North Cyprus opening bank account at HSBC if non resident

cyprusnewbie


Joined: 28/06/2011
Posts: 27

Message Posted:
20/11/2011 10:38

Can anyone advise what paperwork is needed/hoops to be jumped through to open an account at HSBC in Kyrenia for someone who is on a visitor's visa?



any practical advice much appreciated



cyprusnewbie

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
20/11/2011 11:04

Residency is not required for a HSBC bank account in TRNC (or any other bank). You require only your passport and either:-

- 2 proofs of address...or

- a reference from a UK HSBC account - but that must be sent over HSBC's internal network

That was the case 3 months ago anyway.

dvdjohn


Joined: 27/10/2011
Posts: 128

Message Posted:
20/11/2011 11:50

msg2. HI John having proof of a address, would this not mean you are a resident, I think they need a utility bill in your name, but not sure.



I don't think a 90day visa comes into it, just as stated your passport and a address.

Deniz1


Joined: 28/07/2009
Posts: 3829

Message Posted:
20/11/2011 14:49

I opened a new account at Universal bank last week all they asked for was my passport nothing else.

dublinderm


Joined: 26/09/2009
Posts: 538

Message Posted:
20/11/2011 15:53

Hi,



I opened an account in the Girne branch in September.



Passport and drivers licence were all that was required. Your residency does not seem to matter.



DD

jimchris09


Joined: 13/02/2009
Posts: 547

Message Posted:
20/11/2011 16:02

Yep...I opened TurkBank account 3 years ago with just passport.

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
20/11/2011 18:26

If you are not a resident then your address will be your UK address. My friend opened an account in just this way 3 months ago.

birdy



Joined: 21/07/2009
Posts: 154

Message Posted:
20/11/2011 20:17

message 7

you can still have a address here and not be a resident !!

johnerebus



Joined: 15/05/2009
Posts: 72

Message Posted:
20/11/2011 22:19

We opened an account with IktisatBank in 2005 and they accepted our hotel name as our residence. May work with HSBC if they need it

LaptaMike


Joined: 07/10/2009
Posts: 1679

Message Posted:
21/11/2011 00:33

You only need residency status for a savings account (what I was told at universal bank). For a standard account most banks will just ask for your passport, and probably UK address. I went in loads of banks asking what was needed before I became a resident, they all said passport.

LaptaMike


Joined: 07/10/2009
Posts: 1679

Message Posted:
21/11/2011 00:34

by the way, if you have a HSBC premier account in the UK just go upstairs and they will sort it out for you without waiting for ages

Agobard


Joined: 20/08/2008
Posts: 271

Message Posted:
21/11/2011 07:50

Well, they certainly don't need you to have residency to open a savings account at the Limassol Turkish! Just take your passport in there and the account is open. The only thing here these days that is problematic is obtaining a cheque book because the central bank have tightened up this procedure by charging the banks for every bounced cheque that passes through the system.

tarry67


Joined: 16/05/2008
Posts: 1053

Message Posted:
21/11/2011 14:30

Just paid £58 in charges for having my money in the Girne HSBC branch.

Millwall123


Joined: 02/08/2011
Posts: 61

Message Posted:
21/11/2011 15:22

Well done!

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
21/11/2011 17:21

Cyprusnewbie - you asked about HSBC.

Last week I went to HSBC to change my address because the ever helpful Lapta people had decided to renumber my house and surprisingly I couldn't do it online. Julie told me that I needed evidence of my new address before I they would accept a change and because of that it couldn't be done online. Lapta are still using my old address on my water bill so I have nothing which shows my address and cannot change it with HSBC. This tallies with my friend who opened an account there 3 months ago and was asked for proof of address.

So no matter what the others tell you - you DO need proof of address at HSBC.

scruff


Joined: 15/07/2008
Posts: 1070

Message Posted:
21/11/2011 17:33

re. msg 12. On the subject of having a cheque book account. This is more like having a current account in the UK. but they still charge stamp duty for cheque books here, like they used to years ago in the UK. Also there are usually account charges for running this type of account. Unless you really need a cheque book, then I would avoid this.

I used to have one when I first moved here, but rarely wrote a cheque. I live here full time & don't have the need for a cheque book, but pay by local credit card instead & other bills through the Bank, some via Internet banking. Unfortunately, most Brits are not fluent enough in written Turkish to be able to write the words for the amount In Turkish if it's a TL account.

I also have a Sterling current account, but again this comes with a passbook. I have never had a Sterling cheque book here. Never needed one. Cheques here are not crossed (unless things have changed). Therefore they're not safe because anyone can cash them just like banknotes.

scruff


Joined: 15/07/2008
Posts: 1070

Message Posted:
21/11/2011 17:37

contd.



The usual type of current account here is actually a deposit account with a pass book like that with a Time deposit account. Some Banks pay minimal interest on these, some don't. Some also make charges & some don't. You really need to ask the Banks about these issues.

Ensure that you understand the type of account that you are opening before you do so. Particularly the implications of Time deposit accounts, Maturity days & lack of access to your funds before that day, unless you want to lose all the interest you have earned since the previous Maturity point.

IMO, Banking here is fine as long as you understand that it's not exactly like the system in the UK.