Getting cash from my UK bank account

[abbym]

Can anyone recommend the best ways to take more cash from my UK bank account? We ordered dollars before we left but think we will need more and not sure what the cheapest way is to do this. I was thinking to just use an ATM as my banks overseas charge will never exceed £5 (first direct) per transaction but then there may be a limit on how much I can withdraw making it less worthwhile? Just wondered if anyone has had any similar experiences.

[Hannieroo]

You can take out a fair bit. I've pulled 2k before from a Citibank cashpoint.

[kevin4u]

Transfer to one of your friend in UK by online banking and ask him to send trough moneygrame. This service is cheap and giving high rate than usual banks or Visa,Master systems.

[abbym]

Transfer to one of your friend in UK by online banking and ask him to send trough moneygrame. This service is cheap and giving high rate than usual banks or Visa,Master systems.

Thanks for the tip - I've not heard of this site before. However the transaction fee is £41! And can only transfer up to £700 at once. I think it would be cheaper to use the ATM as my bank limits to £5 maximum fee per transaction. Even if I can only take out £250 a day with a £5 charge, that's still cheaper.

[zzm9980]

Transfer to one of your friend in UK by online banking and ask him to send trough moneygrame. This service is cheap and giving high rate than usual banks or Visa,Master systems.

Thanks for the tip - I've not heard of this site before. However the transaction fee is £41! And can only transfer up to £700 at once. I think it would be cheaper to use the ATM as my bank limits to £5 maximum fee per transaction. Even if I can only take out £250 a day with a £5 charge, that's still cheaper.

What bank do you have? If it's Citi, HSBC, StanChar, etc, use one of their local ATMs to withdraw. You'll get the most favorable exchange rates and minimal fees that way.

[stiwi]

Best way is to open Moneybookers account, deposit funds via bank transfer (2-3 days), open DBS MCA account in SG, withdraw from Moneybookers to DBS account (EUR 1.80 or EUR 3.50 per bank transfer withdrawal). DBS has one of the best FCY rates locally but if the amount is significant, it might be worth to withdraw FCY from DBS (free of charge), head down to Arcade at Raffles Place and change it there. You will always get there at least 0.01 better rate than at any bank in SG.

[durain]

if you going to be transfering money regularly, setup an account with a forex broker as it will be cheaper in the long run. here's some for starters...

www.fairfx.com/fairpay
www.hifx.co.uk

other options are...

open a citibank in UK and Singapore. it's free fee transfer.
when you are back in UK, get a halifax clarity credit card (no load or fees on cash in ATM). metrobank do similar with their debit card.

to maximise your transfer, you got to check the load, fees and exchange rate.

[PrimroseHill]

I use hifix and its quite good. I agree with the Citi bank in UK & SG