Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

As 'swallows' in NC, yet another issue to add, along with the seemingly impossible obtaining of residency, TEB bank has told us that without residency our sterling & Tl accounts are frozen. We can put money in but not take any out. If we have residency and it expires for any reason (including even whilst being renewed) it's also frozen.

Are there banks here that will give us a bank account without having residency?

Have they actually frozen your accounts with immediately effect? I wonder if its because TEB is a Turkish bank and TRNC are different. Its getting very iffy for non residency people isn't it? One thing is for sure, if there were the same R and R's back in 2004, we wouldn't have set foot here.

It's the same for us living in NC with UK banks closing accounts

Hector wrote: ↑

Fri 20 May 2022 7:11 am

As 'swallows' in NC, yet another issue to add, along with the seemingly impossible obtaining of residency, TEB bank has told us that without residency our sterling & Tl accounts are frozen. We can put money in but not take any out. If we have residency and it expires for any reason (including even whilst being renewed) it's also frozen.

Are there banks here that will give us a bank account without having residency?

Can I suggest an alternative, that is keep a UK bank account, apply for a WISE and /or Revoloute card (we have both) then you can tranfer funds to either card and convert GBP to TL , use them for all payments food shopping etc.

As for the TC bank close the accounts, when you have your funds, tell the manager why. !

Hector wrote: ↑

Fri 20 May 2022 7:11 am

As 'swallows' in NC, yet another issue to add, along with the seemingly impossible obtaining of residency, TEB bank has told us that without residency our sterling & Tl accounts are frozen. We can put money in but not take any out. If we have residency and it expires for any reason (including even whilst being renewed) it's also frozen.

Are there banks here that will give us a bank account without having residency?

Good grief it's getting worse! Of course as someone else has mentioned, it's difficult to have a bank account in UK nowadays if you don't live there.

Try CreditWest. Have had accounts there for years, before we moved over, and had no residency at that time.

tutor4u wrote: ↑

Fri 20 May 2022 8:43 am

Can I suggest an alternative, that is keep a UK bank account, apply for a WISE and /or Revoloute card (we have both) then you can tranfer funds to either card and convert GBP to TL , use them for all payments food shopping etc.

As for the TC bank close the accounts, when you have your funds, tell the manager why. !

As well as Wise and Revolut, there is also Starling and Monzo. There's another new one in UK, Chase has been highly recommended recently on moneysavingexpert website for it's 1.5% easy access account, but also debit card is being recommended for using abroad.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/lates ... ravelmoney

I am told it’s to conform with new banking laws(international) to prevent money laundering. I recently had telephone requests for information from Santander(refused) and then a deluge of letters from them stating that If I did not contact them my accounts would be frozen. I have banked with them for years as either Abbey National or Santander. I live in Cyprus and have always given this address when I moved here. I was given a time and date to talk with their specialist department and then practically interrogated as to my accounts. I had to send them copies of my residency in Cyprus and some other details. When I asked the reasons for this I was told new banking regulations to prevent money laundering. TEB and GARANTEE are mainland Turkish Banks and therefore must be complying with these new regulations,,if what Santander tell me is true. Local TRNC banks may not have the same obligation.

Have a Turkish Bank tl @ £s accounts was in branch today in Girne no one mentioned any change but wouldn't be surprised
We arrived back recently and were fined for overstaying last time even though we present kochans on arrival so much for 90 days welcome back. HA HA
Are driving hire car without Trnc driving licences looks like we are breaking law again
Were coming back later in the year for 9 weeks have now decided to reduce to 3 weeks instead just to much hassle

It’s quite normal in Turkey you need to have residency to have a bank account there…I guess the Turkish banks here I.e TEB and Garanti are enforcing it now unfortunately

karakumc5 wrote: ↑

Fri 20 May 2022 6:12 pm

Are driving hire car without Trnc driving licences looks like we are breaking law again
Were coming back later in the year for 9 weeks have now decided to reduce to 3 weeks instead just to much hassle

Please check at police station regarding driving here with UK licence to get proper advice.
I was told at police station earlier this week, that it's ok for a visitor (as in tourist) to be able to use my private car for up to 90 days, however not a property owner.
It may be completely different you driving a rental car on your UK licence and being a property owner. There is something in the back of my head about this, but do not want to give duff information. Please do check up on this yourself, as it would be horrendous if you are involved in an accident, and discover that you are not insured.
You are allowed 90 days per year on UK driving licence, thereafter you have to get a TRNC one, however, from what I can gather, you need residency to obtain one. (This is just my understanding, and I could well be wrong).

ljarvo wrote: ↑

Fri 20 May 2022 6:25 pm

It’s quite normal in Turkey you need to have residency to have a bank account there…I guess the Turkish banks here I.e TEB and Garanti are enforcing it now unfortunately

I have a bank account in Turkey and i didnt need to be a resident being an overseas resident.

