Which Banks
Jan 11th 2007, 8:47 pm
#16
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: NZ
Posts: 3,366
Re: Which Banks
I know I'm butting in halfway through 
. Just anted to say thanks 
!!
had a quick look at kiwibank and look cool
. Opeened an account with Westpac at the Expo in October but never activated it cos of comments on OP about their fees, so lad to have an alternative to look at 
. Just anted to say thanks !!had a quick look at kiwibank and look cool
. Opeened an account with Westpac at the Expo in October but never activated it cos of comments on OP about their fees, so lad to have an alternative to look at
Jan 11th 2007, 11:00 pm
#18
Account Closed
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 527
Re: Which Banks
My KiwiBank account is currently a $5 flat fee per month, all transactions included.
EFTPOS is SWIFT... and counts as an electronic transaction.
Best look up the fee tables on the banks' website, and post back if there are any terms that you don't understand.
On the upside of paying fees, I have found that generally the services provided are better (faster, more responsive) than in the UK where you generally don't pay fees.
Jan 12th 2007, 1:58 am
#19
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 29
Re: Which Banks
Has anyone used RaboPlus for savings? They seem to offer the highest rates...
http://www.raboplus.co.nz/landing/06...ce=interest_nz
http://www.raboplus.co.nz/landing/06...ce=interest_nz
Jan 12th 2007, 4:51 am
#20
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,763
Re: Which Banks
Do NZ banks generally charge for cheques?
That's one of the HUGE differences I found between the UK and the US: In the UK I'd have some banking charges (bear in mind I left coming on for 15 years ago), but cheques were always free, even the ones with wildlife printed on them.
In the US where I am now, banking is free, even online, and they pay interest on savings accounts, but cheques cost a friggin' BOMB!
For 200 cheques total (2 boxes of 5 books per box, 20 cheques per book), I just paid US$140. What a bleedin' rip-off!
This is why I'm transferring all our bills that can be transferred, on to automatic debit.
When I last lived in France, in 1995, that was COMMONPLACE!!! Here, it's like new technology. Good grief Charlie Brown!
As they would say here: "Get with the program(me)!" 
That's one of the HUGE differences I found between the UK and the US: In the UK I'd have some banking charges (bear in mind I left coming on for 15 years ago), but cheques were always free, even the ones with wildlife printed on them.
In the US where I am now, banking is free, even online, and they pay interest on savings accounts, but cheques cost a friggin' BOMB!
For 200 cheques total (2 boxes of 5 books per box, 20 cheques per book), I just paid US$140. What a bleedin' rip-off! This is why I'm transferring all our bills that can be transferred, on to automatic debit.
When I last lived in France, in 1995, that was COMMONPLACE!!! Here, it's like new technology. Good grief Charlie Brown!
As they would say here: "Get with the program(me)!"
Jan 12th 2007, 7:06 am
#21
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: In a large village called Auckland
Posts: 5,249
Re: Which Banks
They charge for each cheque you write here, not for the book, although you do have to pay a silly sum of $2 'tax' on a new chequebook. Cheques are hardly ever used as most pay by EFT with the charges deliberately much higher for cheques to persuade you to use other electronic means.
Jan 12th 2007, 7:22 am
#22
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: In a large village called Auckland
Posts: 5,249
Re: Which Banks
A major negative for me with Kiwibank is queing up with the old dears in The Post Shop, also worthwhile considering a lot of Post Shops are closed on Saturday afternoons.
Jan 12th 2007, 8:06 am
#23
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Timaru, NZ
Posts: 484
Re: Which Banks
As my OH pointed out we've had no problems with Kiwibank, but as the same as all the banks in New Zealand there are bank charges. We opened our account a few months before we came out and then got charges each month for having an account with no money in it. If you can send over $4000 into the Front runner account once you've opened it from the UK then you'll avoid the charges. I think the charges was only something like 5 pounds a month. They also have an account called 'Online call' which pays about 7.3% and you have instant access, its a bit like an ING account that you link to your normal account and can only transfer money to and from your named account, ie, the Front runner account and Interest is paid monthly.
Jan 12th 2007, 8:19 am
#24
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Timaru, NZ
Posts: 484
Re: Which Banks
[QUOTEA major negative for me with Kiwibank is queing up with the old dears in The Post Shop, also worthwhile considering a lot of Post Shops are closed on Saturday afternoons. [/QUOTE]
Can't speak for the rest of the Country but here in Timaru most of the shops close on a Saturday afternoon. I'm pretty sure the banks close too. There's only the bigger chain stores that stay open like the super markets, Wharehouse, Briscoes etc....
