New Zealand Banks WHV

JK04

Going to New Zealand on a 1 year WHV and I want to get a bank account set up before I go out. Can anyone recommend a bank for me to use, preferable one with the least fees and what not.
Also I don't have any accommodation sorted yet so can I still go ahead and set one up anyway or will I have to wait until I get something sorted?
I've seen people saying that putting the address of a hostel or wherever you're staying will do but I've nothing yet.

Thanks for any info on this at all!

CommanderC

I'm with Kiwi bank. Happy with them. I've never had any issues anyway.

Unsure about whether you can set an account up before you go-sorry.

Rua1

It's possible to open a bank account in NZ from overseas. All banks seem to offer this. I couldn't tell you which bank is cheapest though (although I have an ANZ account for when I go home and the fees for one transaction are horrendous).

Here are some links:

https://www.bnz.co.nz/personal-banking/international-and-migrant/moving-to-new-zealand/apply-for-an-account-from-overseas

http://www.anz.co.nz/personal/accounts/moving-new-zealand/

http://www.westpac.co.nz/international-migrant/moving-to-from-nz/setting-up-a-bank-account-from-overseas/

https://www.asb.co.nz/Personal/Banking-with-ASB/Moving-to-New-Zealand

http://www.kiwibank.co.nz/personal-banking/international-services/moving-to-nz/open-acct-overseas.asp

Have a great time in NZ!

pclancy

+1 for Kiwibank. Not much difference between them all except Kiwibank are Kiwi owned and all the others are Ozzie banks who send their profits back home (massive profits at that).

I've recently been reading that ANZ's history and their ethics and was surprised to see they won the:

2009 Award For The Worst Transnational Corporation Operating in Aotearoa in 2009

balkieb2002

I think I went with ANZ becuase of the large amount of ATMs around (including the National bank) and because I lived beside a branch. It was only after being with them a while that I noticed all the extras I was paying for including the steep extras for international transfers.

JK04

Thanks for all the advice, I think I'll go with Kiwibank then so.

eberry25

I've just opened an account from here with ANZ bank. Really good service, no bother to set it up from here and they put you in touch with a broker to help you transfer any money to your new account. When you arrive, you bring your ID to a pre-arranged meeting at the branch and they have your ATM card ready for you. Seems simple.....so far lol

pclancy

Yeah Migrants are big business to the banks so they look after you well. Pretty simple send/receive money with Ireland now compared to what it used to be like.