Fee free foreign currency accounts

Justbringit147

I currently hold a euro and a dollar currency account with CitiBank. But from June they are going to start charging a monthly fee. Some banks offer fee free accounts but you have to keep a huge balance in them. I mainly use my accounts for when I am in the Republic of Ireland or my annual trip to america or for online purchasing in these foreign currencys ticketmaster etc.. Does anyone know of another bank which isn't charging for Euro & Dollar accounts?

InsideInsurance

Ultimately it costs money to hold an account for someone hence they charge or require you to hold sufficient funds to make it worth their while.

Whilst Citi are charging for standalone accounts, I believe they are still free if you have a UK current account with them. You could do that and just move the minimum amounts in and out to qualify for it for free?

benjus

Do you really need these accounts at all?

If you're only using them for the reasons mentioned in your OP, I'd say you'd be better off with a UK account that's free to use from abroad (e.g. Metro Bank, Norwich & Peterborough BS) - or even just a credit card that's free to use from abroad (e.g. Halifax Clarity).

Zzooee

I've also got a citibank euro account and my friend and I change money between us, she sends me euros and I give her sterling, so neither of us pay charges.

I'm very unhappy about the change and will have to close my account and I only do low value amounts. The only other account I can find for free has a minimum 1000 euro level.

What a pain.