Free International Bank Transfers from UK?

mhku

Are there any UK banks that provide free international bank transfers (ideally online)?

Halifax is free to Spain, £14 to anywhere else.

Abbey is £25! (I 'kin hate Abbey- that's why I went somewhere else )

There must be a cheaper bank or some kind of bureau service?

Thanks

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whatsthis

As far as I know high street banks all either charge or give very bad exchange rates.
I am also looking to transfer money abroad and have been looking at forex currency exchange places like currencydirect or currencyuk.co.uk.

They change currency daily in large amounts and offer good rates and no fees.

Hope this helps and let me know what you find.

mhku

THanks for the reply.

currencyuk.co.uk:

£1 more than the halifax

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Oily

I was charged around £8 at the Natwest when i transferred money to Australia,could try there

mhku

Cheers! The GF has Natwest account

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zoro25

What about setting up a foreign bank account, then you can write yourself a cheque and post it to the branch abroad it will be put into your account no charge I think.

Alot of hassle but should work.

z

mhku

Easier said than done. Have you tried? Do you have a european address?

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zoro25

Yes I have tried and done it. I have a foreign account (Cyprus and an offshore business in Dominica), It costs a bit to set up and its a business account so I use a nominee person and address. Laws in those countries mean no associations with UK officals.
For me it works well but as I said it's hassle and depending on the amount of money you want to move it will work out for you or not if it's a small amount.

Can't say any more or could get myself into trouble

mhku

No probs

Citibank do euro transfers for free but need £2k in the account at month end and only free for same currency as your account. Wasn't for hiding money just to buy stuff from europe without paying to transfer money ( I hate ***king banks)!

B.V.I. is king of offshore banking from memory...

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PaulR

The Royal Bank of Scotland used to be good.

What sort of quantities are you talking about? When I'm abroad I use the automated cash dispensers for up to about £200 a day. My bank, the Nationwide Building Society, don't make any charge for overseas withdrawals this way.

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PaulR

As I get older I find myself thinking about the hereafter - I go into a room and then wonder what I'm here after.

gameboy

Come now Paul - 'Keep it mutual' The Nationwide are still a Building Society - power to the people and all that!

Worth checking with them, as Paul says, they don't charge commission if you use their credit card abroad - only reason I keep one.

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Only he who does nothing, does nothing wrong.

mhku

Thanks, but looking for a cheap way to transfer money abroad not withdraw cash when abroad.

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gameboy

Try here...

http://www.ukforex.co.uk/

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Only he who does nothing, does nothing wrong.

mhku

Cheers, but only for transfers over £1k

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whatsthis

Thanks gameboy thats the one I wanted. Sorry for hyjacking your thread mhku.