Bank account: where? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Bank account: where?

40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 February 2014 - 16:27

Right, I need to find a bank account very quickly, otherwise there'll be no salary this month :(
But which bank is best?
HSBC is international enough, but they seem expensive and I don't have an account with them yet, thus international transfers out of Qatar will be an issue I guess. Would be interesting to find out if they can open up an account in a different country for me though and if I could open up a share trading account until after I left again.

Commercial bank? Lots of atms around. Rest no idea.
QNB? Same.
Al Khaliji? Many people seem to use them for loans which I don't need. Free lounge access card is nice, but how reliabe are they?

Import for me is: good network of atms, international creditcard use, what is possible when we leave Qatar again.

4393
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 17 February 2014 - 09:24
Never had any issues with the H*** bank at all, apart from the usual ones out here with local staff, but that said we try not to go into a branch unless desperate. Great Premier service with all three sets of accounts online, no problems transferring money anywhere.
2725
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 February 2014 - 08:40
The worlds local bank is useless. As for global transfers, never been able to send money to our uk bank of the same name. Hubby can't even close his dubai one, so he continues to pay a 100 fee each month.
81
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 February 2014 - 23:55
I use QNB because my work prefers it, but they are horrendous. The tellers are for the most part incompetent and you can tell they have no desire to be there or talking to you, they'd much rather look at their blackberry.
40
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 February 2014 - 20:41
We don't have bank accounts associated with any bank here, thus that doesn't help. I did open a premium account with AK now and everthing was done within hours of handing in the necessary papers. Only little niggle: I won't be able to activate my bank cards yet as I'll get the codes per text message - and I haven't managed to get a mobile phone connection yet as passports are with government relations and my office mobile... no idea why that takes so long. Oh well...
171
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 February 2014 - 19:05
Like kimmc3.....also have premiership accounts in Qatar,USA and UK.....and have transferred money in with no issue...but have never transferred out as we are still paid in UK. The local customer service in Qatar is not good....and in the Uk I was told they are like a franchise of HSBC and a law unto themselves....so I wish I had shopped around. The ATM 's here have no charge so you can use anyone. <em>edited by weekirst on 15/02/2014</em>
445
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 February 2014 - 09:25
We use IBQ and they have been good. When we first moved here we were with HSBC - and they were horrendous. In Qatar, the ATMs do not charge fees if you are from another bank... at least as far as I know. You can take out from any ATM regardless of the company you bank with. So the ATM network isn't really much of a factor in choosing a bank.
55
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 February 2014 - 14:32
We have commercial and i have to say they are pretty good ! If you look on the website they were doing some kind of offer for new customers the other day www.cbq.qa think its called a new to qatar account- wish they would have had that when we came as they were offering a free mobile and sim plus limo pick up at airport etc !! we pay 15 riyal for international transfers and the money leaves here and arrives in the UK on the same day- for like 3 quid I think thats quite good as they charged 25 quid in uk for same.....we can also use any ATM machine for cash withdrawal with no charge
40
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 February 2014 - 13:51
Hmpf.. just had a talk with commercial bank because they're close by and was given the impression they weren't interested in getting a new customer. HSBC couldn't link me with a consultant in the little time I have to open an account. Also talked to Khaliji who came to the office and kind of have a good feeling, but it feels like they offer too much even for premium customers (trying-too-hard-feeling). No QNB branch within walking distance. I might look through the little letters of AK again and just open an account to at least get a salary this month. Then look around once I have more time. I'd be transferring to Europe, btw.
362
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 12 February 2014 - 01:09
We've had an HSBC Qatar account for 5 years and not had any major hassles with them. We have a further 3 HSBC accounts overseas and they are all linked via online global banking (very easy to use). We are able to transfer money between any of them with no cost, and we also opened a mortgage account for a property in England whilst in Qatar as well. We had a few communication problems here and there, but nothing that was a major problem. We are HSBC Premier clients, so I don't know if that's the difference between the good or bad service?? I wouldn't say they are perfect, but we've not experienced the bad service that others have..... so far!
514
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EW GURU
Latest post on 11 February 2014 - 20:12
We used to bank with HSBC and after 6 years finally gave in and moved - they were beyond bad...and in terms of an "international" bank completely useless as when you go to the UK they actually say to you "well we can't access your HSBC account as its not a UK account but a Qatar one" - they aren't even linked. We have moved to QNB - cheaper for fees, I have no issues re ATMS or using my CC overseas. I think you will have issues with every bank that you use here (and probably the same applies to banks anywhere in the world) but I would just say that HSBC drove us quite insane with their ineptitude! ETA - where are you sending money to? We send to Australia and QNB are linked to Westpac there - although I often send to other banks with no issues. I'm guessing that all the banks here have links with OS banks so I wouldn't worry about that side of it. I'd be looking at the quality of service that you get here...because you will have banking issues along the road! :/ <em>edited by GinaM on 11/02/2014</em>