[pleccy2000]

Can anyone advise on which is the Cheapest / best bank? I have no idea which to go for. Kiwibank looks pretty cheap? Any recomendations?

[sarahw]

Hiya Adam,

I don't know about being cheap but ASB are really helpful - we've got a personal banker who knows us both by first name which is great when we call her to arrange anything.

They may not give the best rates but the service is excellent! They were recommended to us by a Kiwi couple who have moved around nearly all the banks in Welly over the last 20 years.

They only needed to take a copy of our passports to arrange the account & they gave us cashpoint cards & pin numbers on the spot.

Sarah

[Jules]

Hi Adam

I second Sarah, we are with ASB bank and they are very helpfull and friendly :nice1 :nice1

Jules

[Radders]

If you can keep a certain amount (usually $1000) in your account minimum, most banks have accounts that do not charge you any fees

[xanctus]

$1000 minimum for most banks? hmmm

[Moorf]

With National Bank it's $5000 last time we checked.

[Radders]

Still they do have those accounts...the ANZ is $1000

[Moorf]

Definitely investigating that Radders.. thanks.. :nice1

At first $5000 seemed an okay balance to keep.. further down the line $1000 is more achieveable!

[lindajax]

only me!
I agree with Moorf we have obviously got the same account with nb as her and will have to investigate the others further!!

linda x

[leslie]

we hear asb.

[upandrunning]

Asb are great, however if you arrive looking for a job on visitor permit, the account they open for you has charges regardless of what you have in it.

They did us a really good deal on car and contents insurance. So much cheaper than UK. Also just took my word for no claims bonus.

[T-and-L-PDX]

Westpac have been unsatisfactory and am considering a switch to ASB. Customer service very uneven, non-responsive, etc.

[veronica]

once you sort the financial stats etc, I think the service is very much a case of which branch of the bank. We have had good service from the Westpac in Chch.

[T-and-L-PDX]

You might be right, Veronica. People in Chch might have better results. I'm dealing with group in Auckland. Migrant group was very good but when I moved on, felt a drop off in responsiveness.

[richard]

ASB gets my vote too and to echo upandrunning

"They did us a really good deal on car and contents insurance. So much cheaper than UK. Also just took my word for no claims bonus."

I have just arranged insurance for my Jag as it is due in Lyttelton round about now. I phoned the ASB and they quoted $441. That is a saving of $1280 a year compared to what I paid in the UK.

I also mentioned whilst I was on the phone that we have fitted a 5 star alarm/immobiliser to our other car and they have just refunded $18 of the yearly premium.

The ASB have done us proud so far. :clap :clap :clap

[Moorf]

The National Bank of NZ gets the thumbs up from us... :nice1

Personal banking staff are friendly and efficient, phone help is excellent.. and I arranged pre-approval for our mortgage by meeting with a Mobile Mortgage Manager at my home at 11am for 1 hour and the approval was done by 2pm. The written approval arrived next morning by Fastpost.

[freeflyer]

ASB :clap
The manager gave us $10 to get ourselves a coffee from starbucks ,because we had to wait half an hour to see him (we hadnt even made an appointment)
he wrote personal references for us , for a rental property.
best of all , when we were burgled , he made sure our contents claim went through , even though we had only taken out the policy the day before all our stuff was taken.
Anna

[Radders]

Hi I have just been added to my wife's old National account.
We are just on the pay as you go option.
Fees are $3 monthly (unless you have an average of $1000 in your account for that month)
25c per automatic transaction
50c to use other banks ATMs
They charge more for manual stuff like cheques (possibly 50c aswell)
They charge $3.75 to set up direct debits etc.
All in all if you are coming from the Uk, you will feel like you are being ripped off wherever you bank.
I just can't get my head around paying someone to keep hold of my money, when they then go and use it to make loads themselves.

[chrissie]

Yes, I don't know about the others, but ASB have been very good. Extremely helpful and friendly. Need to have min of $5000 in the account to ensure there are no charges though...(which really irks me as we did away with that sort of thing in UK ove 20years ago!!!)

[chrissie]

Yes, I don't know about the others, but ASB have been very good. Extremely helpful and friendly. Need to have min of $5000 in the account to ensure there are no charges though...(which really irks me as we did away with that sort of thing in UK ove 20years ago!!!)

[Beach Kiwi]

TSB Bank (http://www.tsbbank.co.nz) constantly tops the list of bank surveys when it comes to customer satisfaction, service and fees. :cool

[Happy]

Westpac have been unsatisfactory and am considering a switch to ASB. Customer service very uneven, non-responsive, etc.

I agree 100% with you. I was told Westpac is very friendly. Well, they are, but also useless. :exit After 5 months of banking with them, I am considering alternatives. Kiwi Bank is really an option
http://www.kiwibank.co.nz/kiwicat/kiwicat_fee_comparison.stm

[Diny]

We have held an account with Kiwi Bank for about 2 1/2 years now. We're still in the UK so haven't (yet) used them on a 'day to day' basis, but as far as keeping us informed, quick response and helpfullness goes we can't fault them.

We use to have an account with ANZ and we always got pretty good 'service' from them. Has anybody any experience of them?

Diny