How do I get a € Euro bank account?

confused1

Beware of Citibank. It will keep you as a customer as long as it can make a good profit out of you. I had both Euros and £ a/cs, but was asked to move them to elsewhere for 'business reasons'. Won't give me the reasons. As I did not owe it money, did not laundry money, did not embezzle the establishment, was not bankrupt, was not a criminal, the only reason that I could think of was that I had always kept my a/cs clean and straight in the 16 yrs with them. 5 months ago, I did finally find another source to change my Euros at much better rates. And this, Citibank wasn't happy with, even after having years of deplorable paltry exchange rates. Well, whilst Citibank is not a charity, it expects me to be one - to them. Up to today, it sure gives me great satisfaction to know that finally, I was costing the bank - for a change.

bigjl

You can get Euro and Dollar Cashplus pay as you go cards that can be set up in the UK.

You can recieve monies including wages and pay direct debits and standing orders.

The card itself has the account and sort code printed on it.

Dmitrii

HSBC should be able (phone them, they are hopeless in answering emails, IMHO) to open an account for you in a Eurozone country they operate, e.g. in France. You'd be able to transfer money between your HSBC accounts online.

pinkcloud

I am also interested in this but cannot see how to get notified of replies?

pmduk

pinkcloud wrote: »

I am also interested in this but cannot see how to get notified of replies?

Do you mean replies to this thread? click on thread tools above, select subscribe to this thread and choose your options.

Sorry if I've misunderstood your question.

oranger

Just to update this thread - Citibank, having previously used the mid-market rate for Euro transfers (which was very good) - now convert the money into US dollars and then into Euros. Which basically means you lose out - at present, when the rate is 1.25, they only give you 1.21.

Which means I'm now on the look out for another Euro account from a UK bank (the key being getting pounds in there at low cost)

LeDe_2

oranger wrote: »

Just to update this thread - Citibank, having previously used the mid-market rate for Euro transfers (which was very good) - now convert the money into US dollars and then into Euros. Which basically means you lose out - at present, when the rate is 1.25, they only give you 1.21.

Which means I'm now on the look out for another Euro account from a UK bank (the key being getting pounds in there at low cost)

If you're paying in a foreign currency into a Euro account like most accounts it should go through a USD conversion then into EUR so it'd go GBP > USD > EUR as USD is the base currency.

Why don't you get a German account with Comdirect or DKB, both fee-free online banks which allow UK openings, alternatively you could open an account with Soci!t! G!n!rale in France through their ACPI branch in Paris.

If you want the UK then I guess HSBC maybe best?

southantrim3

heloid wrote: »

Other option is driving to Ireland and opening an Irish account. Can't remember off the top of my head which are happy with a UK address though.

Yep, they are. I only have a UK address and have a Euro Current bank a/c with Allied Irish Bank. Granted I live in Northern Ireland so it's easier for me to get to the Republic of Ireland, but it's doable...

FFB

I have been reading this thread with interest as my wife is about to receive an inheritance from her late mother who lived in Germany.


We should like to keep the money in euros as we visit the continent on a regular basis and we have relatives who live there so would DKB (or such) be good for us? This will be a one-off deposit only.

mayfairman

DKB does not offer accounts to UK residents any more
Citi charges £35 per month account fee
Bank of Cyprus charges for everything you do including 2.75% for ATM withdrawals and 1 Euro for all credits