[AndyR]

The forms downloaded from this page

http://www.kiwibank.co.nz/products/migrant_banking_open_acc.stm

are not very clear. Do i need a NZ home address? do i squeeze in a uk phone number? The forms also mention NZ identification.

Can anyone clear this up?

Cheers

Andy

[Belmont Babes]

Haven't looked at the forms but we opened an account from the Uk with our UK address and tel no. Just changed it when we got here. Hope that helps. I just emailed the bank and they faxed a form to us, we filled it in and faxed it back. Job done :yes

[joinnz]

Hey, if you're allready in NZ, just go to their office and
bring two kinds of identification with you(passport, drivers license,etc). I got an account by presenting just a visa card,IRD number and an international passport. It's that easy, took only 20 minutes.

cheers,

[AndyR]

I'm not there yet but wanted to get it sorted and have money ready for when I arrive. I'll fill out the forms and enclose a letter.

thanks

[Potato]

I'm not there yet but wanted to get it sorted and have money ready for when I arrive. I'll fill out the forms and enclose a letter.

thanks

Do you have a work permit/PR at the moment?

Would probably be worth giving them a ring beforehand to check exactly what they need in your case.

[Pebbles]

We were just gonna wait until we get to NZ to open a bank account.
Am I missing something? What are your reasons for opening an account beforehand?

[andrewp]

Am I missing something? What are your reasons for opening an account beforehand?

Hey Pebbles, I can't speak for the others, but I want somewhere to move some money to so that I can access it when I get there. I'm sure that without a local credit rating it takes a while to be able to get a credit card for example.

[Jaq1978]

Hi Andy

My daughter opened a kiwibank account by contacting them by email. They told her how to download the forms. She returned these by attachment to email with a copy of her passport and a UK bank statement also attached to the email. They sent her account details by return. She needs to just go to a branch on arrival and arrange to collect cashcard etc
Good luck
Jaq

[thekiwibarkers]

We set our account up before we got here with Bank Of New Zealand. It was very simple and they used our uk address and info and then on the day we arrived into NZ we just went into the branch and our cards were there waiting for us. It just made it so much easier to have it all ready on the day as was one less thing to worry about having to deal with! ...

... One thing for people to realise tho .... If you didn't have credit cards in the UK then prepare for needing one in NZ! ... We didn't really want on but found that Eftpos can't be used online or over the phone and we've found quite a few occasions (staying in a motel etc...) when they've needed a credit card as a deposit. So, after being here a couple of weeks we then went back to the branch and within a week we had a credit card (with the smallest limit we could ask for may I add!...).

With regards to credit ratings, New Zealand's system is based on a Negative credit rating system which means that only bad debts or missed payments will show up so even tho you've only just moved to the country it won't make a massive difference anyway.....

Hope this helps!

[jdbob]

What Jaq1978 said, same thing here. I opened it up ahead of time so I could wire transfer money into it before I left. Just showed up at the closest branch (Masterton in my case) when I got to NZ to activate it.

[dbonnett]

We opened an account from the US before we traveled to NZ last year. We submitted the form electronically (scanned it, as I recall) and had to send some supporting documentation since I wanted my wife on the account as well and we have different last names. We then dropped into one of the Wellington branches (Lambton Quay) to show ID and order our EFTPOS cards - no problem whatsoever! In fact we had a wonderful conversation with the branch manager who is also an expat American.

Since we were traveling around and didn't have a permanent address we had the cards sent Post Restante to the main branch in Christchurch and picked them up there (in fact, our statements still show that as our "official" address). All in all, we found Kiwibank to be flexible and easy to deal with - we also liked the fact that they have branches at every post office and lots of ATMs. We plan to stay with them once we move for real.

[AndyR]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

My reasons are that I wanted money ready in the account when I arrived so I could start sorting things out as soon as possible.

[Potato]

With regards to credit ratings, New Zealand's system is based on a Negative credit rating system which means that only bad debts or missed payments will show up so even tho you've only just moved to the country it won't make a massive difference anyway.....

Hope this helps!

Yes, quite an important point, IMO. :)
I have never had a credit card in my life, got one over here and they offered me a $4500 limit....that is way, way too much for me. (Went with $1000). You don't need to build up a credit rating.

[Potato]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

My reasons are that I wanted money ready in the account when I arrived so I could start sorting things out as soon as possible.

Probably a good idea. When I did it I think it was my second day in NZ, I was on a WHV and I walked into ASB with a letter from a youth hostel (!) and had an account in about 20mins. I then used www.tranzfers.com to move money over (takes about a week to 10 days usually). In hindsight it definitely would have been better to have arrived with it all sorted, especially when I had to buy a $1900 car....was quite hard to get hold of that money.

I also think you're making the right choice with Kiwibank.

[Wahlet]

Hi Andy, I did what you want to do.

Best approach is to call Kiwibank, have them email you the documents you need. Then scan and email, or fax them back. It required a bit of form-filling-out, but nothing extraordinary.

I've arrived in Welly and have an appointment with Kiwibank tomorrow to come in with passports and proof of address, in order to verify my account and get their FREE credit card!

Let me know if you have any other questions!

Best,
David

[stevied20]

Hi Andy,

Best idea is to set an account up before you go, less hassle then. Especially if you are sending money over before you go.

We set up our account with ASB, it was very simple, they emailed forms, or you can download them from their website, fill them in and send them back to London with supporting documents....proof of address and certified copies of our visas/driving licenses.
Once returned to London, it took about 5 days before our account was active. We were sent our account details.....Acc.No, swift code etc.
You are initially given a transfer/holding account in London which accepts funds you send it, if you send sterling it will automatically be converted to NZ$(not always a good thing!!) and transferred too NZ, this will activate your NZ account.
Alternatively you can bypass your holding account by requesting your NZ account details, then give these to your money exchange co: eg HIFX and once your trade with them is complete, they will transfer the NZ$ direct to you NZ bank account.
Also, if like us you want to register for internet banking in the UK, you have to go to London, to the ASB offices and present your Passport/visas to prove your ID. Once done they will release the holds on your NZ account. You can then ring ASB in NZ, and set a password and username allowing you to view your account from the UK.
This is handy, if like us, you are transferring money to NZ and you want to monitor it's progress.
I know a trip to London can be a pain, but we made a day of it with the kids and we have the peace of mind of checking our account before we leave.
Phew......sorry to rattle on.
ASB have been awesome so far, and can't recommend them enough.....I think they want our money ;)

Steve