Best Banks for Long Overseas Stay.

[Cambodia7]

Renato

I've used a Citibank Plus Account all over the world and rarely been charged any fee, even for foreign ATMs (only once in PNG and that was for using anoher bank's machine). The Citibank App can be loaded onto your phone but doesn't require you to be online to work. I've found it to be a very useful account as you can pay for things in AUD without worrying about the currency transaction or other fees - i.e. it really is fee free as advertised. Probably be a good account for a long stay.

Cheers

Cambodia7

 

[RooFlyer]

Renato

I've used a Citibank Plus Account all over the world and rarely been charged any fee, even for foreign ATMs (only once in PNG and that was for using anoher bank's machine). The Citibank App can be loaded onto your phone but doesn't require you to be online to work. I've found it to be a very useful account as you can pay for things in AUD without worrying about the currency transaction or other fees - i.e. it really is fee free as advertised. Probably be a good account for a long stay.

Cheers

Cambodia7

I agree re the Citibank Plus - there are a couple of threads on it. Non Citi ATMs charging fees are in the minority, but they are around and its specific to the bank that you use it on. For instance TD in Canada doesn't charge a fee, but Royal Bank does (and there are no Citi ATMs in Canada).

 

[Renato1]

Renato

I've used a Citibank Plus Account all over the world and rarely been charged any fee, even for foreign ATMs (only once in PNG and that was for using anoher bank's machine). The Citibank App can be loaded onto your phone but doesn't require you to be online to work. I've found it to be a very useful account as you can pay for things in AUD without worrying about the currency transaction or other fees - i.e. it really is fee free as advertised. Probably be a good account for a long stay.

Cheers

Cambodia7

Thanks. I have actually just gotten a Citibank Plus Account, which I will definitely be using overseas at ATMs. Coupled with the 28 Degree Mastercard which I use for lumpy payments (long term car hire), I now have cards for overseas covered.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

.

No mention of a 'point'; I'm looking at posts beyond the one you just quoted . If we go back to your topic of best banks for o/s ... I note a comment up thread that



Are you aware that CBA cards - or at least all the ones I'm familiar with - earn either QF or VA points, or Flight Centre (shiver) spend? Between 1.5 and 3 points/$ for Amex (depending on level), and between 1 and 1.25 points/$ for the Mastercards. 3points/$ very tasty for ATO spend. As I mentioned up-thread the CBA phone application is sensational - ability to lock and unlock cards on the fly, check balances, pay, transfer funds on the fly ; ... and no security sms

I recently closed my CBA Gold Awards card with a $55,800 credit limit for reasons described in another thread. It was costing me $119 pa. The Amex Professionals Platinum Edge card costs me $149, and I get far more points than I got from the CBA card, and for the extra $30 a year I get a free return flight each year. If I need the free CBA Travel Insurance and Concierge service, my wife still has a CBA Platinum awards card.

It's good that the CBA app works well for you, and doesn't plague you with SMSs the way I am still plagued with SMSs when accessing my Streamline account either on my computer or through the browser in my Android phones.

The other issue I've had is the reliability of the SMS service. In the early to late 2000s, it was a wonderful service. My cousin in Italy and I were constantly exchanging SMSs. But we pretty much stopped doing it as very often hers weren't coming through to me, or if they did, my responses weren't getting back to her. Yes, I'm with Virginmobile, but it is powered by Optus. And she was using TIM which is Italy's biggest carrier.
Regards,
Renato

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks. I have actually just gotten a Citibank Plus Account, which I will definitely be using overseas at ATMs. Coupled with the 28 Degree Mastercard which I use for lumpy payments (long term car hire), I now have cards for overseas covered.
Cheers,
Renato

The one thing to be aware of with citibank plus is that you will need a PIN to be generated before you can access many of the account details while overseas. This is somewhat easy provided you can load this onto your phone before you go.

With an ipad (without a sim card) I can't even download the PIN function. However... you can still get a balance without a PIN, and can simply top up to citibank using bpay from your regular bank.

 

[medhead]

The one thing to be aware of with citibank plus is that you will need a PIN to be generated before you can access many of the account details while overseas. This is somewhat easy provided you can load this onto your phone before you go.

With an ipad (without a sim card) I can't even download the PIN function. However... you can still get a balance without a PIN, and can simply top up to citibank using bpay from your regular bank.

The citibank iPhone app will show transaction history without the PIN, now. I think I've got the iPhone app to generate a pin without an internet connection. Testing just now and it'll give a pin with phone in flight mode.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The citibank iPhone app will show transaction history without the PIN, now. I think I've got the iPhone app to generate a pin without an internet connection. Testing just now and it'll give a pin with phone in flight mode.

yeah apparently you don't need an Internet connection to generate a PIN... however you do need to be connected, with a SIM, to download the application to start with (the 'onetime pin generator' or whatever it's called).

So apparently my iPad on wifi won't allow me to download it (this was confirmed by the call centre)... unless they've changed this since last year (which they may well have done).

 

[serfty]

I am with Virgin Mobile and this year have been in NZ, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and the USA.

I have received many SMS's and have not been charged for any (including the welcoming and/or roam warning SMS notifications) that I have received.

I use the andriod Citibank app downloaded and installed from the Google "Play Store" - it does not need an Internet connection to generate a pin.

