HSBC moving to Albank Nov 17th

[laptatony]

So it is finally happening, it will be interesting what services will continue and what will be lost. At present we can transfer monies from our HSBC account in the UK at no cost, don't see this being offered. Also will they have sterling in the cash point? Have to wait and see but hopefully we will learn more in the next few weeks. Received a email today from HSBC notifying me.

[Deniz1]

Hope they will still have sterling in their ATM

[tomsteel]

Does anybody have an English version of the HSBC emailed press release please?

[laptatony]

Tom if you pm me I will forward a copy, tried copying but it is embedded in the email

[sophie]

Don't worry there are many more who provide sterling dotted around the place, both banks and stand their alone ATM's

[laptatony]

But are they free, like moving money within HSBC?

[tomsteel]

[quote="laptatony"]Tom if you pm me I will forward a copy, tried copying but it is embedded in the email[/quote

Thank you so much.

[Deniz1]

prefer to use a machine attached to a bank a stand alone is a big problem if it eats your card very time consuming to get it back.

[Jonnie]

Accounts being moved from a bank recognised worldwide to a previously unknown bank and the worry is transfer charges and atms dispensing sterling. Priorities???

That coupled with the extreme lack of care, consideration, customer focus (still been told nothing) means I am off!

[Panchocat]

The decision would be who do you move to though, Jonnie?
Everyone says Credit West are wonderful now but when we moved here we were advised not to go with them as they were basically Cypriot builders........
They have double AA* rating but this means what in reality?
Have been told Albank are cash and asset rich, but what are the assets?
Interested to hear what other HSBC users are planning to do.

[WotNoDeeds]

We joined HSBC in 2002 and were with them for many years until their interest rates became uncompetitive and they said they were selling. During that time we had excellent service from Julie and would like to thank her and also wish her well in her well-earned retirement.
We moved to CreditWest and have had excellent service from them since.

[Agobard]

Personally I prefer to bank with one of the Turkish banks as I feel that they are more secure. I use TEB as they are part owned by BNP Paribas on of the worlds largest banks so if they go bust, the local operations here will have gone down the tubes quite some time . Seran at the Girne branch of TEB is very helpful, speaks perfect English and deals with the foreign customers. I find their interest rates very good and she keeps an eye on them to make sure that you are getting the best possible rate.

[sophie]

I totally agree Agobard, TEB and my other bank Garanti are Turkish not TRNC and somehow feel much more secure than with my TRNC bank. Despite TRNC bank paying 1% more interest. As you say, there are AA* etc., but what is the baseline to measure them by?