Banking in TCI...accessing uk accounts while abroad
 

I was wondering how difficult is it to access my uk accounts from the caribbean? I'm going to be working in TCI and have been advised to open a first caribbean account, but, as i understand it, it may take a while for it to be fully up and running. So i'm trying to find a uk based bank a/c that i can use whilst the fc one is being set up. Does anyone have any suggestions of any uk accounts that can be opperated (with minimal costs/fees) from the islands?

Re: Banking in TCI...accessing uk accounts while abroad
 

Depends upon whom you bank with. I'm with Barclays and use their Personal Banking for online banking purposes for which there are no fees but it is not for my main banking activity which I maintain in Bermuda from when I lived there for many years.

http://www.barclays.co.uk/PersonalBa...P1242557947640

I cannot make larger than 5,000 pound transfers from Barclays.

I Bank with First Caribbean here in St Lucia but the capabilities of their system as well as the bank's range of banking products are terribly limited so it really is just a holding account. Also cheques are not readily accepted here due to fraud and bouncing though they may be in TCI. So one pays just about everything in cash or by credit card unless one is a regular known customer of the payee. :blink:

I would rather recommend ScotiaBank than First Caribbean. I opened my account many years ago when they were part owned by Barclays but they are now only owned by CIBC so Scotia would have been a better choice anyway as they have a greater global presence.

http://scotiabank.com/tc/cda/content..._YID15,00.html

Re: Banking in TCI...accessing uk accounts while abroad
 

Depending on what you expect from your bank (payroll processing, issuing you a local Credit Card, and ATM services) you have two more apart from what Pete mentioned, Royal Bank of Canada and IBG.

Re: Banking in TCI...accessing uk accounts while abroad
 

many thanks for the advice, I think Barclay's is the way forward and to open a island based savings account with First Caribbean when i get there.