All you need is a Tax reference number from the local tax office and this suffices.
Also a local address and i used the Hotel Address.

This was 2 years ago. unless of course the rules have changed there.

Saddique, two years is a lifetime away in the TRNC. Even one month is stretching it sometimes.

benjaminbutton wrote: ↑

Sat 21 May 2022 3:38 pm

Saddique, two years is a lifetime away in the TRNC. Even one month is stretching it sometimes.

Yes i agree 2 years here is a looooong time

i was referring to the post "It’s quite normal in Turkey you need to have residency to have a bank account there "

i was trying to say i have an Account in Turkey from 2 years back and im not a resident there.

I spoke with Garanti today - they said this is not the case as at all... a bank just cant freeze peoples account due to residency.

I also asked if I moved to Spain would it effect any of my accounts and the answer was no.

Is there a government department 'Make life as difficult as possible for Expats?"

Yep, but you'll never find it and then when we have all gone it will just disappear into the ether, never to be seen again.

In the bank yesterday to make a withdrawal. Bank pass book and passport all that was needed. No mention of residency.

Albank can open the account for non-residents also without freezing money.

TAC wrote: ↑

Fri 20 May 2022 8:27 am

It's the same for us living in NC with UK banks closing accounts

yeah you are right... I was thinking the same

Any reason nobody has mentioned CreditWest? No problems there. We have a joint account in tl and GBP, property owners but no residency. No maintenance charges or anything. As far as I'm aware they do all the things other banks do.

No problems at Universal either.

MnM wrote: ↑

Wed 13 Jul 2022 8:39 am

Any reason nobody has mentioned CreditWest? No problems there. We have a joint account in tl and GBP, property owners but no residency. No maintenance charges or anything. As far as I'm aware they do all the things other banks do.

There are no problems at Creditwest either. I asked Mostafa about it a few weeks ago, and passed on info to OP.

Speak to Nesrin in CreditWest Catalkoy

Opened an account in Credit West Catalkoy today with Passport & Unility Bill, and bank card will arrive in 5/10 days, no questions asked about Residency

war horse wrote: ↑

Thu 14 Jul 2022 1:17 pm

Opened an account in Credit West Catalkoy today with Passport & Unility Bill, and bank card will arrive in 5/10 days, no questions asked about Residency

Can you please share if it is located on the main road going from Girne to Ozankoy and further? Thanx a lot.

Credit West is on the main Catalkoy/Ozenkoy Road opposite the University. Made an appointment last week and was told to bring Passport/Utility Bill. Easy and quick to do, then went back after lunch and it was all sorted. Gave me 2 apps to download with my account details very easy to do and said Debit Card will be here 5/10 working days time
Even used my UK Vodaphone as contact number. Excellent and quick service

war horse wrote: ↑

Thu 14 Jul 2022 4:11 pm

Credit West is on the main Catalkoy/Ozenkoy Road opposite the University. Made an appointment last week and was told to bring Passport/Utility Bill. Easy and quick to do, then went back after lunch and it was all sorted. Gave me 2 apps to download with my account details very easy to do and said Debit Card will be here 5/10 working days time
Even used my UK Vodaphone as contact number. Excellent and quick service

Thanx mate, i went there in the morning and got an appointment for Monday, they only work like that now they say.

So, as a 'swallow', if you own a property and a car in NC, you can't drive your own NC car on a UK driving licence nor can your obtain a NC driving licence without residency which is almost impossible to get within the length of time we visit (nowadays it's only 30 day stays). We couldn't survive in NC without a car and renting one would be prohibitively expensive. That is unfortunately the end of our long association with NC. Time to sell up and leave. What have we 'swallows' done to deserve this?

Hector, an Avukat told me that people could legally own a NC registered vehicle and drive it for up to 90 days at a time without getting residency.

You might want to try asking someone else...

Thank you Keithcaley, appreciate your input. Is that on a UK licence?

Yes, that's what I was told - however, please do check for yourself!