How do I send money from Helsinki to the US?

February 6, 2008 10:45 AM

How do I pay US and UK bills from Helsinki?

American, living in Helsinki, moved from the UK.

In the UK I used a combination of Citibank UK accounts. 1 in GBP, 1 in USD.

I also had a Citibank account in the US.

This combination enabled me to immediately wire money from the UK to a US citibank account without incurring wire fees or having to wait for anything weird.

It was very convenient.

Any idea how to do something like this in Finland?

I don't think Citibank has finnish offices. :(

Any ideas?

posted by Lord_Pall to Work & Money (6 answers total)

Doesn't Citibank have online banking?

If not, perhaps something like ING would work.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 10:53 AM on February 6, 2008

Citibank has online banking but because I can't open a Finnish account I can't get money into the UK based USD and GBP account.
posted by Lord_Pall at 11:52 AM on February 6, 2008

via American Express
posted by matteo at 12:32 PM on February 6, 2008

I had a dual GBP and USD Citibank account when I lived in the UK. When I moved to Australia, I assumed I'd be able to open something similar down here. No dice. It just doesn't exist. I've googled and called every bank I can think of looking for a "dual currency account" and nobody has one. So instead I have to pay my student loans back in the US via Telegraphic Transfer, which costs me a whopping $22 every time I do it. It sucks. Be prepared.
posted by web-goddess at 12:50 PM on February 6, 2008

I don't think Citibank has finnish offices. :(

Citibank says they've been in Finland since 1977, headquartered in Helsinki, which is where you are.
posted by lia at 4:18 PM on February 6, 2008

Well SHAZAM!

That might make this much easier than I was originally thinking.
posted by Lord_Pall at 9:30 PM on February 6, 2008