Regular money transfer to Turkey

[BigBri]

Hey guys, any suggestions for cheapest way to transfer GBP from UK bank to Turkish bank on a monthly basis? My UK bank wants to charge me £14 a time!! I have an account with Garanti in Kusadasi.
I'd be grateful for any info - thanks!

[JohnF]

I take it thats to a GBP account at Garanti? If it is, 14GBP is actually not bad as we get charged 20 - 25GBP a time!

One alternative may be to open an account with HSBC who have a presence in Turkey, mibbe they charge less? Or open an account with Garanti Bank in the UK and then you should be able to do it all by their internet banking facility (they've definitely got a branch in London).

Heres a link to a site that lists the banks in Turkey:

www.tbb.org.tr/english/asp/banks.asp

Hope that helps.

JohnF

[Starman]

Have garanti got a branch in the UK? they didnt have as of august last year. There was a turkiye is bankasi, zirat bankasi, yapi kredi which was in an office some where and sabanci bank in the channel islands.
I used to have a sort code book which had names and address of every bank in the UK, let me see if I can find someone that still has it.
I have a friend who owns a foreign exchange clearance house in central london. he used to transfer any amount of money to anywhere in the world for £15.
I got his number and address for anyone that is interested.

[JohnF]

As far as I know they're at:

Garanti Bank
15 Knightsbridge
London
SW1X 7LY

tel: [phone]
fax: [phone]

The 2004 sort code book will confirm if they operate as a clearing bank in the UK, mind you, even if they dont they may offer some kinda service...

JohnF

[DICTATORSHIP]

I left all that banking business in august 2003. well they got a good location at least considering where all the other turkish banks are.

[BigBri]

Thanks for the suggestions folks, I have emailed the "London Representative Office" of Geranti today, that might be interesting. I'll keep you posted.

For reference, Halifax charge £14 up to £4000 transferred and £25 above £4000.

Thanks again.

Brian.

[BigBri]

Report on progress thus far:
Nothing heard from Geranti in UK , but was checking info in the UK sunday press and found the following, which is a question about Spain (sorry!) plus the answer. They give 6 suggestions so you will have to decide what suits you best. The site is www.thisismoney.com/20040326/ae76320.html hope this may help somebody.
Brian.

[BigBri]

Another update folks!
It seem that if you have an account with the Nationwide BS in UK, you can use cash machines anywhere abroad without charge!!! Up to £500 per day!!! I could live on that ;D
I'm going to put it to the test, so watch this space.
(That is - I am going to investigate the 'No Charge' - not trying to live on £500 a day!)
Would be fun though.