Aus Bank accounts from the UK

[Guest Chelseadownunder]

Hi Guys

I have managed to open a bank account with Westpac are there any other australian bank accounts you can open from the UK. I do know about Commonwealth bank any others ?? I understand from Hifx you dont have the same protection over there so I want to spread my money with different banks just in case they have a Northern Rock in Aus.

Scott UK

[Guest Richard & Amanda]

Hiya,

 

Not sure if it helps or not....but we opened a Westpac account from the UK and activated it upon arrival.

 

I then opened my own Commonwealth account once all the house funds were transferred over and shipped the money into this account. I'm not working so I don't pay any tax on the interest!!!!!

 

Had the money stayed in Westpac then half of the interest (joint names) would have been taxed.

 

Can't say I was concerned about a Northern Rock issue. I opened an account with HIfx but never used it we transferred all the money via NATWEST straight to Westpac and sorted the rest out online once it was here....As they say over here "easy as!!"

[Guest Chelseadownunder]

That was very helpfull as I bank with Nat West and was just thinking how I pay for my accomodation I just booked as they wanted me to pay them in the bank accounts. Cheers

Scott UK:)

[Guest Ian & Diane]

Hi We also opened a bank account with Westpac and we have been using it from here in the uk we just have to visit the branch in Aus when we arrive to pick up our debit/credit cards. We also bank with NatWest in the uk.

 

ian

[Guest Chelseadownunder]

Thanks guys

Is it easy to transfer money from Nat West to Oz. Reason I ask two of the properties we are about to rent have asked for deposits and Nat West says we can do it by Relay Transfer, but thats still

£ 10 -£15 a go and other ways we have looked at are more money which is a pain as the bills are only for $200 and $ 500.

Scott UK

[Lea]

Thanks guys

Is it easy to transfer money from Nat West to Oz. Reason I ask two of the properties we are about to rent have asked for deposits and Nat West says we can do it by Relay Transfer, but thats still

£ 10 -£15 a go and other ways we have looked at are more money which is a pain as the bills are only for $200 and $ 500.

Scott UK

 

 

Check out Tranzfers - they are good for sending small amounts of A$ over here before you arrive - costs about £7 a time. www.tranzfers.com

 

The exchange rates are better than the UK banks usually - same with HIFX and Moneycorp.

 

Lea

[Guest Richard & Amanda]

Hiya Scott,

 

It is easy to transfer the money from Natwest to Westpac - well it would have been had I actually TOLD NATWEST I was moving to Oz!!!!! We were in a rush at the end and I didn't think it would matter

 

I spent 2 weeks trying to get my money shipped across cos they needed forms to be completed . My mum had to get the form, fax it to WESTPAC (who were really really good). I then had to sign the form and AIRMAIL it back (cos NATWEST wouldn't accept a fax back!) It cost me $46 to send it via express post but that was really my fault.

 

When it came to transferring some more of the money across it was a lot simpler, I had the form already (fax indemnity form I think it was) just filled it in and posted it back to the UK - easy as!

 

I'm sure if you tell NATWEST you are leaving you can complete the forms beforehand and then just ring them up and they will transfer it there and then for you - takes about 2 days once you confirm everything in triplicate on the phone!!!!