Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum

Information and Services in Turkey Section => Banks, Interest, Money Transfers, Insurance => Topic started by: Ziggy Pop on March 07, 2009, 13:30:36 PM

Title: Open bank account
Post by: Ziggy Pop on March 07, 2009, 13:30:36 PM

I want to open a HSBC savings account in turkey with £20.000, I have a savings and current account in england HSBC. I know i will need driving license,passport and tax number, do i just need my savings account details and debit card. to open the account and do the do the transfer of money from england to turkey.

Title: Open bank account
Post by: OvacikOldBoy on March 07, 2009, 13:35:25 PM

I think you might need your Turkish Tax Number.  You will be able to transfer money from the UK to Turkey using ISBN, you will obviously need HSBCs turkish SBN number, best to go into the branch in Turkey and sort it

Allen

Title: Open bank account
Post by: stoop on March 07, 2009, 16:01:25 PM

Last time I spoke to HSBC UK you could not simply 'transfer' money into a Turkish HSBC account. They do not allow it. You would have to go into your UK branch and ask them to transfer the money. Costs about £20 with Nationwide but not sure what HSBC charge.

Title: Open bank account
Post by: beldibi on March 07, 2009, 21:14:40 PM

HSBC is one name but different bank organisations, in different countries.  Though I do believe that there are some mutual advantages.

Title: Open bank account
Post by: captainjon on March 08, 2009, 11:02:03 AM

Hi, you need to be in Turkey first,visit the Maliye,(tax office).Take your passport and about 4 passport size photos.They will give you a tax number on a slip of paper.Go to your bank of choice and open a sterling account first.You can then transfer the money from your UK branch to your new account.You will need the iban code numbers of your bank/account etc.Do not use the old swift code system,the money will arrive eventualy but may get lost in the banks head office before it finds the right branch.Hope this is ok for you.I believe a single transfer from hsbc uk is still £21.

Title: Open bank account
Post by: Keith on March 08, 2009, 11:08:33 AM

Would there be problem taking cash out to Turkey? That is beside the obvious problems associated with large amounts off cash.

Title: Open bank account
Post by: cathy h on March 08, 2009, 11:49:19 AM

Three years ago, before we moved to Turkey, I tried to set up an arrangement with my existing bank (Natwest) to be able to transfer money to my Turkish account once we relocated. They insisted that to make an International transfer, I must go to the bank each time and complete the transfer form and present my passport, all to do with money laundering laws. To say the least, this might be difficult as I would then be living in Turkey! They insisted there was no way around this, without giving someone power of attorney in the UK.
I approached HSBC and opened an account with the express purpose of being able to transfer money to my Fethiye account once I was living here. I have had no problems at all and have made a few transfers. If you have a premier account with the branch transfers are free.
As far as cash is concerned, I believe that you are allowed to bring around 5000 GBP from the UK at any one time.
Cathy

Title: Open bank account
Post by: Ziggy Pop on March 08, 2009, 15:19:26 PM

A Big Thanks to everyone for all this good advise.

Title: Open bank account
Post by: IanK on March 14, 2009, 12:54:55 PM

Hi all, on the subject of Tax numbers, we were given ours by our developer - but not on an official document. Do we need some proof that these are indeed our tax numbers when we open an account ?

Thanks
Ian K.

Title: Open bank account
Post by: kevin b on March 14, 2009, 13:25:00 PM

You get a card the size of a business card from tax office which is stamped & has your number on it.

Title: Open bank account
Post by: LeeGlo on March 14, 2009, 18:21:51 PM

Hi ZiggyPop, because we were coming to live in Turkey and Nationwide wouldn't allow us to transfer funds from the Flex A/c via the internet, we opened an off-shore a/c with them and can now request transfers to Turkey via the internet with no problems. You DO need to advise them, in writing, of the full details of the bank a/c you wish to transfer TO (so you need to open your Turkish account and ask them to print off the details for you). You can only send funds to these pre-designated accounts. Cost £20 irrespective of the amount transferred. Transfers between your Flex a/c and off-shore a/c are no problem either.

Title: Open bank account
Post by: christygee on March 14, 2009, 19:20:20 PM

you will need turkish tax number,passport,utility bill from home in turkey or the uk.my friend opened an account last week..

Title: Open bank account
Post by: apollo on March 25, 2009, 10:11:14 AM

Rumour has it that there is a law either passed or passing through The Turkish Parliament that says you will need to have a residency permit to have a bank account here.

