Singapore Expats

Bank with best Online Banking (inc int'l transfer)?

Discuss the different banking options, rates, offers and perks.
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Sir
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Post by Sir » Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:13 am

well HSBCs online form asks for a BIC code, but It seems to be the same thing called different things...

Wikipedia wrote
ISO 9362 (also known as SWIFT-BIC, BIC code, SWIFT ID or SWIFT code)
so yes, I suppose i do. thank you!

stiwi
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Post by stiwi » Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:36 pm

I don't know if SCB has the best online banking but certainly it is the only bank known on this forum that can waive most of the fees for international bank wires, except the intermediary bank fees. Please read here. So the total cost of the bank wire to UK should be approx. GBP 20.

You can also cover intermediary charges to receive amount in full (by choosing "OUR" when doing the transfer). If the remittance is in SGD, fixed intermediary charges are S$50, if in foreign currency, then US$28 or equivalent.

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zzm9980
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Post by zzm9980 » Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:40 pm

stiwi wrote:I don't know if SCB has the best online banking but certainly it is the only bank known on this forum that can waive most of the fees for international bank wires, except the intermediary bank fees. Please read here. So the total cost of the bank wire to UK should be approx. GBP 20.

You can also cover intermediary charges to receive amount in full (by choosing "OUR" when doing the transfer). If the remittance is in SGD, fixed intermediary charges are S$50, if in foreign currency, then US$28 or equivalent.
Citibank is completely free as long as you use have Citibank on both ends, in SG and UK. I don't know their SG -> UK exchange rate, but the other day is was 1.249 SGD -> 1 USD, which was less than 1% different from what the market said it was...

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aster
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Post by aster » Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:32 am

zzm9980 wrote:Citibank is completely free as long as you use have Citibank on both ends, in SG and UK. I don't know their SG -> UK exchange rate, but the other day is was 1.249 SGD -> 1 USD, which was less than 1% different from what the market said it was...
That's quite a good exchange rate for one that doesn't have to be "fixed" over the phone.

Was that the general rate for all clients or do you need Citigold status to get such "tight" quotes online?

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zzm9980
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Post by zzm9980 » Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:21 pm

I just have a normal Citibank acct. As mentioned, I think it's very good for the Singapore end, as they're trying to be competitive in Singapore. When I go from US -> SG, I need to pay a US$11 fee (since I need to initiate on that end). In the US, Citibank doesn't need to try and be competitive :)

Baie0522
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Post by Baie0522 » Sat, 12 May 2012 3:20 pm

HSBC, screw AJAX it works, doesnt piss you off with oddness and is fast enough to use of GPRS when you really need to move money around.

They will be giving you a token system for authentication, though.

More important would be how much they charge you for going overdrawn, though. (25 quid per failed transaction.....)

CGS
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HSBC premier has the worst telephone banking ever

Post by CGS » Mon, 17 Sep 2012 11:21 pm

After living in the UK for 17 years and having the best experience with HSBC phone banking. HSBC has always been quick to respond, you can do international transactions over the phone at relative good rates (2 big figures max).

So I decided to continue with them when I moved to Singapore (2 weeks ago) only to find out that their telephone banking is useless, you'll get connected once every 20 times only if you wait more than 20mins.

does anyone have any good advise regarding other banks with good phonebanking?

Cheers
Carlos

stiwi
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Post by stiwi » Tue, 18 Sep 2012 7:46 am

SCB phone banking is useless as well.
I had great experience with Citibank though, they also run 24h online chat which is rather unique.

Steve1960
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Post by Steve1960 » Wed, 19 Sep 2012 2:05 pm

I also moved from the UK, back in April. I send money once a month to my Santander UK bank account and have made a couple of one off payments to family.

I am with OCBC and have found all their services, including money transfer, to be very efficient.

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