For the Aussies living in Japan, have you kept an open bank account in Australia? If yes with what institution? I'm with ING but they send SMS codes for some operations and only support Australian mobile numbers so it's a no-no.
I’m keeping an ANZ account open. They have no problem with international addresses but only accept Australian phone numbers for app authentication so any transactions need to be done over the phone.
Not really Australian, but I have an ANZ account there I use for purchases in Japan. Don’t like how it works with the ATM at 7-11 though. I think Master Card Debit works better than Visa, but can’t really compare to anything else in Australia.
GSB (formerly CUA) allowed me to receive codes through email. Macquarie is nice due to fee free ATM withdrawals and card txns. And 5%ish savings acc. ING fee free txns too (as long as you do at least 5 a month), but I think cap on ATM. Citibank used to be great but NAB ruined them. Same for Coles Mastercard (used to earn points through international fee free!) but that was a Citi product so now a broken NAB one.
I use commbank, can use the app to transfer money no problems, and their travel money cards work as a debit card in most situations here. customer support can be done via chat (after wrangling your way through the most infuriatingly poop bot of all time). Have had no major issues except the app not accepting my Japanese number. Exchange rates on the transfers are a bit poop.
I can get SMS codes for transactions on my Japanese number with ANZ.
I have a suncorp account but use wise. Been here 14 years.
I still kept my HSBC while closed others. So far so good.
I have a NAB account open with 2FA using my Japanese number. It needs to be set up over the phone though as there’s a bunch of KYC procedures.
I still have all my Bankwest stuff. Needs an Aussie number tho. I use wise for currency remittance because fee wise seems to be solid and honestly, just very easy to use
Up bank – alternatively if you need a sim you can use aldi mobile. $5 for a year, I receive all my 2FA still
Westpac are fairly good and they support international numbers. I use that in combo with Wise when I need it.
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I’m keeping an ANZ account open. They have no problem with international addresses but only accept Australian phone numbers for app authentication so any transactions need to be done over the phone.
Not really Australian, but I have an ANZ account there I use for purchases in Japan. Don’t like how it works with the ATM at 7-11 though. I think Master Card Debit works better than Visa, but can’t really compare to anything else in Australia.
GSB (formerly CUA) allowed me to receive codes through email. Macquarie is nice due to fee free ATM withdrawals and card txns. And 5%ish savings acc. ING fee free txns too (as long as you do at least 5 a month), but I think cap on ATM. Citibank used to be great but NAB ruined them. Same for Coles Mastercard (used to earn points through international fee free!) but that was a Citi product so now a broken NAB one.
I use commbank, can use the app to transfer money no problems, and their travel money cards work as a debit card in most situations here. customer support can be done via chat (after wrangling your way through the most infuriatingly poop bot of all time). Have had no major issues except the app not accepting my Japanese number. Exchange rates on the transfers are a bit poop.
I can get SMS codes for transactions on my Japanese number with ANZ.
I have a suncorp account but use wise. Been here 14 years.
I still kept my HSBC while closed others. So far so good.
I have a NAB account open with 2FA using my Japanese number. It needs to be set up over the phone though as there’s a bunch of KYC procedures.
I still have all my Bankwest stuff. Needs an Aussie number tho. I use wise for currency remittance because fee wise seems to be solid and honestly, just very easy to use
Up bank – alternatively if you need a sim you can use aldi mobile. $5 for a year, I receive all my 2FA still
Westpac are fairly good and they support international numbers.
I use that in combo with Wise when I need it.