Mcodox

Its not a perfect solution but HSBC Premier has helped us a lot. By setting it up before leaving with a UK Premier and then a US Premier account for arrival (started about 6 mobnths before departure) I have been able to leverage my UK credit history to get 2 sets of credit cards set up here in USA, one Primary my name, one Primary wifes name. The downside is the 50k deposit requirement. The credit limits are high and are generating credit history for us both. Six months into the US I am now starting to get offers from banks for local credit following review of my score, so assume it is flowing through. I will probably swop over to accounts not requiring 50k sterling no interest deposit in due course. This is all a complete palaver but it is a solution. Of course Amex transfer is another.

One other thing, if you want a mortgage in USA quickly i.e. prior to the usually quoted 2 years to generate sufficient history, HSBC Premier gets you there with great rates from the off. All assuming you have a good history and reasonable income etc etc, personal circumstances may vary caveat caveat...

Bob

They took over Sovereign, the shit bank, not the shit Brazilian bank of the same name...and they're still shit...and I think a separate entity to the European operation.

HannahJ38

Santander aren't a good bank! When i was with Alliance and Leicester I had no choice but to bank with Santander until I could find a better bank (Obviously going a few years back now) HSBC is quite good, agreed with Mcodox

petitefrancaise

Currencies Direct now have a New York office so that you can move money out of the USA more easily. In the past I have found them to be competitive and quick. I can recommend Fiona Warren, their agent. [email protected]

she may be able to get you reduced fees if you ask nicely!

technolog

We decided we liked the look and sound of Halo Financial the best. I've just made a test transfer of a small amount. If it goes okay, we'll be using them to transfer the proceeds of the house sale later this year. I must say we've been very impressed with their customer service so far.

jmood

Citibank.
Open an account while in the UK. Then open an account when is US.

Instant transfer between accounts in UK and US online, fee free, at the going daily x-change rate.

MidAtlantic

I tried this and after two months of trying to open a US account I gave up. They were impossible to deal with and the fact that I had a UK Citibank account meant nothing.

Sally Redux

Complete disaster when we tried it (this involved travelling to London to see a 'specialist' in person). We couldn't access any money for quite a while when we first moved over. All they had done was open an additional UK dollar account

jmood

Sorry for the two bad experiences with Citibank. I guess I just got lucky.
Admittedly, my US Citi account was opened with the help of a Relocation Agent when I first arrived in the US. It was opened with the Florida division (not sure why) as a sort of expat thing, even though I was in NY.

But I suppose once you do have both the UK and the US account, you (anyone) are free to use their online global transfer function - instant transfers without a fee.

RayAme

I just moved £20k Through TEGFOREX.CO.UK All done on line, You have to register with them and thats easy.Email them proof of funds i.e bank statement.They have been very helpful in the past, no fees above £10k transfers. I just got $1.65 to the £. Once I see my financil adviser here in USA I will be using them to transfer £250k to my investment here. Only fee I paid was the £30 fee to Bank of America. Couldn't be simpler.

jmood

How does TEGFOREX make money then?

RayAme

Hey I don't work for TEG, I just use them as a customer. I have been using them for 13 yrs now. Never had a problem.They are covered under the FSA in the UK and since I have been using them they have opened 4 new branches around London UK.Check out there website.

Sally Redux

I guess they make money in the rate they set?

I am going to have to get with all this stuff soon.

technolog

Money arrived in destination account the next day, as promised.

IlAlfie

I moved the proceeds of our UK flat sale with World First. No fees, excellent rate (better than xe.com) and really good customer service. It was also a lot easier to set up an account, I had terrible problems with XE and I gave up in the end. I'm glad I did because World First had a more competitive rate.