Cypriot / UK bank account needed (Euros to sterling)

Paul_from_Barking

Complicated one (a tad).

My estranged wife now lives and works in Cyprus. She works there and is paid in € Euros...

She still has financial obligations in the UK though (banks at HSBC). Between us we want to find a bank account or method of getting (some of) the EUROS she earns there paid into a financial institution of some description there where that money can arrive at her HSBC account in STERLING without it costing here €50 / £50 or more each time she sends money.

This is primarily for her (though I will help her if needed). Can anyone offer any decent solutions?? NB, she is unlikely to come back to the UK "just to open a bank account" and I won't be going out there "just to open a bank account" either.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated - there must be a grossly inflated fees free way of doing this.

As things stand, I end up having to give her money on a PDQ basis when some DD on a credit card or whatever of hers needs paying - I don't mind doing this but she is then very reliant on me having some spare cash myself.

PS - FWIW yes, it's a strange arrangement - but we are still very much married but doing separate things now. I was that bad to live with she had to go 3,500 mile across the other side of Europe to get away from me - lol

eDicky

Does she not have a bank account locally? If so there are various transfer services available that avoid the bank fees and rates.

As a resident of Rep of Cyprus(?) she can have an account with TransferWise Borderless or Revolut, receiving euros directly before conversion and transfer.

System

My inclination would be to call Cynergy Bank - used to be Bank of Cyprus until last year - they might well have a product or be able to advise given their Cypriot heritage.

Paul_from_Barking

Thanks, peeps - I will let her know

D_M_E

For a charge of about £50 or so she is probably sending a few hundred

Transferwise do make a charge - for example to send about £20,000 to a UK bank account they charge about 50 to 70 euros depending on the transaction size in euros.

Exchange rates are good though.

penners324

Starling bank?
They have a Euro account as well as a Sterling account.

colsten

Cynergy Bank, formerly Bank of Cyprus UK, also do a Euro account for UK residents: https://www.cynergybank.co.uk/personal/current-accounts/personal-current-account-in-euros/

I don't know anything about this account or whether it would be suitable for the OP.