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Moving abroad for either personal or career reasons can be an incredibly exciting experience. Rather than just getting a tourist’s peak at a country, moving there helps you to become one of the locals. Despite the benefits, though, any expat will tell you that the moving process itself can be hella stressful. You can try this out to find the nearest bank at your desired location.
It doesn’t matter how excited you are about your new home; there’s a whole load to take care of first. Even when looking for a property to buy or rent, you may find that the entire housing market is a far cry from what you know. Luckily, the help of a professional real estate agent or even the advice given in articles like this guide to finding a rental property in another country could see you through. You’ll also want to seek trusted international movers and even get on top with the language before you go.
The work here doesn’t stop with your prep, either. Even once you’ve made the leap, you need to consider making a new life for yourself. And, everyone knows that modern life is next to nothing without a bank account. Without this, you can’t get a job or even take your savings with you. To make your move easier, then, ask yourself the following bank account questions during your move.
Can you keep the account you have?
There’s no point changing bank accounts if you can use the one you’ve got, so you should check this out first. If you’ve got an EU account and are moving within Europe, for instance, you might not need to change. Equally, bank accounts with international corporations like HSBC transfer from one country to another. Just contact your bank supplier to double-check.
Can your current bank recommend anyone?
If you can’t keep your account, ask your current bank for recommendations in your new location. The chances are that even a bank account which doesn’t offer international services can refer you to the right places. This can be invaluable given that, at this stage, you’ll have no idea of top local banks, or even have any friends who can recommend one.
Will there be any surcharges?
Every country has different banking regulations. As such, you should check any charges before committing to anything. This especially applies if you’re sticking with your current account, with many banks charging for international withdrawals. Even after a banking move, though, you may find that it’s common-place for cashpoint withdrawals, etc. to come with a charge. While there’s nothing you can do about this, knowing at least allows you to avoid getting stung, or even paying on your card to save yourself money.
Moving furniture might seem like a priority over getting your banking sorted, but trust us when we say that this is important. As mentioned, everything becomes harder when you don’t have a bank to your name. If you want to stock up on groceries the day after you move, then, make sure to spare some time for answering these questions.
