UK and Finnish banks

KarinP · Post by **KarinP** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:50 am

Hi

I am hoping to move to Finland in July/August and will still be running a bank account here in the UK, as well as opening one in FInland. Do any ex-pat Brits have any recommendation of which UK bank offers a decent service for European transfers etc - I am currently very fed up with my own bank for various reasons and am considering changing it - wonderd if anyone had any suggestions?

Kiitos paljon

Karin

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cressers · Post by **cressers** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:00 pm

HSBC has been ok with me, no online transfer service though, need to call them......

inkku · Post by **inkku** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:59 pm

HSBC's internet bank First Direct

Mook · Post by **Mook** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 10:36 pm

The banks don't offer a fantastic exchange rate, so when moving bigger lumos of money it's best to use a 3rd party fx company. (if you search here you'll find a thread about it)

Last time I moved money i used this lot: http://hifx.co.uk/

SaxonManFinland · Post by **SaxonManFinland** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 6:58 pm

I kept my Abbey account (pre Santander Group buyout days). They were very good at transfers, giving a brilliant exchange rate (cost £25 per transaction but worth it) I worked out a £1000 saving on one transfer. However as the £ is crap, I would try and keep my cash invested UK side, on account of awful exchange rate, decent interest rates, which you will not find in Finland. In Finland remember you will be charged for just about EVERYTHING. Check what your bank charges will be, and leave your spare, reserve, bulk cash in UK away from Finnish Tax Man.....you will learn

Cod · Post by **Cod** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 9:00 pm

Smile Internet bank do online transfers...no great rates but ok for less than a grand. http://www.smile.co.uk

Used Moneycorp to transfer the larger sums http://www.moneycorp.com/

imneverdrinkingagain · Post by **imneverdrinkingagain** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 2:13 pm

I have an HSBC account in the UK and a Nordea account here in finland. I often transfer money in Euros from my Nordea account to my HSBC account which is in sterling. It is extremely easy. You can do it online with Nordea's netbank. You need some details of your bank in the UK (swift, iban, address) but once you fill out the form you can save it as a template so the next time all you do is enter the amount to transfer and bob's your uncle. Too easy really.

And the rate is actually very good, and no fees, its actually a great service.

EDIT: After re-reading your post, i see you are looking for the service going the other way, yeah not sure about that. sorry.

sinikala · Post by **sinikala** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 2:37 pm

I have Nordea here & Lloyds-TSB in England... the last time I looked (2 years ago?) according to Lloyds, transfers outside of the UK were not permitted through their internet banking serivce (security / terror etc reasons).

If you wanted to make an international transfer from a Lloyds account, it involved physically going into a Lloyds branch.
I just withdrew it as cash and transferred it in my wallet.

antstar · Post by **antstar** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:18 pm

sinikala wrote:I have Nordea here & Lloyds-TSB in England... the last time I looked (2 years ago?) according to Lloyds, transfers outside of the UK were not permitted through their internet banking serivce (security / terror etc reasons).

If you wanted to make an international transfer from a Lloyds account, it involved physically going into a Lloyds branch.
I just withdrew it as cash and transferred it in my wallet.

lloyds tsb also let you transfer money via telephone, i think if i remember max 10 grand. you need all the Iban numbers etc..around £30 to do it that way.

Mook · Post by **Mook** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:01 pm

There's a couple of posters that have said "the rate was very good". Compared to what, the tourist rates?

KarinP · Post by **KarinP** » Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm

Can I thank everyone for their responses - it's really helpful

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Thu May 01, 2008 8:13 pm

When I was living in France the cheapest way to transfer money from GB to France (and vice versa) was using M&S gift vouchers. You could redeem them for cash in any store, no commission and best rates in the High Street. Unfortunately M&S closed their Paris stores...

Might be worth checking Ikea....

mossman · Post by **mossman** » Thu May 01, 2008 8:20 pm

Check out Nationwide, not strictly a bank but same services and free from charges when using abroad, never ever had a problem.

Cod · Post by **Cod** » Thu May 01, 2008 10:30 pm

..BTW, the tried and tested alltime cheapest way to transfer money between developed countries is by Paypal..

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/bankin ... -transfers

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