Can I open a bank account whilst looking for work?

[bank]

Hi gang

I am due to arrive in December time from Birmingham. Currently I bank with Barclays, can I open a bank account while looking for work in Singapore? Or do I actually need to have a job and then open a bank account?

Anyone had any experience in this?

Just in the process to apply for my EPEC too.

[In my experience]

You need to be a legal resident of Singapore (ie - have an employment pass which means a job) to open a bank account.  And rent an apartment.  And get a mobile phone contract (you can get pre-paid cards without being a resident, though).

[Derp]

You will need your NRIC or your FIN and a letter from your employer telling the bank how much you earn.  Without that you will not be able to get a bank account or anything else here.

An EPEC is nothing more than an LTSVP, so nothing special, dont expect it to open any doors for you.

[What the ?????]

Hi gang

I am due to arrive in December time from Birmingham. Currently I bank with Barclays, can I open a bank account while looking for work in Singapore? Or do I actually need to have a job and then open a bank account?

Anyone had any experience in this?

Just in the process to apply for my EPEC too.

I am still incredulous that ANYONE would do this - living in Singapore is great when you have money and company stability - I hate to say this, but you would be better off in Birmingham without a job than you would be here!

[beggarsbelief..]

Another one  - this place is hugely expensive for any sort of a life - get your ducks in a row son

[expat35]

You will need your NRIC or your FIN and a letter from your employer telling the bank how much you earn.  Without that you will not be able to get a bank account or anything else here.

But that's not necessarily sufficient. The idiots at banks here will also ask you for a referral by two friends who must state that you are trustworthy etc.

I refused. I'm not going to bother my friends with such nonsense but perhaps I'm too western.

[2 OP]

I haven't done this personally, but there are retail banking branches here of some UK banks. I suggest you do some research and maybe speak with someone at one of their branches in your home town to find out what is possible. Then open an account with that bank in the UK, if that makes sense to you. Were I in your position, I would look into that.

You may use UK bank credit cards to pay for goods and services here and also ATM cards to get cash from the machines (there is a charge for this too, per transaction and I can't remember how much). If you have an Amex credit/debit card you can cash cheques from your present UK bank account (there is a limit to the value that may be encashed every 3 weeks and i can't remember what it is. Not much, anyway. Check with Amex). If you want to send money back to the UK, you can walk into a bank with your ID and use cash to send money by Telegraphic Transfer for a fee - between SGD$20 and $30). Not sure if there are rules about non residents doing that, so maybe someone else can advise on that score.

[2 OP]

Me again. There may be a transaction limit for ATM withdrawals overseas from your UK account as well as a separate daily total limit. It's possible to partially get around this by making several individual withdrawals one after the next within the daily total limit. Ditto hit the ATM just before midnight UK time and just after midnight UK time, should you be desperate enough for cash. Or withdraw the maximum amount every day as you slowly amass the larger sum you need over a period of time. This does leave you vulnerable to theft, 'though...

[jalanperak]

Me again. There may be a transaction limit for ATM withdrawals overseas from your UK account as well as a separate daily total limit. It's possible to partially get around this by making several individual withdrawals one after the next within the daily total limit.

I wouldn't recommend this. In addition to a service charge that's a percentage of the total withdrawn, there is usually a fixed international transaction fee of a few dollars (or a couple of pounds). Making multiple small withdrawals is a lot more expensive than making one larger one.

[Well.. .. ..]

So can you suggest an alternative way to get one's hands on money from overseas without a bank account here, JP? Sometimes one has to suck up the charges..

[Derp]

You use your ATM card from your UK bank and withdraw cash from a bank in Singapore and pay the charges and commission.  Simples

How will you pay for your hotel bills ?  Credit Card ?

[HSBC]

Have retailing branches here. Open in the UK and ask them about services here.

[hsbc2]

It was 10 years ago, but when I moved to Singapore from the UK I was baking with HSBC.....while in the UK I got HSBC to open an account for me in Singapore. I had no FIN number, no Singapore address, none of the things which others here are saying you MUST have.

I then went to the HSBC branch in Singapore when I arrived to collect ATM cards, cheque books, etc.

Easy.

[chilli hot pepper]

If you are using the ATM machine here in Singapore, remember to inform your UK bank you are going to be here. If you dont inform your bank they will not allow you to make continuous withdrawals. We forgot to do this and were without cash. The ATM did not allow us to remove cash and froze the account. We were stuck for cash and had to borrow from friends!!