Euro account

[bmwmike]

Hi

Looking for an account that I can squirrel euros into from sterling and then withdraw euro from a cashpoint.

I mainly go to France, Spain and Ireland.

Just looked at HSBC currency account but it's online only.

Does anyone else have a UK based euro account and is it any good?

Currently I withdraw euro from a cashpoint from my sterling account and it's not the most prudent way to do things.

Thanks

Mike

[marshalla]

FairFX or Caxton or one of the other pre-paid cards ?

If all you're doing is cash withdrawals and normal retail purchases they're probably the simplest, but it depends on how much you need to withdraw each time, and how often.

[bmwmike]

Thanks, will look into those.

[Pheo]

I just got a revolut card and account. Entirely online managed and the user experience is great. Much easier than any of the other prepaid cards I've used

[RizzoTheRat]

Sounds like you don't need a euro account as such, but one that allows free withdrawls in euros. Don't think Santanders Zero account is open to new people any more, and Nationwide stopped theirs a few years back, and I don't know if Metro Bank are still doing their's. If you can get one they're great, I just transfer cash to my Zero account online and then withdraw from a cashpoint at whatever the days rate is.

Prepay cards like Caxton are the next best thing.

[h0bbsy]

Nationwide still do it if using their fee paying FlexPlus account. £10 per month but I use it enough for it to be worthwhile plus includes a bunch of insurance stuff also (travel, mobile phones, car breakdown etc)

[Rude-boy]

I have been looking at this for years.

the simplest answer is no, no one seems to have had the time or inclination to set up anything that is remotely practical to those like us who would quite like to dump £150 a month in there or so. I suspect the answer is that there is not enough money in it for the banks to be bothered, and it would stop quite so many of us using their exchange desks... (cynic, moi?)

In all honesty I have found that it is just easier to use your card as if you were in the UK. Every so often i get a grand or two cash if the rate looks good and that covers things off for a bit - most will do a decent rate for £500 or £1000 at a time.

[Broccers]

Halifax Clarity credit card is your answer. Use it as normal at home (spend more than 300 and they give you 5 pounds)
then clear the balance and add cash before you go away.

Any withdrawals are at the https://www.mastercard.com/global/currencyconversi...
rate and you pay no interest on the cash as youre in credit.

No charges.

No interest if you pay by dd.

http://www.halifax.co.uk/creditcards/clarity-card/

Edited by Broccers on Thursday 9th June 18:55

[Olf]

A vote for Fair FX. I have a Euro card - manage and top up from phone app. Free cash machine withdrawals and competitive rates. When we got to 1.4 to the pound last year I bought a stack and have been working them off ever since. Great product.

[Steviesam]

I opened a French bank account at a branch in France.

Ideal, get excellent transfer rates into that account using Transferwise and have a debit card. Also can set up DDs (if ever needed). Online banking too.

[Rosscow]

I have a Nationwide Flex Plus account - there's really no point in me getting cash before I go.

No fee for withdrawals, 0% commission, and it's based on the Visa exchange rate. Which today is 1.269, better than anywhere that I can find online to buy.

£10 a month for Flex Plus is a great deal - family holiday insurance is sorted, European break down is covered, mobile phone loss, etc. etc.

Well worth it in my opinion!

[recordman]

Nationwide FlexPlus account for me too.

Also Halifax Clarity Credit card. Load it up or shove money in it within a day or so of drawing cash and there's little or no interest charged.

Both cards offer excellent rates of exchange and no charges. Daily limit (or might be transaction limit) seems to be €500 for both.

[modeller]

I use britline, French bank account with English speaking staff

[RammyMP]

I've got a Caxton card, works well for cash, for credit card purchases I use a Nationwide credit card that is commission free. The exchange rate is slightly better on the credit card, 1.3 euros to the pound last week when the Caxton card was 1.27.

Trouble is, to open a bank account abroad you have to apply for the countries equivalent of a Nation insurance number which is a nuisance, the wife's just spent 2 days trying to open a bank account in Portugal, it was a right pain!