International banking

cram_nosbor

Hello. I'll shortly be taking up a post in sub-saharan Africa for a major NGO and need to open an account in London (I already have a semi-dormant account with BPPC in France). I'll be paid in US dollars but cash access (Cheques or ATMs) and transfers will be in €uros. Could anybody advise me on which UK bank and current account is likely to be the most useful/least onerous? Thanks.

Cranston_2

Hi

You can open GBP/EUR/USD savings and current account's with Citibank London.

Great on-line access. Checkout their website.

You can switch your money between currencies very easily.

Others may have better ideas

occamsrazor

Agree. I would go for Citibank London.
Their dollar account in particular works quite well.
You get one card and can switch which account (£,$,Euro) it debits from by phoning them up, and the switch is instant.
If you do go to Citibank, maybe also open a US Dollar Reward saver to get some interest on your savings (2%, or 3% introductory offer) though if you withdraw from that account you lose a month's interest.
And you must open these accounts BEFORE you leave the UK, they won't open for non-residents, though will keep them open when you become non-resident. They will send cards, statements, abroad etc. It works though e.g. if you need a new PIN or card bear in mind it may take a week or two to actually reach you by post. Sometimes if it was very urgent they couriered it to me.
Also Citibank offer fee-free SEPA euro transfers to other european bank accounts, and if you have the Citibank Plus current account, which does cost £10/month, as a non-resident you get reduced rate SWIFT transfers at £10 each.
I had these accounts when I was in West Africa and it worked well for me.

cram_nosbor

merci beacoup, I'll follow these up.