Banks - recommendations please

[kjstinson]

Does anyone use HSBC? I just opened up an account with them here in the US because someone else recommended them. When we get to France, they will open an accocunt there and then my direct deposit SS will go in the US bank and I can just transfer it online to the French bank with no fees. That is the plan anyway. :~))

Karen

[rynd2it]

Originally Posted by kjstinson

Does anyone use HSBC? I just opened up an account with them here in the US because someone else recommended them. When we get to France, they will open an accocunt there and then my direct deposit SS will go in the US bank and I can just transfer it online to the French bank with no fees. That is the plan anyway. :~))

Karen

I was warned off HSBC because of their horrible website and call centre - one call to ask questions was enough, it was horrible.

If by SS you mean Social Security, the US will deposit it direct into your French account in Euros with no fees. You also get a good exchange rate as they do this for many ex-pats.

Cheers

[jazzman]

I have a sterling account at my local Credit Mutuel.

[rynd2it]

Originally Posted by jazzman

I have a sterling account at my local Credit Mutuel.

Interesting - thanks

[Susaninpdx]

I'm sorry I can't answer your question, but maybe you could help me. I'm currently trying to find a reliable link between an American bank and a French bank, in order to set up an American bank account in Euros and then easily transfer the Euros from the USA to France after I get a French bank account.

I also need to access ATMs in France before getting a local (to France) bank account, and don't want to have to pay an enormous surcharge.

Are Société Général and Everbank related?

Any ideas/suggestions are very welcome.

Thanks, Susan

[audreyc]

I don't have any advice on how to avoid high surcharges on ATMS.

However, like several others on here I used an XE.com account (currency exchange) to transfer money from my US bank (Chase) to my French bank (HSBC.) It couldn't have been easier and you get a pretty competitive rate without any transaction charges. We plan on using it fairly often to transfer money between our US, UK and French accounts in the future. It is really easy to figure out. Basically you just add 2 bank accounts (one in the currency you are selling, one in the currency you are buying) and set up a buy/sell. It gives you a quote before you accept and proceed.

[Bubu]

Originally Posted by kjstinson

Does anyone use HSBC? I just opened up an account with them here in the US because someone else recommended them. When we get to France, they will open an account there and then my direct deposit SS will go in the US bank and I can just transfer it online to the French bank with no fees. That is the plan anyway. :~))

Karen

Let me share my experience: I've just got $9,000 transferred from HSBC to Europe to a third person bank account: thanks God!
I’ve had a Chase Bank account; I've informed them before living US that I'll be travelling in Europe so they will not be surprised of my withdrawals. Guess what: after a wire transfer my account was blocked and they told my that I have to get my face into a branch in US to identified myself; and that after they had identified me while answering all security questions. More than that, Chase Bank refused to talk to US Embassy representatives in Europe where I went to get help. After emails to all major newspapers including the White House, Chase Bank decided to email me, call me and close my account. They've sent a check with my money to my address in US. Could you believe it? I was lucky enough to get enough money with me while living US. My question to Chase Bank was: 'how could you request one going to travel overseas to come back to US to identify him/her self at a US Chase Bank branch? Are you crazy? Why do I have a Visa and an account with you?’ Well, this is reality, nonsense and crazy people in US and that's why I don't want to live in that country. I am sick of it!

I have an HSBC account in US. I will come next week to France and open an account there. I will inform you how things work in France regarding HSBC. All, from reading, I know is that to avoid all transfer fees is to have a " Premier Account' with HSBC to avoid them: around $80,000. I’ve made the transfer to an European Bank and HSBC charged me only $12 for a transfer of $9,900 although it sais that the fee is $30 for each transfer no matter is the amount.
Cheers!

[GALLUS]

Sterling Pounds account can be open in any large bank, would not recommend any though since they are all known to be deficient.

You may want to risk yousefl with British bank such as RBS or HSBC? People complain about their attitude, contempt and high prices.
RBS 94 Boulevard Haussmann, 75008 Paris

Try perhaps BNP or Socgen, he best of the worse, they will open a Sterling Pounds account for you. However, they will request some regular income on this account.

[Bubu]

Originally Posted by GALLUS

Sterling Pounds account can be open in any large bank, would not recommend any though since they are all known to be deficient.

You may want to risk yousefl with British bank such as RBS or HSBC? People complain about their attitude, contempt and high prices.
RBS 94 Boulevard Haussmann, 75008 Paris

Try perhaps BNP or Socgen, he best of the worse, they will open a Sterling Pounds account for you. However, they will request some regular income on this account.

I will check your suggestions: you might know better since you live in Europe. I do not recommend any bank, I've just told my experience. Thanks Gallus!

[rynd2it]

Originally Posted by Susaninpdx

I'm sorry I can't answer your question, but maybe you could help me. I'm currently trying to find a reliable link between an American bank and a French bank, in order to set up an American bank account in Euros and then easily transfer the Euros from the USA to France after I get a French bank account.

I also need to access ATMs in France before getting a local (to France) bank account, and don't want to have to pay an enormous surcharge.

Are Société Général and Everbank related?

Any ideas/suggestions are very welcome.

Thanks, Susan

Societe Generale and Everbank are not related but I use both easily. Everbank has NO fees at all and you can open a Euro account in the US. You will pay a receiving fee by Soc Gen of E16 but that is it.

Cheers