Guest Mrs C Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Hi All, Mr C has asked me to rack your brains! Any recommendations for Ozzie Banks. When we sell the house, will need to open an account and are thinking of doing so over here. Are there any banks to stear clear of? etc etc. all your help would be appreciated. April Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Liz and Paul Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Hi, We opened a bank account with Westpac while we were still in the UK - you can do this online on their website, we had our bank account number sent to us within a week and used HiFX to transfer our money to Oz - supposedly offer a better rate of exchange than the UK High street banks. Online we were able to select the branch we wanted our account held and when we got to Oz we just had to go in and show id and were able to access our funds immediately, just had to wait about a week for our debit cards, but we could withdraw money over the counter in the meantime. The staff in our local branch are really friendly and Westpac is one of the largest banks in Australia so there are cash machines everywhere. You are charged over here if you use another banks cash machine, so its useful to find them everywhere. Other major banks here are ANZ, Commonwealth, St George, can't remember any others off top of my head. Liz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calNgary Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Hiya we used ANZ ,they have been great so far ,and ive no complaints.The account was very easy to set up from the uk and you just visit a branch here on arrival to activate it for withdrawals,hope this helps a bit Cal x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mrs C Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Hi Liz Thanks for the info, just something else to thinks about.............. Need to sell the house first......lol We have got some paperwork on ANZ and there is a branch up at Canary Wharf! But just wanted a bit of input from the guy's on here first. Thanks again April Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mrs C Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Hiya we used ANZ ,they have been great so far ,and ive no complaints.The account was very easy to set up from the uk and you just visit a branch here on arrival to activate it for withdrawals,hope this helps a bitCal x Thanks Cal, Will pay them a visit I think! Get some more info etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoll Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 I use St George, it has never let us down and has a decent telephone help line too. Their internet banking seems (to me) to be more user friendly than DH's ANZ account. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JoanneHattersley Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Bankwest! Branches are not as common as other banks but they have no charges! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mrs C Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Thanks Everyone, I have opened a can of worms here! Will have to get Mr C to put the thinking cap on again....lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kdal Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Hi April, We have been pondering this one too!! I know we see lots of Commonwealth Banks in Australia, thats the one that stands out in my mind the most. I was thinking it may also be an idea to think about where you are going to be settling and making sure that the bank you choose has a branch nearby - maybe!! Will keep an eye on this thread to see what other peeps experiences / thoughts are Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mrs C Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Oh Kim As ever your wise words are much appreciated.. It is just a thinking point at the moment, but when we sell the house we'll need to think more about which bank to use. There is soooo much to think about....lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Liam Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 If you are arriving new in the country then I can recommend Bank of Queensland which has branches in every state and is growing. It is a second tier bank but the service is first class as each Branch is owned by the Manager and he/she gives personal service and you get their mobile number as part of that service guarantee! Bank of Queensland Australia. Banking and finance. Nice to have a manager willing to sit with you and help with bank accounts, credit cards, home loans etc in person and in plain english! best wishes Liam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest roger ramjet Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 hiya ... the UK branch of ANZ has a website www.anz.com/uk. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mrs C Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 Thanks for the advice. Will have a good look into it. April Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JoanneHattersley Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 Just be VERY aware of the bank charges here. For some banks they can be very high. You get charged for EVERYTHING here unike the UK where there are no limits on the amounts of bank transactions per month. We are with a "certain bank" who we went with as we were recommended to them. We got their credit card in order to gain points. What they never told us was, once you reach a certain number of points you cant claim any more until the year is up! Now that was a con to me! Have a good shop around before you make a choice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuju Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 Just be VERY aware of the bank charges here. For some banks they can be very high. You get charged for EVERYTHING here unike the UK where there are no limits on the amounts of bank transactions per month. We are with a "certain bank" who we went with as we were recommended to them. We got their credit card in order to gain points. What they never told us was, once you reach a certain number of points you cant claim any more until the year is up! Now that was a con to me! Have a good shop around before you make a choice Hi Jo, Uuummmmmmmmmm you do have to be careful, im with Westpac and they charged me 65cents for a mini statement from a westpac atm ............... we also have a ANZ account where we suppose to pay $5 month and unlimited transaction but we still seem to get charges there too - what bank was it - bankwest im gonna have a look at that, thanks for the tip gizmo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JoanneHattersley Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 what bank was it - bankwest im gonna have a look at that, thanks for the tipgizmo I know that there is a branch in the city near Eagle Street. As far as I am aware there are no bank charges and they give you quite a high percentage on your savings! Bloody shame really tho as I am having some building work done! Got no savings now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest theblueboy1969 Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 Hi guys, Use to work with Westpac for 3 years and they are pretty good for access and what you get for your money, also good internet banking. I have most of my accounts at NAB as i have my loans with them and they are good as well. Bankwest are certainly growing and are owned by the UK bank HBOS, they are really competitive and offer some great deals. Overall all banks here charge you for whatever they can get away with. Banks in the UK are much better but life here is wonderful !!!! Good luck :smile: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pinhead Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 I have an account at CBA and only have good things to say about them (had it about 5 years now). No problems maintaining it etc even from the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lea Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Can anyone advise as to which oz banks are not affiliated with any uk banks as i am a bankrupt? thanks!:no: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pinhead Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 Can anyone advise as to which oz banks are not affiliated with any uk banks as i am a bankrupt? thanks!:no: I don't believe CBA are affliated with any bank in the UK. CBA London office couldn't even access my oz account so I very much doubt they are in communication with any UK bank check on your financial status. You could always drop them an email and ask. Not from the the standpoint of a bankrupt but from someone who wishes to do cross border business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest silversurfer 16 Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 We are with Commonwealth Bank opened it in UK found the staff very helpful & nice It all depends what bank you have near you bear in mind if the cash machine isnt your bank they will charge for withdrawers & if you have a cheque book they will charge for every time you write a cheque Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mrs C Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 We are with Commonwealth Bank opened it in UK found the staff very helpful & nice It all depends what bank you have near you bear in mind if the cash machine isnt your bank they will charge for withdrawers & if you have a cheque book they will charge for every time you write a cheque Oh Hi Thanks for that bit of info, it is similar to my account here in the Uk as it is a business account. There is so much to think about isn't there! April Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pinhead Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 Just be VERY aware of the bank charges here. For some banks they can be very high. You get charged for EVERYTHING here unike the UK where there are no limits on the amounts of bank transactions per month. We are with a "certain bank" who we went with as we were recommended to them. We got their credit card in order to gain points. What they never told us was, once you reach a certain number of points you cant claim any more until the year is up! Now that was a con to me! Have a good shop around before you make a choice If you keep $20K in your CBA account they don't charge you any bank charges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JoanneHattersley Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 If you keep $20K in your CBA account they don't charge you any bank charges. :biglaugh::biglaugh: Alright if you have $20K!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MikeCormack Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 :biglaugh::biglaugh: Alright if you have $20K!!!! Exactly. And if you do have a spare $20k you would be better off putting it in an interest yielding account earning $100-150 per month instead of saving $5 per month on fees! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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