Swiss Bank Accounts

[Guest Guy_Montag]

My folks are very kindly giving me a deposit on a future house (or anything else).

I have various (what I consider substantial, but not that much) savings in various Sterling accounts, funds, ISAs & all the rest.

Anyway I'm a little concerned about the level of debt in this country & suspect there may be problems in the future, I believe the euro is too flakey due to the diverse countries involved & the dollar is just waiting to drop off a cliff.

So back to the main query: are there any British banks that offer accounts in Swiss francs, failing that are there any Swiss banks that let you open an account with a relatively small amount of money.

I am not speculating or investing, I am only trying to protect myself - I intend to split the money over several different "safer" investments.

[MarkG]

HSBC do, but they don't seem to pay any interest on Swiss Francs.

Also, I've been trying to open a Canadian dollar account with them for over a month now and after several phone calls and emails they still can't manage to send me the PIN for the Internet and phone banking. I'm down a couple of thousand dollars now compared to having transferred the money when they originally opened the account... solely because of their faffing.

http://www.offshore.hsbc.com/

Edited August 31, 2005 by MarkG

[malco]

The Bank of Scotland also offers "Currency Accounts" in various currencies. I am thinking the same way and have just opened such an account

[MarkG]

I can only find information on Euro, Sterling and US dollar accounts on their site?

[OzzMosiz]

I can only find information on Euro, Sterling and US dollar accounts on their site?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Is it me or are the interest rates on there rubbish?

[CapeFear]

I've been with those guys for a few years and they seem quite nice:

http://www.citibank.com/uk/bankingproducts...rency/index.jsp

CHF, CAD, JPY, they have all major currencies ticked. Interest rates are rubbish but hey can't have everything

[MarkG]

Wish I'd known about the Citibank accounts before .

Still, my PIN finally arrived, so I can start getting out of Sterling at last... at least the exchange rate went up a couple of percent yesterday as the US dollar tanked, so I'm no longer taking a significant loss . Hopefully the dollar will be going down more in the next few days.

Edited September 1, 2005 by MarkG

[Guest Guy_Montag]

I've been with those guys for a few years and they seem quite nice:

http://www.citibank.com/uk/bankingproducts...rency/index.jsp

CHF, CAD, JPY, they have all major currencies ticked. Interest rates are rubbish but hey can't have everything

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Swiss central bank rates are 0.65%

Anyone know why? Could do with finding out before I stick my money there.

[OzzMosiz]

Swiss central bank rates are 0.65%

Anyone know why?  Could do with finding out before I stick my money there.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Forgive my ignorance, is that for a year?