Bank Accounts

[Bigbrother]

Hi Kris

How did you get on with the bank account/house purchase. Any tips?

Thanks!

[Kris]

I am Heading out to Tunisia on Sunday Morning :-)

Me and Hajer have our marriage contract on Thursday and I hope after to look around some properties.

So far the bank d ' habitat have said no foriegn accounts but I will try some in Tunis as I find that outside Tunis folks make the rule up to suit themselves somtimes as they have probably never been asked before.


Regards,

Kris

[Bigbrother]

Hi Kris

Firstly, best of luck with the marriage contract, I know all about getting married in Tunisia, the paperwork/do***ents/translations/the running around. Hope all goes well with you both. Enjoy!

I found out on another site that I recently came across and there was a reply from someone and I attach this reply below:

"When I was living in Tunisia, there was only one bank catering to foreign expats and diplomats:

TUNIS INTERNATIONAL BANK
18 Avenue des Etats Unies, PO Box 81
1002 Tunis, Belvedere
Tel: 00216 1 7824 11
Fax: 00216 1 7824 79
E-mail: tibl.tib@planet.tn

In those days, this was the only bank where one could receive money transfers in hard currency (EURO, dollars) on foreign currency accounts... Upon departure, it was also possible to tranfer your earnings in hard currence back to the bank in your home country. Other Tunisian banks did not offer this service, and I would be surprised if they did now.

I suggest you take up contact with this bank and ask for information

Greetings,

SidiBouBoy

(PS, in my days, the Tunisian banking service "sucked" (excuse me my language), except for TIB, where the service was as fast, friendly and smooth as in Europe...)" [:-]

Look forward to hearing your tips on banks and properties.

[Kris]

I have been recommended BIAT and they apparently do the banking for the British Embassy and HSBC have links with them.

They are big and have nice clean professional branches as Hajer uses them a lot in Giant (shopping centre) for exchange.

I ran out of time so I hope Hajer can get the forms and everything done for me and I will come sort everything out in September and do***ent all that you need to open an account there.

Regards,

Kris

[clairyc]

Hi Kris,

Are you any further forward on the bank accounts? I would mainly be dealing in Dinars but the option to transfer sterling would be good. Also how do you go about bringing large sums of money into the country. Would you have to transfer it once a bank account was opened? I am talking £thousands so wouldn't think carrying that kind of cash was a good idea! []

Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks
Claire

[Kris]

Hello Clairyc

I am still looking to open a bank account and it seems there are a number of options Biat apparently offer accounts to foriegners and this one given the number of branches that they have seems a good bet.

I am going to open mine in Burges Du Lac near the embassy as when you try and do these things in a small town or branch they somtimes say they don't so that they don't have the hasstle of having to process it.

When I bought a car I simply wired the money into the account without issue and it took 5 days or so remember when you transfer large sums of money you may be able to shop around for your rate as you should get better than somone changing a few hundred.

I would definately recommend that you have a bank account there before you send any money (I had to use my wifes at the time).

[kat]

Hi I opened a bank account with biat, However they will not give you a cash card or visa card unless you have a lot of money going in. So i have to go into the account to draw money or make deposits, but i can transfer money from england to tunisia takes 1 week to transfer over.

[aeroclub]

The best way to take money to Tunisia is cash. Check the maximum you are allowed to take out of the country; there is no maximum for entering Tunisia but you must register it with the customs at the airport or you won't be able to take it out again. We are with the UIB, the Société General's subsidiary. They asked for copy of passport, and an address in Tunisia. The account must be in Euros or sterling if you are not a resident. We are buying a new flat in Hergla. Any questions, please post a message.

Gareth

[abouhedi]

You can certainly open a bank account at one of the off-shore banks in Tunisia such as Citibank or Arab Banking Cororation, you can get their details from http://www.pagesjaunes.com.tn

All the best

[the big burp]

arab bank allow you to send money to tunisia without having an account with them. theres an arab bank in sousse, tunis and a few other places but cant remember where exactly