[jadugar]

I want to open my account and transfer money before i arrive NZ.Which bank is better to offer bank account opening facility before arrival of immigrant? and will the trnasfered or deposited amount will be taxable?

[Fern01]

The choice of Banks is yours, but the ANZ, Westpac, National, BNZ, Rabo, are all what you would call the 'bigger' banks. If you earn money by way of interest from your deposited amount, that will be taxed, otherwise transferring money doesn't incur any income tax.

[GrumpyGoat]

For what it's worth, we opened a BNZ account from overseas without any permits/visas.

It was easy--print out a form and emailed it back. The replied with account information. Then we transferred the money into the account.

Simple. Took only a couple of days.

[grady bunch]

We did the same with Westpac, if you have a paperless internet account it is free.

[Leo]

Setting up my account with BNZ (in NZ) last year was a smooth fuss-free process :nice1

However, many others have told me that they hadn't experienced the same consistency this time round... I wonder why?

[simoragn]

We opened a National Bank account from UK with no problems.

[Kanga]

ASB were very easy indeed and also easy to open Australian account with. I can't fault their service either.

[Rob&Don]

For what it's worth, we opened a BNZ account from overseas without any permits/visas.

It was easy--print out a form and emailed it back. The replied with account information. Then we transferred the money into the account.

Simple. Took only a couple of days.



Ditto the above! :nice1

[deli]

The choice of Banks is yours, but the ANZ, Westpac, National, BNZ, Rabo, are all what you would call the 'bigger' banks. If you earn money by way of interest from your deposited amount, that will be taxed, otherwise transferring money doesn't incur any income tax.

is interest on deposit taxed if you are not a NZ resident?

[victoria24]

yes, it depends on your departing country but for example you would pay 10% coming from the uk to the nz government.

[MartinW]

ASB.

National Bank:no suck.

[joelietz]

I'm coming to New Zealand in April and I'm wondering if there are branches of the Hong Kong bank there? I deal with HSBC and I know they have branches in many countries but it would be nice to not have to set up a new account and to just transfer money directly.

[JandM]

I don't know an answer for you, but hello and welcome. :)

[James 1077]

I'm coming to New Zealand in April and I'm wondering if there are branches of the Hong Kong bank there? I deal with HSBC and I know they have branches in many countries but it would be nice to not have to set up a new account and to just transfer money directly.

Not too many HSBC branches I'm afraid. There is one in Auckland CBD, one in Takapuna and, I think, one in Howick. I don't think that there are any outside of Auckland but could be wrong!

[Wooly_Cow]

Not too many HSBC branches I'm afraid. There is one in Auckland CBD, one in Takapuna and, I think, one in Howick. I don't think that there are any outside of Auckland but could be wrong!

I use HSBC here and there is an office in Wellington and one in Auckland BUT...they use Westpac for day to day back services like paying in money and cheques....

Not the best interest rates for loans or savings but as I have money offshore with them they are the easiest to deal with.

I also stuck with them during the recent troubles as they had one of the best risk ratios (least relative debt exposure).

I use Kiwibank for free credit cards and some savings. The balance here is that although the rates are good, it's a bit of a pain queueing at the Post Shops.

[cappuccino]

National Bank:no suck.

Sorry to hear you don't like National. I have found them to be completely professional and helpful. They even wrote to me when they made a mistake and credited me as a way of apology (I hadn't even noticed their mistake as it was a calculation of interest so not too obvious).

I am very fortunate in that they have a branch 2 minutes from my office and I am on first name terms with all the staff including the branch manager - they can't do enough for me (and no, I don't have millions of dollars in my account!):nice1

[dilanium]

I'm a Westpac fan. But then they've always been super helpful and go out of their way to ensure we don't incur any fees.

[sekilau]

Depend on the city you are going to move to.
HSBC is a bit superstition on "1 Queen Street". The Auckland Branch is located there. (I remember a friends told me they use short code internally to refer each branch, e.g. H1Q)

I have account in HSBC before I move there but I had my migrant account in ASB.


I'm coming to New Zealand in April and I'm wondering if there are branches of the Hong Kong bank there? I deal with HSBC and I know they have branches in many countries but it would be nice to not have to set up a new account and to just transfer money directly.

[dilanium]

I have an account with HSBC too, but there are no branches in many places in NZ (including where I live) so it's not that great for my day to day banking.

[Wooly_Cow]

I have an account with HSBC too, but there are no branches in many places in NZ (including where I live) so it's not that great for my day to day banking.

Not true ...you can use Westpac branches

[dilanium]

in NZ? that's not what HSBC told me when I first got here, maybe they changed it.

[Kiwi Mac]

I have an account with HSBC too, but there are no branches in many places in NZ (including where I live) so it's not that great for my day to day banking.

They have branches in Auckland. At least they did last time I was up there. I think that's the only place.

We were with them in Wellington until they decided that they would close the private client section in favour of the 'Premier" idea. We used Westpac for paying in cheques.

Moved to ASB. They're OK. No idea why they use Americans to advertise though. Seems an odd choice for NZ.

[ricky1981]

I was with HSBC in the UK but found them very unhelpful when we moved over, refused to sort paperwork from the UK unless we paid them $100!!!

Westpac were so much better and have been great ever since, we have an online account so no monthly fees, a mortgage split into 3 pieces with great rates and everyone we have dealt with has been friendly and switched on.

[pcsourcepoint]

But once you open an account you may want to consider if it's features suit you overall. For example, a student may find a bank more suitable than for a middle income worker, than someone on a pension, etc.

