Can I Open a Bank Account in Girne without a TRNC address

jonnytwoscoop



Joined: 27/08/2008
Posts: 142

Message Posted:
03/09/2008 13:38

Hi Everyone,

Sorry if this has been covered in previous links , but I would like to open 2 bank accounts in Girne when we are over next week and I understand that there are some very good banks locally that are paying varying rates of interest , My question is whether or not I am allowed to open an account without an actual address in TRNC or can I just turn up with my passport and open a account for myself and wife ?

thanks in advance

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
03/09/2008 13:45

Most banks will want to see a copy of your contract of sale before opening an account. We opened an account with Continental Bank and they didn't want anything apart from passports but we were transferring money from HSBC here so that may have been why.

jonnytwoscoop



Joined: 27/08/2008
Posts: 142

Message Posted:
03/09/2008 15:07

thanks very much for that, Does that mean that I will have to purchase a property before I can open an account or am i allowed to hold a TRNC bank account to take advantage of the high interest rates whilst still domiciled in the UK ? Sorry for my ignorance on this but we are looking to buy within the next 18 months or so but in the meantime would like to start paying in monthly amounts so that when we eventually buy we are already set up .thanks again

John

Pogle


Joined: 28/08/2008
Posts: 1536

Message Posted:
03/09/2008 15:27

Iktisatbank are excellent and offer internet banking that works and is not just a promise. I opened an account with my passport and 5YTL. Located opposite GAU on the main Road ( West Girne) and other branches in town. They have all the usual deals on high interest accounts

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
03/09/2008 15:33

My understanding is you cannot open accounts unless you have property or a sales contract for off-plan, otherwise everyone would be here taking advantage of the interest rates.

jonnytwoscoop



Joined: 27/08/2008
Posts: 142

Message Posted:
03/09/2008 15:46

thank you both for your quick replies , I am now even more confused than before (doesn't take much to be honest !!) I think that I will have to maybe give some of the banks customer reps a call before we come over next week .

Fingers crossed I can open thesewith just my passport.

MaggieAndBernie



Joined: 26/07/2008
Posts: 2012

Message Posted:
03/09/2008 15:47

Do you need a temporary residence permit or will passport & contract be enough? thanks

MaggieAndBernie



Joined: 26/07/2008
Posts: 2012

Message Posted:
03/09/2008 16:03

Just looked at Iktisatbank's website. I presume you have to go into the branch to open your account is that right? i.e. it can't be done online?

jonnytwoscoop



Joined: 27/08/2008
Posts: 142

Message Posted:
03/09/2008 16:31

I have no problems opening the account on line , but I would rather go into the branch when we are over , but as we have neither temporary residency permits or contracts of sale , do you think that will stop us opening an account ? thanks for your patience with me in this matter !!!

gandt


Joined: 03/07/2008
Posts: 9

Message Posted:
03/09/2008 17:24

Hi

We opened an account with the Turk bank with just our passports. We explained we were looking for somewhere to live and so we did not have an address. They opened an account for us with £50 I think and we gave them an address when we had one. We rent a house and took in a copy of the rental agreement.

jonnytwoscoop



Joined: 27/08/2008
Posts: 142

Message Posted:
03/09/2008 18:18

Thanks for that , How long was it before you ould provide the bank with your rental address ? and also were you receiving the interest in the period before you provided your rental address ?

thanks as always

Stewart


Joined: 19/07/2008
Posts: 1107

Message Posted:
03/09/2008 18:22

Just pop in to the hsbc with your passport and one other form of ID.

Suggest you go in about 8.30am to avoid long wait. ( you also need about £20 )

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
03/09/2008 18:48

I still think you have to either have sales agreement or rental agreement before you can have bank accounts.



Stewart, we had to provide much more than that to HSBC. We even had to have a letter of introduction from HSBC in the UK and we were in there for 4 hours opening accounts. This was nearly 2 years ago however so if things have changed then that's great.



As far as I know it is not possible to open bank accounts on-line anywhere in the world as you have to provide 2 forms of identification and specimen signatures.

johnty


Joined: 03/06/2008
Posts: 257

Message Posted:
03/09/2008 18:58

My daughter and son in law opened an account while on holiday here. all be it they used my address, but you dont get any mail from bank. Didnt have to prove that they lived here just used their passports.

If you have friends or relatives here use their address.

Stewart


Joined: 19/07/2008
Posts: 1107

Message Posted:
03/09/2008 19:25

Both I and my son opened accounts a couple of weeks ago, exactly as both I and johnty have posted

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
03/09/2008 19:26

A few years ago when we opened an account with HSBC we had to provide lots of inforamtion and it was made far easier because we bank with HSBC in the UK.



If you want to use HSBC in North Cyprus hten it still might be to your advantage to have a UK HSBC account first.

Stewart


Joined: 19/07/2008
Posts: 1107

Message Posted:
03/09/2008 19:40

FYI I am not a UK HSBC customer, it made no difference.

If you require a debit card, you can pick it up from the bank after a couple of weeks if you have no address available.

jonnytwoscoop



Joined: 27/08/2008
Posts: 142

Message Posted:
04/09/2008 18:27

Thanks to all of you for your kind replies , I have friends living in Alsancak whose address I can use and hopefuly won't get either of us into any trouble, once again thanks and i have printed out the customer service names for some of the banks local to us when we come over , just a quick question , can anyone suggest which bank is paying the best interest currently ?

johnty


Joined: 03/06/2008
Posts: 257

Message Posted:
04/09/2008 18:38

iktisatbank 19.5% on ytl or 5.5% on sterling. you will need to have a certain amount in the account will have to check. Mustafa upstairs in karangalou branch is great and speaks excellant english and you can have internet banking.Just pop in and go upstairs if hes not busy will sort you out immediately.

jonnytwoscoop



Joined: 27/08/2008
Posts: 142

Message Posted:
04/09/2008 18:50

Thanks johnty , was that the same bank where your son and daughter in law opened theres ?