viper1079

Hi

Its now less than 3 weeks till I move to Dubai. The next job on my list is to sort out a bank account, i have all the required documentation; Visa, passport, contract etc

Do i need to have moved before I can actually do anything?
How long does it usually take?
Can you recommend any good banks?

Cheers

norsk

You need a salary letter from your employer as well. It takes anything from same day (if your company has a deal with the particular bank) to a week to get the account.

All banks are crap. Some are less crap than others. I use shittibank as that's what i used in Bahrain. I hate them! I would move but the problem is that it will take 2 weeks and then I am likely to hate my new bank as well. It's just not worth the pain..

Oyibopeppeh

You obviously didn't lay on your Viking charm thick enough, Norsky...

I went into SCB and came out 45 mins later with 2 accounts opened plus the ATM/Debit card for the AED account.

viper1079

When you say salary letter.....do you mean my covering letter which details monthly salary, allowance, benefits etc?

I've been online to a few and they ask for Jpegs to be sent, does this mean i can open an account without actually being there?

norsk

Nope. It's a special letter your employer have to create which is targeted at the bank in question. I don't think it can be done until you start working.

Usually you have to either attend the branch to sign the application form or an agent will come visit you in the office.

norsk

I had run out of charm that day.

Weirdly enough my threats of leaving them for a competitor were taken seriously. The guy who was getting abused was relationship manager for gold customers..

Millhouse

What problems do people face with banks?

I use HSBC - commonly accepted as the worst - and have never had a problem with them. They send me new cards when I need them, print new cheque books, have refunded fraudulent claims on my account provided loans without countless cheques to be written. What do they do piss everyone off?

flood2

I have used HSBC since I came here last year.I did not open account until I started work. Took about a week and my accounts were all set up, with me in possession of bank cards/credit card/cheque book. All done prior to first UAE pay deposit.

Can say I have had no problems with them