Oz Bank Account - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

JellyBoy · 12-30-2003, 10:44 AM

Hi,

This is my first post

and I have loads of questions but I will try and keep it short and to the point...

Question 1 - What do you need to set up a bank account in oz? I am going to get there in about march time and will be staying in hostels for the first few months untill I get a job (heres hoping

)... is a PO Box ok?

Question 2 - I will be using a digital camera... I was planning to download the pictures onto ballofdirt.com in the internet cafes - does anyone know if you can load the camera drivers onto their machines and if you can use the usb ports (i have heard rumours that you cant??)?

That will do for now... any help would be great

**Canadian Dude** · 12-30-2003, 12:22 PM

To the boards JellyBoy!!!

The answer to your first question will have to be answered by one of our resident Aussies, they are very helpful and I am sure that they can find out for you.

As for your second question:

Quote:

I will be using a digital camera... I was planning to download the pictures onto ballofdirt.com in the internet cafes - does anyone know if you can load the camera drivers onto their machines and if you can use the usb ports (i have heard rumours that you cant??)?

I can see an internet cafe not letting you do this for their own secutiy of the equipment that they have, PC's are pretty expencive, and for something to go wrong ( virus) would cost them tons of money. NOw on the other hand, most hostels these days have internet right inside them. Speak to the manager and tell him of your travels and explain to them what you would like to do. I have found most hostel staff are quite resonable and normally accomodate requests when asked. Do not be offended or upset if they say no though. They worst they can say is no. If you are staying in the hostel for a several days, wait until atleast the 3rd day, that way the staff will know you and be more eager to help you. During the time before you ask say hello and good bye when you leave, and offer to pick them up some grub while your out, ( but do not offer to pay).

Anyways just some ideas!!!

**voyd** · 12-30-2003, 03:00 PM

Good question! I want to set up an RMB account in China for investment purposes. Any idea on how to do that? Can I use a branch of my existing bank there or do I have to use a local one? And, either way, do I have to have a local address to open an account?

**Canadian Dude** · 12-30-2003, 05:01 PM

Voyd, I might be able to send you in the right direction to open an account in China.

Here is a link for The Hong Kong Bank Of Canada

If you send them a detailed email asking for advise I am sure they will be able to help you in some way. Tell that where you are, what you want, and what you goal is and some advise should be given.

Hope this helps you my freind!

IrishDude · 12-30-2003, 06:56 PM

JellyBoy,

From my understanding (I'm heading to Oz in a few weeks - WhoHo

) you can open a bank account using your hostel address - and your passport for id ofcourse.

However, you must open the account within the first SIX weeks of arriving because after this time period it becomes more difficult - works on a 'points system' of some sort

Hope this helps,
IrishDude.

**Diorama** · 12-31-2003, 12:09 AM

IrishDude- Thx for the tip about having to open an account within the first six weeks of your stay. I hadn't heard that before and dumb ol' me probably would have waited a lot longer than that! so thank ya.

JellyBoy · 12-31-2003, 03:12 AM

Thanks for the tips...

katdawg · 01-06-2004, 12:02 AM

hey jelly,
i had to continually upload all my digi pics too cause i only had a 16mb memory card and kept running out of space for pics. anyhow, i did encounter some places that would not let me plug my usb port into their computers, but there were a ton of internet cafes in sydney and melbourne. some places if you just give them the memory stick, they upload it all for ya. but be forewarned, most internet cafes charge about $6 an hour to use the Internet over there and in victoria, i paid $10 an hour to use the internet!!! You know how long it takes to upload pics!!! I probably spent close to $100 uploading all my pics (about 300), in which case, I should have spent $70 to buy a bigger memory card!!!!

Hope that helps!

**cliffo** · 01-06-2004, 12:48 AM

Jellyboy,

Regarding digital camera, listen to Kat's info - its gonna be hella expensive to upload pics to the net. Get a larger memory card or as an (expensive) alternative buy a portable storage device, like a hard drive or cd burner.

I've just ordered a 60gig X-Drive that you insert a memory card and it copies the photos from the card to the hard drive, no computer required. Pretty sweet but does cost a bit of money. If you can afford it this might be the way to go.

***Beady*** · 01-12-2004, 12:08 PM

I was umming and arring about wheather to buy myself a digi-cam and upload the pics and send them home, but in the end, I got myself a normal camera, and have pursuaded my mum to devlope them when I post them back to her using snail mail. For me, this is a better option.
Also, don't didi-cam's take ages to recharge?

**zylah** · 01-20-2004, 05:04 AM

jellyboy,
i suggest you talk to you locl bank, its possible that they have an affiliation with a bank in oz. or can sort it out for you.
also im not sure where your from but i know that HSBC has branches in OZ.
check out http://www.hsbc.com.au/utility/locations/branch.html for branch locations in OZ. (note no branchs/ atms in tasmanina/ northen territory /act.)
hope this helps