There will be a period of grace to allow you to get your residency. After that period of grace the account will be frozen.

As I said it is only a rumour. Maybe some-one can shed more light on the subject.

Title: Open bank account
Post by: tinkerman on March 25, 2009, 10:14:58 AM

That would make sense, they are cracking down on laundered money hence the change in getting a lot more personnal information in when opening ana ccount now.

Title: Open bank account
Post by: jinky on March 25, 2009, 12:07:28 PM

one of ronnies customers at the irish bar fethiye tried to open an account last week,he went and got the tax number then went along to the finans bank and was told he needed residency.maybe the banker could give more advice on this subject.

Title: Open bank account
Post by: Scunner on March 25, 2009, 12:14:54 PM

What an excellent time to add hurdles preventing people investing their money in Turkey.

Title: Open bank account
Post by: SteveJ on March 25, 2009, 12:21:15 PM

I would have hoped that, if the rumour is true, then Banker would already have mentioned it in his numerous offers of help to set up accounts for people (me included).

Title: Open bank account
Post by: Scunner on March 25, 2009, 12:29:35 PM

I can't see it's true. A passport is as good (or as useless) as a residency for the fighting of money laundering. In these credit crunch times, banks need to attract every penny they can, especially from outside their country - this would be absolute madness.

Could be "expat expert" gossip, who knows it's happened before :D

Title: Open bank account
Post by: karaokemark on March 25, 2009, 13:00:02 PM

I have just spoken to Alper ( the Banker) he is away from a pc at the moment. He said a residencey permit is not needed and he does not know of any plans to make it so. He will reply later when he is back in the bank
Mark

Title: Open bank account
Post by: banker on March 25, 2009, 15:21:49 PM

Thanks for your help Mark  :) As you explain to open a bank account we dont request your residency permit. The only thing necessary for the first step is pass copy and the tax number for me. I have also asked to authorities and they said banks can open an account without residency permit.
If I get any information different I will inform you.

Regards.

Alper

Title: Open bank account
Post by: kevin3 on March 25, 2009, 17:59:09 PM

Thanks Alper. :)

Title: Open bank account
Post by: IanK on March 25, 2009, 17:59:16 PM

Hi Alper,

to open an account, for the tax number - would I just need the number, or do I need the original card with the number on it from the tax office ?

Thanks

Ian
Ian

Title: Open bank account
Post by: banker on March 26, 2009, 10:44:57 AM

Hi Ian :)

The number is enough for opening account.

Alper

Title: Open bank account
Post by: tinkerman on March 26, 2009, 12:07:31 PM

I have just spoken with Ayshe, the information about needing residency to open a new account at Finans is rubbish, normal ID is all that is needed.

Tinx

Title: Open bank account
Post by: IanK on March 26, 2009, 13:50:45 PM

Thanks Alper - we plan to open an account next time we are over.

Ian

Title: Open bank account
Post by: Lee08 on March 28, 2009, 12:26:03 PM

Hi
does anyone know the gross % on a 30 day Lira  Timed account please
Thankyou
Lee

Title: Open bank account
Post by: karaokemark on March 28, 2009, 12:54:40 PM

Lee it changes weekly I got 13.75% at Finnans for 100,000tl and the same rate at Fortis for 40,000tl this last week.
Mark

Title: Open bank account
Post by: Lee08 on March 28, 2009, 13:32:38 PM

Hi
thanks for that mark,we are looking to come over in April /May,have still not decided who to bank with,though i must say that Alper as been very helfull,Is £20,000 the max you would get if the bank went under? did seem to read elsewhere that this may go up.
Thanks again
Lee

Title: Open bank account
Post by: karaokemark on March 28, 2009, 14:03:34 PM

The Turkish goverment guarantees 50,000tl per person so for a joint account 100,000tl

Title: Open bank account
Post by: Lee08 on March 29, 2009, 00:06:46 AM

Many thanks for that Mark
Lee

Title: Open bank account
Post by: beldibi on March 30, 2009, 22:20:04 PM

My personal interpretation of the situation is that individual branches are confused by the new rules.  The main branch of the HSBC recently informed a member of another forum, that if they opened a new account, without a residence permit, the branch would be fined 20,000tl, and the cashier opening the account would be fined 2,000tl.  However, two banks, that I deal with, were satisfied, either with an Ikamet, Tapu or utility bill for residents.  Or if not resident, a copy of a recent utility bill, in the U.K.
I think that the same applies for a new account, plus passport, and tax number.
Not a definitive answer, just what I have been told.