[teamplayer2003]

I have a Westpac, ASB and an HSBC NZ account. HSBC were good when I sold my place in the uk, as I had over 50k pounds they gave me premier status which enabled good service when sending cash over. Once NZ HSBC is part of there "global network" on the internet it will make it very easy to transfer funds from nz to the uk instantly. But they tell me this is still someway off.

But I dont use them for my day to day banking. I find ASB very good, westpac are ok as well but I dont find there service as good and the internet banking is not as good as ASB. Having said that ASB charge you for setting up "frequently paid transfers" online where westpac do not.

My tip, open an account somewhere where a branch is locally easilay available to you for when you do need to deposit a cheque, aside form that its all online now days and its just a matter of getting used to the layout of their internet banking.

Tim

[April]

Sorry this probably sounds very thick - but reading through this thread - did someone say the NZ government will tax you 10% on any money you deposit from the UK? I.e. I bring over $600k to buy a house and they take $60k of it?

If so that puts a whole new light on things. Help please!

[JandM]

10% on the INTEREST EARNED by whatever you deposit, was what he said.

[April]

Ooh - thanks - thought I'd never heard of that before! Been doing too much skim reading today I think.

Ta!

[SueDonim]

For what it's worth, we opened a BNZ account from overseas without any permits/visas.

It was easy--print out a form and emailed it back. The replied with account information. Then we transferred the money into the account.

Simple. Took only a couple of days.

Hi GG,

I didn't think you could open an account without a visa. Don't you have to have an IRD number to open an account? I'd certainly like to earn a little interest on my savings and I'm not getting it in the states

[Duncan74]

National do an online opening that you can open without an IRD number, but I think it's a deposit only account (non interest bearing). You may need to talk to them over the phone / email to get that transferred into an interest paying account.

Was very quick and easy to do though.

[ExitStageSouth]

Hi GG,

I didn't think you could open an account without a visa. Don't you have to have an IRD number to open an account? I'd certainly like to earn a little interest on my savings and I'm not getting it in the states

My ASB account was opened without an IRD number. I don't recall them checking my visa either.

[James 1077]

You don't need an IRD number to open an account - but if you don't provide your IRD number then they will withhold tax at 38%. Not an issue if you are a top rate tax payer but, if not, then it will cost you money.

[girlwithanewf]

We opened a BNZ account from the UK online and collected our bank cards from the branch on Waiheke Island which was our first stop after getting off the plane. We arranged this in advance, no problems at all. We also bought a house 2 weeks after arriving and BNZ were very helpful. One thing to watch out for is to check which ATM you use. Unlike in the UK you can get charged $1 (I think) per transaction (withdrawals/checking balance etc) if you use an ATM from a different bank.

[bulu]

May I ask if anyone knows what annual fees (if any) the banks charge for savings or checking accounts?

What are the fees like for credit cards (say Classic Card)?

Is there any banks that are cheaper than others (or more expensive than others)?

[James 1077]

May I ask if anyone knows what annual fees (if any) the banks charge for savings or checking accounts?

What are the fees like for credit cards (say Classic Card)?

Is there any banks that are cheaper than others (or more expensive than others)?

It depends on what type of account you go for. Most will have free basic current (checking) accounts provided that you do all of your banking electronically or by phone. Same with savings account. With these accounts you pay for non-electronic transactions (like anything in a branch or depositing cheques).

Or you can pay a little bit each month for your banking to have no (or fewer) charges and additional services. We pay $10 a month for our Westpac revolving credit account for example - but save more than that in terms of lower mortgage interest and flexibility.

[Sun777]

I opened my migrant account with Westpac in UK and got it activated here in Auckland. Though they said it would just take 15 minutes but ended up with a conversation of 60-90 minutes (mainly because we wanted to know how mortgage works out, terms & conditions of banking, activation of our debit cards etc). I'd rate them 8/10.

[IanR]

You don't need an IRD number to open an account - but if you don't provide your IRD number then they will withhold tax at 38%. Not an issue if you are a top rate tax payer but, if not, then it will cost you money.

I'm officially a visitor and,without either a visa or an IRD number, have opened term accounts with both HSBC and BNZ which only have 2% tax deducted. The only documentation required was a passport, a NZ address and a promise to declare the interest to the UK IR.

Of course if you're paying tax in NZ that's probably not an option.

[jeanmarcJ202]

May I ask if anyone knows what annual fees (if any) the banks charge for savings or checking accounts?

What are the fees like for credit cards (say Classic Card)?

Is there any banks that are cheaper than others (or more expensive than others)?

I've read ANZ, BNZ, Westpac websites and getting lost between the different products/services and the different charges/services fees.:confused:

Is there some sort of comparison done somewhere (e.g. a website) between the different services and charges?

E.g. Westpac states that you are limited to only 2 telegraphic deposits. :uhoh No mention on limit is made for the other banks.

Thanks

JM

[Duncan74]

Is that 2 free deposits, or really 2 deposits maximum?

[jeanmarcJ202]

Is that 2 free deposits, or really 2 deposits maximum?

Migrant/Expatriate Banking Account Application checklist - As per section 2 Confirmation and acceptance of your application
• We will acknowledge receipt of your application by email, or if unavailable by post, to the address detailed in your application.
• Once your application has been successfully processed, you will be able to make two deposits to your Westpac account by telegraphic transfer from an account in the same name, before arriving in New Zealand.


Free???? I don't know...would be good if so.

JM