banks
 

I'm retired on a private UK pension English Bank that I want to leave but cant get anybody in the Uk to take me on unless I am a UK resident Fed up with charges for taking money out abroad and the extra charge now levied on transactions. Any help please

Re: banks
 

Have you looked at any of the Channel Island Banks? Most of the mainland UK companies have branches on the Channel Islands and offer accounts in different currencies, ie euros, sterling, dollars. You can find information on the internet.

Re: banks
 

Yes I've looked at them and most want £5000 min balance and charge 2.5% on withdrawals plus charge to deposit money...... and we get accused of money laundering

Re: banks
 

Can't you open an account in a French bank? My Mum (been here yonks) has a Lloyd's account and I seem to remember they tried to get her interested in a Channel Islands account, but she wasn't interested, maybe cos you have to have lots of dosh to keep it open. Maybe you should check out French banks' rates for change, I know mine's really expensive, a cheque for £100 cost me 20€. But it might be worth while "shopping around", go in and explain, often it's all down to negociation. My parents negociated no charges at all on their account with the Credit Agricole in rural France, they just said "What? Pay for our cheque books to be sent by post??? We never paid for that back home!!!" etc etc...
But then it all depends on where you live, I'm in the city so I can forget any lark like that!
Hope you find a solution. Next time I talk to my Mum I'll ask her, and she has Dutch neighbours, they get their pension from Holland and must have the same problem.