Bank Accounts

paulhayley · 18-05-2008, 11:24 AM

Hi everyone,

Were flying out to start our new lives in northern Queensland in 6 weeks and would like some advice on aussie bank accounts. Is it better to open one when we get there or can you open an account from the UK before we go?

Any advice would be great, many thanks.

keily · 18-05-2008, 11:51 AM

Hi Guys .... We Currently Bank With The Clydesdale Here In Uk .... They Are Affiliated With Other Banks In Uk ... Yorkshire Etc .... They Are Also Affiliated With The Nab [national Australia Bank ] So Its A Case Of Them Opening Us An Account Over There And Transferring .... We Can Do That At The Mo And Transfer Monthly Amounts If We Wish .... But I Think We Would Be Better Waiting For Visa [just Incase ]!!!
Mrs Keily

AndrewL · 18-05-2008, 12:37 PM

My personal favourite is Citibank, as they don't have account keeping fees. I know they're almost immaterial but I just can't accept paying a bank for them having my money! 99% of others banks charge you see, but generally Citibank don't. I have heard good things about Bank West - backed by HBOS (I think) and trying to get into the eastern seaboard market.

In terms of setting up an account before you leave, I wouldn't bother. It's very easy when you are here so long as you have an Australian address.

Cheers, Andrew

johatts · 18-05-2008, 01:31 PM

we`re with bankwest. no charges for anything and 9% interest on our savings

(shame we dont have any at the moment!!)

n&r · 19-05-2008, 04:42 PM

Hi everyone!
We've just got our visas through an online company who are saying that we need to transfer our money to allow us into Oz through them, to rpove we have funding for our year out there. Does anyone know if we can just prove we have the money by showing them a British bank account statement, then open an account over there?
Sorry if that isnt well explained, we're new to the whole moving to the other side of the world thing, and we're not sure if we're being conned by our visa company...
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Cheers,
N & R
x

mrsjjm · 29-07-2008, 01:19 PM

hiya my name is jo and i was just wondering if you can open an account with bankwest from the uk ?we are due to fly 2 brisbane begining of sept!any help would be great jox

maxine · 29-07-2008, 01:28 PM

Opening an account from the UK is easy and all of the major banks are extremely helpful. We fly out to Brisbane beg of Sept and have sorted an account with Westpac

cazbeckham · 29-07-2008, 02:16 PM

Mrs JJM

No you cannot open a bank account with Bankwest from the UK, you have to wait till you get out there.
I have tried and they won't do it. I think it the only Australian bank that will not let you open an account from the UK.
I need to open one with then for my home account and also a business account, I can't do neither till I get out there, which is a pain really............. I would have liked to have had it sorted before I got there.

Good Luck when you leave the UK

Caz

mrsjjm · 29-07-2008, 05:37 PM

Thanks for the replys! it seems that bankwest are the only ones that dont have any charges?is this right?

cazbeckham · 29-07-2008, 06:40 PM

Hi Jo (no not my Daighter Jo)

Yes you are right they dont have any charges as my Daughter JoHatts on here will tell you or has already mentioned in this thread.

So I think we will wait till we get there and sort things out then.

We will be using HIFX to transfer our money as we want them to transfer my OH pensions that he gets paid now in UK to an Autralian Bank and as long as a direct debit is set up with them for them to transfer the money each month they will not charge.

Caz