Banks and Exchange
Closures of local banks throughout much of Australia means you will no longer necessarily find a branch of one of the main banks in every town, though there will be a local agency which handles bank business - usually based at the general store, post office or roadhouse - though not necessarily a 24hr ATM machine. The best policy is always make sure you have some cash on you before leaving the bigger towns, especially at weekends. The major banks, with branches countrywide, are Westpac, ANZ, the Commonwealth and the National. Banking hours are Monday to Thursday 9.30am to 4pm, Friday 9.30am to 5pm, though in country areas some agencies will be open later, and some big-city branches might also have extended hours; autotellers or ATMs are generally open 24 hours. Bureaux de change are only found in major tourist centres and airports, so make sure you exchange your currency during banking hours. All post offices act as Commonwealth Bank agents, which means there's a fair chance of changing money even in the smallest Outback settlements - withdrawals at these places are often limited by a lack of ready cash, however, though less remote post offices may have EFTPOS facilities. If you're spending some time in Australia, and plan to work or move around, it makes life a great deal easier if you open a bank account . To do this you'll need to take along every piece of ID documentation you own - a passport may not be enough, though a letter from your bank manager at home may help - but it's otherwise a fairly straightforward process. The Commonwealth Bank and Westpac are the most widespread options, and their keycards give you access not only to ATM machines but also anywhere that offers EFTPOS facilities (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale). This includes many Outback service stations and supermarkets, where you can use your card to pay directly for goods; some of them will also give you cash (ask for "cash back"). However, bear in mind that bank fees and charges are exorbitant in Australia; most banks allow only a few free withdrawal transactions per month (depending on who you bank with - it's well worth shopping around before you open an account), and there are even bigger charges for using a competitor's ATM machine, as well as monthly fees. International money transfers can be made from any bank in Australia to a nominated bank abroad and cost approximately A$25. Transfers can take anywhere from a few days to several months. For moneygrams , you can make arrangements with either American Express Moneygram (within Sydney tel 02/9886 0666; elsewhere free call 1800 230 100) or Western Union (within Sydney tel 02/9241 5722; elsewhere free call 1800 649 565).
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Your Tip for Australia
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