Hi,

I don't know about transfers to Canada / US but for the UK it should be much better. UBS charges me 10 chf which covers the charges at both ends i.e. my UK bank (Smile) doesn't deduct anything. Of course then there is the 'hidden' fee of the exchange rate, but the rate at UBS is usually OK.

I don't have any special agreement at UBS, as far as I know this is their standard rate. You have to do the transfer online and two days in advance - if you want it same day it's more expensive.

I think there should be ways of doing it cheaper, but since I only use it occasionally I haven't really researched it.

Ha...I need to transfer money to the UK too...not done it yet as no one has been clear on exactly what it will cost me - I've asked both my banks in Switzerland and in the UK...£67...WOW...that's just silly...hopefully some people on this site will have a cheaper solution...eagerly await to see what others say...

Elinor and Amit I have sent you both a PM.

The bank charges can be minimised if you sent the money in the currency of your "home" bank. If you are sending money to Canada send Canadian dollars rather than Swiss francs. Sending euros to Credit Agricole costs me nothing. And check what exchange rate you get from your bank. UBS seems OK for euros. You can always try to use a dedicated currency exchange broker.

Adam, if you require help please send me a PM.

Hello Nick....thanks for your mail...I'll contact you when I decide/need to transfer money...won't be for a while...but I surely will contact you if needed...

Thanks Amit, you know where to find me if you need any help.

You can save all the fees if you save up the money until you have accumulated a substantial amount, then put it in a briefcase in small unmarked bills and I will be happy to fly over to the UK and personally deposit it in your Nat West account.

Unless Nickg already beat me to it 

Of sorts... My methods are slightly more traceable though... :-)

....but probably less profitable

Touché

Are you transfering GBP £ , if so £67- is very high cost.

But if your sending CHF or US$ to your GBP account, i dont think this is Bank charges but this is Forex and commissions. All bank charges need to be clearly indicated as Bank charges, other differnces is forex and then its not bank charges at all, but forex/speculation. and at small amounts, you will have very poor rates.

I just opened an account with BCGE and I'm sure the guy said that fee was really small, like 5chf .. Havn't tried yet right enough

It is 5 CHF at UBS but if you let them do the exchange rate as well, you will pay a lot more than 5CHF per transfer.

Thank you everyone for all the comments so far. Sounds as though JR M`s offer to personally deposit a very large substantial amount into my Natwest account  may be my best option. I`ll be in touch!

nickg-44. At the risk of sounding completely stupid what`s a PM? Well whatever it is, I look forward to receiving it!

Hi elinor,

PM = private message (see your inbox)

Probably the cheapest soliution is to open an account at Postfinance:

https://www.postfinance.ch/en/priv/prod/pay/abroad/giro/offer.html

It costs you 2 chf on Internet, or for free if your home account is SEPA compliant, whatever that means.

www.transferwise.com

Personnally I use often Transferwise as well and I am very happy with the service and its cost. There's a small fee but the exchange rate is real unlike the banks where it's majored.

https://transferwise.com/u/598f7 make your own simulation

If anyone finds a better one please share

Hello,

Here is my comparative experience of Transferwise vs. Currencyfair: http://www.glocals.com/forums/general/Money-transfer-to-Canada-238957.htm

I have use different private money transfer service and also bank services to send money home from Australia to India. but recentaly came to know about https://www.instarem.com/. They charge low fees rate, easy to transfer and hassle-free service.

Its Instarem

Within the Euro region my bank (Raiffeisen) allows me to make a SEPA transfer for 1CHF, I imagine that most other Swiss banks do the same.

Outside of the SEPA area (incl. UK?), options such as those described above may become more interesting.