bashiraad

Hi,

Question for UK expats in Abu Dhabi. Which banks would you recommend opening an account with?

Do I go with a local one or an international bank such as HSBC?

Thanks

soukie

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank is good. I know a lot of people who use NBAD as they have some sort of arrangement with Nat West in UK. Personally I would avoid HSBC.

busybee2

adcb avoid hsbc like the plaque

flares

NBAD good

Millsyisland

I was originally with NBAD but changed to ADCB a few years ago and am very happy with ADCB.

I had issues with NBAD but frankly they've all got their issues. I've never heard anything good about HSBC though.

flares

I had issues with ADCB when I had a car loan with them back in 2006 and vouched never to use them again.

They failed to accept a couple of the 36 cheques handed to them at the start due to 'signature irregularities' and didn't notify me until the end of the term and charged royally for it plus interest and requested an additional cheque. I didn't have a clue and disputed it and was told if I didn't pay up I'd be breaking the law blah blah.

I assume this signature irregularities thing is a common ruse to get some additional fees out of the customer

Pongo

Which bank were the cheques drawn on?

flares

Griffin Savers from Midland Bank

busybee2

nbad and adcb my choices.

busybee2

no it was stupid back then that you had to sign so many cheques, of course the last ones will be a different signature if you are doing 24 or 36 etc, we had this issue but they told us when we handed in all the cheques at the beg so had to redone another 1 etc.... we have always had no issues with them.

archie159

Maybe I've been lucky, but HSBC have been OK for me - not great, but not as bad as many organisations in this country. Lots of my colleagues bank with ADCB, and lots of them have major complaints about ADCB, though some seem content. Some have moved to NBAD, and most of them are happier with NBAD.

I think the bottom line is that most of the banks here are pretty useless... expect that and you won't be disappointed.

busybee2

usally every moan about banks is often to do with hsbc.

archie159

Maybe in your circles, but I repeat what I said - I know as many expats (and I work with several hundred) with ADCB problems as with other banks, including HSBC. None are great.

bashiraad

Thanks for all the info guys. I will do some research on what each bank provides and then decide

al dente

Check out the air miles options on the cc too. We use adcb and nbad. Have heard 4 or 5 horror stories with hsbc from immediate circle.