Cashing Australian cheque

Dadzilla

My better half has received a refund of pension contributions she paid when living down under in the 1990s from the Aussie tax office. But despite asking for an electronic transfer, they've sent a cheque in Aussie dollars.

We now can't find a UK bank or currency exchange that will cash it.

Can anyone suggest a way to cash it in?

Thanks!

CliveOfIndia

Will your own bank accept it, just by paying it into your own current account? Not all banks will do this - it tends to be only bricks & mortar ones, and you usually have to pay it in over the counter in a branch. Even then, not all of them will do it, but some do - though they'll charge a fee and use an exchange rate that's less than ideal. Worth asking them.

The same subject has cropped up recently in this thread and the other threads linked within it - not sure if any of the information contained in there will be of any help?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81902405#Comment_81902405

wmb194

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6659173/cashing-australian-cheque

Recent threads found Lloyds/BoS/Halifax and RBS/NatWest still accept foreign cheques.

https://www.lloydsbank.com/help-guidance/everyday-banking/payments-and-transfers/receive-international-payment.html

MyRealNameToo

Most traditional high street banks will accept them if you have a current account with them, there is often a charge for it and some offer a two tier service depending on how quickly you want to receive the funds with higher fees for quicker clearance.

wmb194

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81918897#Comment_81918897

This is no longer the case. HSBC ceased accepting them late last year and Barclays in 2024.

"As of 13 December 2025 – We no longer supported the ability to receive and process international cheques."

https://www.business.hsbc.uk/en-gb/products-and-solutions/payments

"From 25 January 2024, you’ll no longer be able to pay foreign cheques into your personal, Premier or Business Banking accounts – or make cheque payments from your foreign currency accounts."

https://www.barclays.co.uk/help/payments/cheques/pay-foreign/

PRAISETHESUN

My experience with the ATO is that they only use cheques as a last resort when they don't have your bank details on file. Could be worth getting in touch to clarify the situation, especially if it's been a while since they last had to file a tax return. Very straightforward to update those details through your my.gov.au account if you have one set up. You should be able update your details, and then submit a complaint asking them to cancel the cheque and reissue the payment electronically.

Other then that, the discussions linked above are probably the best options if you want to stick with trying to bank the cheque. Just keep in mind there will be fees and poor exchange rates involved. Depending on the sums involved it might be worth persevering with the ATO to avoid that if you can.

Dadzilla

Thanks for your contributions everyone, and her own bank (Nationwide) won't accept it, and the other banks she's tried will not open an account to do either. We haven't tried Lloyds, though, yet.

Thanks @praisethesun for your suggestion, and we'll return to them and also pursue that instead.

Deru

Did you try Natwest? Santander may also still do it.

Failing that, these guys do this sort of thing. They are

• Cash Shop: They have branches across the UK (mostly in the Midlands and North, but also London). They specifically advertise "instant cash for cheques."

• The Cheque Exchange Network: This is a back-end provider. Many independent pawn shops or "Money Shop" style stores display the "Cheque Exchange" logo in their window—these are the ones that can process the cheque for you.

Catch is …they take a big chunk of commision 8-12%

boingy

I can't help with cashing the cheque but have they really waited 3 decades to make the refund? 😮

wmb194

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81920477#Comment_81920477

Looks like Santander will accept foreign cheques but they have to be posted to an address in Bootle.

https://www.santander.co.uk/personal/support/current-accounts/making-international-payments

penners324

Might be easier to open a Revolut or Wise account, then get an Aussie dollar account.

Give the ATO the details of the Aussie dollar account