Cyprus-Forum.com

[THE HIGHLANDER]

Hi there, from what i can see there are only 14 domestic banks in Cyprus,11 are commercial and 3 are more specialist financial instutions,can anybody advise me who they think is the best bank and why?
I need a bank that offers the following: Internet banking,International money transfers,withdrawl/debit card,cheque book etc.

MANY THANX BRIAN.

[pimozid]

Every bank but not Bank of Cyprus!!

[twinkle]

Agreed!

[titantrigger]

I used to bank with Hellenic, their staff were always very polite and friendly

[devil]

Be aware that all the commercial banks in Cyprus are robbers, thieves and vagabonds with exorbitant charges.

Example: I have two Visa cards, one from a Cypriot bank, one from a Swiss bank. If I go to the USA, UK or Euroland, the Cypriot bank adds 2.5% to the bill, the Swiss bank adds 0.5%. Another example: I was paying CHF 720/year in local bank charges to have our Swiss pensions transferred directly to here. I have them now transferred into my Swiss bank at no cost and then transferred into the same account all charges paid for CHF 80/year: the difference is about £230/year. They did not used to be like this but they have increased their charges enormously by stages, almost surreptitiously, over the past few years - and just wait to see them increase again with the Euro.

[Niki]

Every bank but not Bank of Cyprus!!

...and I've just opened an account with them!

Different people have different experiences with banks. I did ask around and had bad comments about Hellenic and Alpha so went with BOC.

[Svetlana]

The Banks rate only behind the Lawyers in my hate list; I have been with the BoC for some years with healthy balances in my accounts. My AMEX card gives me totally unlimited credit; the BoC will not increase my limit on my Visa beyond £3000 - and block £5000 in an account for the privilege!

Lana

[Niki]

The Banks rate only behind the Lawyers in my hate list; I have been with the BoC for some years with healthy balances in my accounts. My AMEX card gives me totally unlimited credit; the BoC will not increase my limit on my Visa beyond £3000 - and block £5000 in an account for the privilege!

Lana

I was really surprised when they told me we have to have $10,000 blocked as security just to open a bank account which they may let us have back when they trust us!!!! This never happened in the UK even when I was an extremely poor student and always being told off for being overdrawn (things haven't changed much).

[joanna]

All banks are same sh*t different gravy as my mum would say. Ive heared good and bad about all of them. BOC are by far the worst for bank charges, my mum sent me some money over with IBAN and they charged me loads. Having said that im getting my mortgage from them as they have a scheme whereby if you have over 33% of the cost of the house you are buying as a down payment they dont charge you arrangement fees.For mortgage rates ive heared that emporiki bank and Alfa bank are the best (offering favourable rates on mortgages in SF), Laiki being the worst, as they charge the most for arrangement fees. Ive heared good things about Hellenic, but if you are a day late for a mortgage payment they send warning letters out imediately so ive heared. Credit cards in general are a rip off. Why not get an electron card. Have you tried Western Union Money Transfers? not sure about the cost though, but anythings got to be cheaper than stupid IBAN. Hope thats of some help

[Street Racer]

In answer to the original question.

I'm with Societe Generale just off Makarios Ave in Limassol.

Started off with a quid, now got a few more quid.

Sterling and Cyp £ accounts.

Open all hours as in the UK non of these rediculous holidays every other hour.

Street Racer


I wish