Reasons to set up your bank account before leaving abroad

Posted date: 18 Jun 2020

Finances are never an entertaining conversation subject. There's just so much to get your head around: the different available rates, accounts and banks and the confusing jargon. Many times, just the possibility of queuing a teller at the bank is enough for us to consider keeping our money under the mattress instead! So just imagine how much harder it is if you have just arrived to study in a foreign country, without setting up a local bank account. In fact, some prefer to arrange their banking, which we suggest, before they leave for research. Below are some reasons why you should not wait for a bank account to be set up until you arrive at your study destination:

Finding time

Starting a new course is difficult, and takes your full attention to get off to a good start; and as enriching as the experience is, moving to another country brings with it its own challenges. All institutions will have different orientation activities and events that you can attend in order to learn how to use campus facilities and more information about your timetable-these are vital, so make sure you attend them! And, at the beginning of the word, there are all the social events that are ideal for making the first friends. Visiting the bank is the last thing you want to do with all this going on, so it can easily slip by the wayside before you are in an emergency.

 Finding a bank

While you're going to say goodbye to friends and family, you’re going to have a whole summer free before you leave-you could use it productively all this time. You’re always going to be surrounded by people you know, trust and be able to talk freely. Parents and guardians will have much more banking background anyway, and will already be aware of your financial condition. You can browse various accounts with them at home to find the right one for you, with your parents likely to ask questions you wouldn't be thinking of.

 Finding the bank

Finding the bank itself (i.e. the actual building) can really be an experience in itself when it is in a new place. Organizing this before leaving will save you hours of walking around an unfamiliar foreign city. You might be surprised at how often people purely choose their bank because it is their closest bank, or the first that they see. Although this may be easy, if you don't look at programs and terms more closely, you might miss out on rewards or advantages for your particular needs.

 Immediate use

When you need immediate and hassle-free access to or transfer of money, it's much easier if all is planned for when you arrive. You may need to quickly access money, such as purchasing an essential book in time for your first lecture; or paying for furniture when you move in. If you're not concerned about money, you'll arrive much more confident and ready to take on new challenges.

Lost in Translation

It can be difficult to talk to someone in your own language about banking (especially when you are very young and fairly new to getting your own account); so it can be more difficult to talk to someone in a second language about these matters! Compared to how things are done in your own country, there may very well be some different practices. After all, financial jargon isn't necessarily a central component of a language syllabus that you'll be learning and fluent in. And if you misunderstand an important piece of information, you may lose out financially.

Posted By

GSP Admin