[/QUOTE]Can't speak for the rest of the Country but here in Timaru most of the shops close on a Saturday afternoon. I'm pretty sure the banks close too. There's only the bigger chain stores that stay open like the super markets, Wharehouse, Briscoes etc....
Jan 12th 2007, 8:27 am
#25
Account Closed
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 527
Re: Which Banks
Do NZ banks generally charge for cheques?
In the US where I am now, banking is free, even online, and they pay interest on savings accounts, but cheques cost a friggin' BOMB! For 200 cheques total (2 boxes of 5 books per box, 20 cheques per book), I just paid US$140. What a bleedin' rip-off!
This is why I'm transferring all our bills that can be transferred, on to automatic debit.
In the US where I am now, banking is free, even online, and they pay interest on savings accounts, but cheques cost a friggin' BOMB!
For 200 cheques total (2 boxes of 5 books per box, 20 cheques per book), I just paid US$140. What a bleedin' rip-off! This is why I'm transferring all our bills that can be transferred, on to automatic debit.
Jan 12th 2007, 2:20 pm
#26
Too close to the sun
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Waihola, Dunedin
Posts: 411
Re: Which Banks
I'll have to show the wife all this . My heads a shed already
Jan 12th 2007, 6:57 pm
#27
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,118
Re: Which Banks
We're with Kiwi bank too, no problems at all and its convenient to be able to pop into any Post Shop to do any banking as well.
Their fixed rate mortgages are usually pretty competitive , we've had one with them for the last 3 years but are just about to change as they can't meet TSB's rate this time.
Their fixed rate mortgages are usually pretty competitive , we've had one with them for the last 3 years but are just about to change as they can't meet TSB's rate this time.
The twat at the kiwibank stand at the london expo put me off using their bank. he refused to look at me and only talked to DP; the only time he spoke to me was to test me on my 'rugby' knowledge. I told him it wasnt important and can he talk to me about interest rates instead.
how to make kiwi friends eh?
Jan 12th 2007, 7:40 pm
#29
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,585
Re: Which Banks
We use National Bank and have absolutely no complaints whatsoever. Really! You are reading correctly. Our personal banking lady person there is marvellous. They've cocked up a couple of times but, wait for it...unlike every other NZ business I had the misfortune to be on the receiving end of a cock-up with, they admitted it AND put it right...immediately.
Stranger things have surely not happened.
Stranger things have surely not happened.
Feb 23rd 2007, 11:05 am
#30
you dewty owld maan!
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: is practically perfect in every way
Posts: 5,565
Re: Which Banks
NZ banks do charge for transactions or a monthly flat fee. Generally, all of them do it unless you have a mortgage with the same bank, or if you have a very large amount of cash sitting in your cheque account.
My KiwiBank account is currently a $5 flat fee per month, all transactions included.
EFTPOS is SWIFT... and counts as an electronic transaction.
Best look up the fee tables on the banks' website, and post back if there are any terms that you don't understand.
On the upside of paying fees, I have found that generally the services provided are better (faster, more responsive) than in the UK where you generally don't pay fees.
My KiwiBank account is currently a $5 flat fee per month, all transactions included.
EFTPOS is SWIFT... and counts as an electronic transaction.
Best look up the fee tables on the banks' website, and post back if there are any terms that you don't understand.
On the upside of paying fees, I have found that generally the services provided are better (faster, more responsive) than in the UK where you generally don't pay fees.
we are with KiwiBank but they dont have a "SWIFT" code that can be used for international transfers or to take out cash on demand from another bank account using a PIN.......this may be a drawback if you want to get your £££s or US$/OZ$ fast....from their website:
Receiving money from overseas
Receiving a deposit into your bank account
A deposit can be made directly into your Kiwibank account from another bank anywhere in the world. You'll need to make sure that the person sending you the money has the following information:
Your name
Your bank account number
Kiwibank's address: Kiwibank Limited, 155 The Terrace, Wellington 6332, New Zealand.
You may also be asked to provide a bank and/or branch number. However, this is not necessary as your Kiwibank account number includes these details.
Please note: Kiwibank can't receive funds from another bank via SWIFT. The bank the funds are being sent from will need to contact their New Zealand corresponding bank to arrange the transfer.
Receiving a deposit into your bank account
A deposit can be made directly into your Kiwibank account from another bank anywhere in the world. You'll need to make sure that the person sending you the money has the following information:
Your name
Your bank account number
Kiwibank's address: Kiwibank Limited, 155 The Terrace, Wellington 6332, New Zealand.
You may also be asked to provide a bank and/or branch number. However, this is not necessary as your Kiwibank account number includes these details.
Please note: Kiwibank can't receive funds from another bank via SWIFT. The bank the funds are being sent from will need to contact their New Zealand corresponding bank to arrange the transfer.
