vancouver area and do not hesitate to recommend them. HSBC has its headquarters in Vancouver and has an extensive branch network. Given the origins of the bank and the demographics of the population here, it is not surprising that their staff have a lot of experience in international banking and money transfers. It is fair to say that other posters on this site, in other locations have been less than impressed.
Jan 5th 2009, 11:46 pm
#29
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Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: Help for those new Canadians
Today in the UK i had to arrange an international bankers draft for the Canadian receiver general. I first e-mail HSBC, they e-mailed back with the call center number, (Based in India), i rang call center had difficulties with translation so went into local bank at Morrisons, (5 mins away from home), they said go to main Branch 30 Mins away, ( found them not very helpful, i asked them to arrange for someone to ring me, they insisted that i would have to go to main branch), I went home and tried the call center again. Managed to arrange cheque this time, but felt that local Branch should have got someone to ring me. Maybe i am a bit impatient, but when i am paying out i expect a better response.
Go to my local branch and ask the teller for a bank draft for x in y currency. Wait two minutes for it to be prepared. Chat to the very cute young lady at the reception desk. Be on my way.
Jan 6th 2009, 12:10 am
#30
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Posts: 26,319
Re: Help for those new Canadians
I have done pretty much the same thing at TD. No chatting up the lady though as the wife was with me.