Personal Banking & Tax advice...

[BS]

Hello Once again forum folks,

I would like some advice/recommendations on opening a local account or not? And as I've never lived abroad this going to be a first - I could do with some guidance from any English expats on Tax implications or if anyone can recommend a good adviser to help.

Ideally I'd like my salary to be paid in via my UK Natwest or Lloyds account - but one assumes that if my employer pays me in HUA that forces the use of local bank. Which bank do people recommend that can:-

 - provide debit ATM, credit card
 - online banking
 - that can cost effectively transfer/convert HUA into Sterling & transfer say 50% of my salary into into an English bank
 - that has great international service

Many thanks for any worthy advice and apolgies in advance if this has been covered in the forum before.
 

[P-N]

People like BritKyiv would give you sound advise (being British and a Banker here) - unfortunately he is on holiday (Rome as of yesterday I believe).

There are not that many Banks who accept electronically sent Sterling here - Pivdenny does, not sure about any others who do.  Banks like OTP, Raiffaizenbank do not.

There is a HSBC opening soon in Kyiv though I believe.

[Nina T]

I do not know how long you plan to stay here, but if it is a rather short stay (six months in my case), I was advised to open a Nationwide account in UK and not bother with local banks. I can withdraw money from any cash machine here and Nationwide do not charge me for taking money out abroad. I have also noticed that Nationwide's exchange rates are better than the ones in local banks!!

[BS]

I plan on staying 6 months or under. Out of interest is your company paying you in HUA direct into your Nationwide account?

I'm heading into a branch tomorrow to set up - they are a pretty good bank very customer friendly!

 

[Packman]

ING is opening branches around Kiev.  Don't know there terms here but they have a decent reputation abroad.

[Carlushika]

I plan on staying 6 months or under. Out of interest is your company paying you in HUA direct into your Nationwide account?

I'm heading into a branch tomorrow to set up - they are a pretty good bank very customer friendly!

 

Hold on, BS! Are you being paid by a BRITISH employer and simply working in Kyiv? If so, then Nina's idea will work well. Nationwide are tops for taking out cash while overseas. If that is the case, then you do not need UAH. Simply using your card at the right ATM, you will be prompted to specify which currency you require spewed out!

If you go this route, you must advise Nationwide where you are going and that you are likely to be using the card often. Agree a daily limit by talking to one of their customer service people. You can, if you like, open a Nationwide Internet Banking Account.

http://www.nationwide.co.uk/internet_banking/default.htm

Nina is telling you about this -

http://www.nationwide.co.uk/creditcard/GoldCard/default.htm

If you have an internet account, then you can simply pay off the card via a transfer from your current account all online. Nina is quite correct - commission free purchases abroad.

[SteveH]

I Use my Nationwide card in Unicredit and Pro-credit cash machines,i think 4,000 Hgrivnas is the max you can take out,thats about £400. Per Transaction

[BS]

Nope - working for a Ukraine/Russian based company and being paid in HUA.

[Nina T]

I am paid by a British employer in GBP, so I guess my advice does not really help. I have a current internet account with Nationwide, not a credit card.

[rjm]

Thanks Steve,the maximum Ive ever taken from my Nationwide acc is 2000gr so maybe next time I will go for more 

I Use my Nationwide card in Unicredit and Pro-credit cash machines,i think 4,000 Hgrivnas is the max you can take out,thats about £400. Per Transaction

[SteveH]

Hi RJM,
Checked my Nationwide Acc and as is the Going Rates from Ukraine "Finance+Credit" Bank,Exchange rate Used last week was 8.9-9.0 Hgrivnas to £1 Sterling
Still, i saved Myself the £8 Transaction/Exchange Fee Nat West and Barclays Used to Charge Me per £200 Withdrawl !!.

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