 

[Renato1]

The one thing to be aware of with citibank plus is that you will need a PIN to be generated before you can access many of the account details while overseas. This is somewhat easy provided you can load this onto your phone before you go.

With an ipad (without a sim card) I can't even download the PIN function. However... you can still get a balance without a PIN, and can simply top up to citibank using bpay from your regular bank.

Thanks. I shall have to explore this before I leave. I had thought to just use a browser for this card, as I will mainly just be checking balances with it, as it will be my main source of cash.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

I am with Virgin Mobile and this year have been in NZ, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and the USA.

I have received many SMS's and have not been charged for any (including the welcoming and/or roam warning SMS notifications) that I have received.

I use the andriod Citibank app downloaded and installed from the Google "Play Store" - it does not need an Internet connection to generate a pin.

I almost want to take my VirginMobile back to Italy again to see what I get charged. But the sting still hurts.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[QF029]

Renato you should avoid commenting on things you don't know about. There are no costs to receive sms messages when roaming (at least with Telstra). 10 years ago is several lifetimes in technology and I suspect your charges were for roaming data.

To the OP you could also set up a google voice account (not sure if you have to be in the US to do this) and use that phone number which will forward all sms messages to email.

 

[Renato1]

Renato you should avoid commenting on things you don't know about. There are no costs to receive sms messages when roaming (at least with Telstra). 10 years ago is several lifetimes in technology and I suspect your charges were for roaming data.

To the OP you could also set up a google voice account (not sure if you have to be in the US to do this) and use that phone number which will forward all sms messages to email.

You are the upteenth person to tell me that. Despite the fact that I have mentioned every time that when I recharged my Italian SIM card with the required 8 Euros for the month, and then went on an 8 day driving trip around Europe two years ago - the eight SMSs I received reduced my credit in the phone to zero.

The issue in my original post is which is the best bank when overseas. If you like your international roaming and enjoy the SMS security codes, then it's not a problem for you. As for me, I don't want to take an Australian phone with me solely for receiving SMS security codes from my banks.

Thanks for the information about the Google Voice account - I know nothing about it, but will try to discover more.
Regards,
Renato

 

[davdent]

There is no need to receive SMS pins with CBA. This also applies with all the banks I deal with. They will supply you with a number generator that you register against your account once, and then use where ever you are on the planet.

 

[medhead]

You are the upteenth person to tell me that. Despite the fact that I have mentioned every time that when I recharged my Italian SIM card with the required 8 Euros for the month, and then went on an 8 day driving trip around Europe two years ago - the eight SMSs I received reduced my credit in the phone to zero.

The issue in my original post is which is the best bank when overseas. If you like your international roaming and enjoy the SMS security codes, then it's not a problem for you. As for me, I don't want to take an Australian phone with me solely for receiving SMS security codes from my banks.

Yet again you bring up the completely irrelevant Italian sim. The OP talked about charges on an Australian phone for receiving SMS. The Italian SIM is irrelevant.

You have also started a thread asking about the best bank on the claim that it costs to receive SMS from the bank. It doesn't cost to receive SMS !!!! You want to find a bank that doesn't send SMS to avoid a non-existent charge.

 

[Mal]

Commbank now support a lot of overseas carriers for text alerts. (oddly, last time I looked - pretty much all UK carriers were there, apart from mine - 3 mobile)

Note that unless your 'home' address is in Australia (postal not good enough), CBA will refuse to issue you a debit card for your account.

 

[Renato1]

Yet again you bring up the completely irrelevant Italian sim. The OP talked about charges on an Australian phone for receiving SMS. The Italian SIM is irrelevant.

You have also started a thread asking about the best bank on the claim that it costs to receive SMS from the bank. It doesn't cost to receive SMS !!!! You want to find a bank that doesn't send SMS to avoid a non-existent charge.

The statement was made,
"There are no costs to receive sms messages when roaming (at least with Telstra)"

Well, there are, and I explained where they are.
I appreciate your fondness for making yourself the arbiter of what is and isn't relevant, but quite frankly I prefer my own counsel.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

There is no need to receive SMS pins with CBA. This also applies with all the banks I deal with. They will supply you with a number generator that you register against your account once, and then use where ever you are on the planet.

Is this on some kind of app?
Wouldn't a number generator within a phone be hackable to people with the right knowledge?

I just used my browsers when I was overseas.
Regards,
Renato

 

[DeKa]

Is this on some kind of app?
Wouldn't a number generator within a phone be hackable to people with the right knowledge?

I just used my browsers when I was overseas.
Regards,
Renato

No: https://www.commbank.com.au/support/faqs/72.html

Saying that, the NetBank apps can act as the token if you wish. Unlikely they are hack able as the code is only valid for a short time.

 

[medhead]

The statement was made,
"There are no costs to receive sms messages when roaming (at least with Telstra)"

Well, there are, and I explained where they are.
I appreciate your fondness for making yourself the arbiter of what is and isn't relevant, but quite frankly I prefer my own counsel.
Regards,
Renato

Plenty of others have reported the cost of other carriers as being zero as well. You know those umpteen people who have told you there are no costs for Australian telephone companies. You know Australian phone companies that you raised in the OP.

An Italian sim tells us absolutely nothing about Telstra charges. That Italian sim is all you've been banging on about. Last I checked Italy is a whole different country from Australia. I'd suggest if your counsel says that's relevant to the charges by Australian telephone companies then we've found the problem.