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Bank account for constantly overseas

Hi there
I travel overseas for the majority of the year, only coming to UK once or twice. My wages (UK company) are paid into my Nationwide Account BUT I am wondering, is anyone can recommend a better account for me to use. Nationwide are pretty good but the overseas transaction rates etc are ridiculous. I need an account where I can draw out cash, use the card (debit) to purchase goods again hopefully without being charged transaction fees etc. I rarely use the credit card. many thanks savers, remember, every little helps
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Comments

  • Jo_Blogs
    Jo_Blogs Posts: 753 Forumite
    Debt-free and Proud! Mortgage-free Glee!
    It really depends where you are overseas. If it's Europe, then it's between Metro bank current account,Virgin Money essentials account, and M&S current account. Although, having said that these banks do either charge for purchases or cash withdrawls.

    This link might help:-

    http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cardsloans/article-2296284/Best-debit-credit-cards-overseas-spending.html
    Saved Nitty Gritty £7440.75 [149%] / £5000-[Sep] £58.44:starmod: for the 'Save 12k in 2017' #157
    2017 Womble #35 £3463.27 ;)Sept NSDs 4/15:staradminCCCChl 9/12 months:D
    Sept PPChl#002 Pts 71
  • eDicky
    eDicky Posts: 6,835 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    There are plenty of solutions, 'specialist' credit cards and prepaid cards that can be funded from your Nationwide account, instead of using their debit card.

    http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money

    http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/prepaid-travel-cards

    For example, today I paid for my lunch in Singapore using my Loot prepaid card, straight MasterCard exchange rate with no fees, funds loaded as needed, by bank debit card or FP - https://loot.io
    Evolution, not revolution
  • jonesMUFCforever
    jonesMUFCforever Posts: 28,898 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Look at overseas accounts for people working abroad - all high street banks will offer them but Nationwide probably will not.
  • grumbler
    grumbler Posts: 58,629 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Julier4143 wrote: »
    ... Nationwide are pretty good but the overseas transaction rates etc are ridiculous.
    Nationwide's rates aren't the worse. See debit cards from hell
  • bigadaj
    bigadaj Posts: 11,531 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Julier4143 wrote: »
    Hi there
    I travel overseas for the majority of the year, only coming to UK once or twice. My wages (UK company) are paid into my Nationwide Account BUT I am wondering, is anyone can recommend a better account for me to use. Nationwide are pretty good but the overseas transaction rates etc are ridiculous. I need an account where I can draw out cash, use the card (debit) to purchase goods again hopefully without being charged transaction fees etc. I rarely use the credit card. many thanks savers, remember, every little helps

    Wouldn't a combination of a flexplus account and a select credit card be appropriate?
  • My daughter has gone to live and work in Switzerland. She has a house here with a mortgage. Is she allowed to have a UK Current Bank Account to use for paying her mortgage?
  • jonesMUFCforever
    jonesMUFCforever Posts: 28,898 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    My daughter has gone to live and work in Switzerland. She has a house here with a mortgage. Is she allowed to have a UK Current Bank Account to use for paying her mortgage?

    .................Yes................
  • Biggles
    Biggles Posts: 8,209 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    .................Yes................
    Does that mean only if a nonres has a mortgage they can open a UK bank account? Or would just ownership of a property qualify them?
  • Biggles wrote: »
    Does that mean only if a nonres has a mortgage they can open a UK bank account? Or would just ownership of a property qualify them?

    I read it as the OP already had a mortgage and account before leaving the UK. ( Pretty unlikely that someone would have a mortgage without an account to pay it)

    There is no problem with keeping the UK account open to service the mortgage.

    Any EU citizen (for now) has the right to open an account in any other EU country.
    (I know in this case that Switzerland is not in EU).
  • Biggles
    Biggles Posts: 8,209 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I read it as the OP already had a mortgage and account before leaving the UK. (Pretty unlikely that someone would have a mortgage without an account to pay it)

    There is no problem with keeping the UK account open to service the mortgage.
    Most banks have no problem with keeping any account open after you have become nonres, mortgage or no. Opening a new one (if resident outside the EU) is the tricky bit.
    Any EU citizen (for now) has the right to open an account in any other EU country.
    (I know in this case that Switzerland is not in EU)
    Now that's an interesting point. Will the opening of bank accounts become harder or be made easier after Brexit???
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