How to set up an Australian Bank Account in Perth / Western Australia

Once we accepted the expat role in Perth....one of the very first things to set up was Banking.  I'm happy to report that Aussie banks make this easy...as least they did for us (more on that later).

For starters I suggest one of the big Aussie banks....they are:

- Westpac  http://movingtoaustralia.westpac.com.au/

- ANZ  http://www.movingtoaustralia.anz.com/english/

- Commonwealth Bank (known as CommBank)  https://www.commbank.com.au/personal/can/moving-to-australia.html

- National Bank of Australia (NAL)  http://www.nab.com.au/personal/help-and-guidance/moving-to-australia

** Some of the world banks also operate here such as HSBC and Citi.  I don't deal with them at home so I didn't see the point but some expats speak highly of them.

All of these banks operate sites for people moving to Australia.  I will speak to the Westpac experience as based on some very basic and hardly scientific analysis I chose Westpac.

I was able to, in probably 15 minutes online, open what is called a "Choice" account with Westpac.  This is the equivalent to a checking account back home.  It pays no interest and allows me to move money in and out, pay bills just as I could with my Canadian account.

The things you need to know:

- You can open the account online from home country and will receive an e-mail shortly after stating your account has been opened.

- I could almost immediately transfer money INTO the account.

- Westpac actually called me in Canada to welcome me and helped set up the online access to the account.  A nice touch.

- Internet banking is excellent in Australia.
- Joint accounts are accepted...hence we created just one account

- I was required to do a identification check before any money could be taken out of the account.  This can be done via mail from the home country or simply by showing up at a branch with the necessary id  as described.  We chose the in branch method and Angela was able to do the id check for both of us which surprised me.

- I could not apply for a credit card from Canada, this had to be done once we were in Australia.

- We moved 10K into the account before going to Australia....I think this helped avoid some issues that some of our expat friends had.

- The West Perth branch had no problems issuing us credit cards and did set them up for Angela and I on her first visit. ***

*** Many of our expat friends have been unsucessful to get credit cards and credit on arrival despite letters from their companies and having high paying jobs / expat packages.  I have further heard this complaint from others who moved from Perth over the years.  I can say only this....we moved 10K AUD into the account about a month before we moved.  We did the request IN BRANCH...branches apparently have much more flexibility than the call centre folks.  Angela brought the kids with her to the branch and treated them with absolute respect.

If I've missed something don't hesitate to ask... how was your experience setting up banking? 

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Should I move to Perth?

I personally think Perth has got to be one of the ultimate expat destinations.  Angela and I often discuss that it will be hard to top Perth with the next assignment.  I can tell you for certain we don't regret the decision for a second.

The family on the South Perth Foreshore

The upsides are:

• Weather - I challenge you to find a place with better overall weather
• It's safe
• People are friendly
• Good health care
• It's an outdoor city - Bike, Run, Swim, Sail all year round
• You are maximum 40 minutes to an endless coastline of beaches.
• Language - If you're coming from an english speaking country....Aussie's speak English even though sometime it doesn't seem like it.
• Good schooling is available
• There are tonnes of expats that are in the same boat as you.  They are coming in and out just like you in large number.

Cottesloe Beach - 25 minutes from the Perth CBD

The downsides are:

• It's far from everything.  Perth is one of the most remote cities in the world.
• Cost of living.  Perth is poke a stick in your eye expensive.  It's drop f bombs, swear out loud in the middle of the restaurant expensive.
• The sun is vicious.  2 out of 3 people in Australia will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer.  
• It's not a cultural mecca.  I often hear Perth called boring.  I disagree but it is not London, New York, or even Edmonton when it comes to cultural goings on.

A great place to raise kids

So when making the decision the major thing to consider is:  What standard of living will you have in Perth?

If you're coming on an expat / foreign service package that includes housing etc. which is common among the Energy and Mining expats then you're all set.  On the other hand...if you need to cover all of your costs, I highly suggest you do research on the costs of living.

What have I missed?

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