Just set up a Barclays UK account.. the account is domiciled in London and uses the SEPA credit transfer functionally for euro accounts so transfers from Ireland will cost less than a euro to the account; depending on your bank transfers might be free in some cases...
....and in a blatant but very welcome attempt to win business from countries like Ireland they have waived fees for international transfer from the account till 2013 so moving cash back will cost nothing... they even have on the site, the account is for people who are worried about their home country banks....there are no maintenance fees for the saving account...
If you want a current account fees are €7.5 per month but you won;t need this for the saving account..
Also, you can open the above in USD or Sterling so can further diversify your risk if you are worried about the EUR full stop ... Barclays themselves have been rated 34th in the 50 worlds safest banks... Not quite as good as the German banks but a lot better than Ulster bank/RBS option that I have seen some people post they are using in Newry.. they are not in the top 50.. so this could be a good option to have if you can;t make it to Germany in person or speak German if doing the DKB option by post or want some USD exposure...
Depending on the account, there are some minimums but If you have least 5k to deposit you should qualify for either a saving or current account but the current account would have a monthly fee.. or you could have your salary paid directly into the euro account and qualify that way...
Links below for details of accounts:
ww w.barclayswealth.com/international/international-bank-account.htm
Details on SEPA euro transactions if like me u never heard of them before:
ww w.aib.ie/personal/home/SEPA-FAQ#How_to_send_SCT
50 safest banks:
ww w.gfmag.com/tools/best-banks/10533-worlds-50-safest-banks-2010.html#axzz1gE45TqqK
I would be interest to hear if people think the above is a reliable source or why DKB and its parent (BayernLB) or some of the other German banks mentioned on other posts aren't showing up on it, ...
....and in a blatant but very welcome attempt to win business from countries like Ireland they have waived fees for international transfer from the account till 2013 so moving cash back will cost nothing... they even have on the site, the account is for people who are worried about their home country banks....there are no maintenance fees for the saving account...
If you want a current account fees are €7.5 per month but you won;t need this for the saving account..
Also, you can open the above in USD or Sterling so can further diversify your risk if you are worried about the EUR full stop ... Barclays themselves have been rated 34th in the 50 worlds safest banks... Not quite as good as the German banks but a lot better than Ulster bank/RBS option that I have seen some people post they are using in Newry.. they are not in the top 50.. so this could be a good option to have if you can;t make it to Germany in person or speak German if doing the DKB option by post or want some USD exposure...
Depending on the account, there are some minimums but If you have least 5k to deposit you should qualify for either a saving or current account but the current account would have a monthly fee.. or you could have your salary paid directly into the euro account and qualify that way...
Links below for details of accounts:
ww w.barclayswealth.com/international/international-bank-account.htm
Details on SEPA euro transactions if like me u never heard of them before:
ww w.aib.ie/personal/home/SEPA-FAQ#How_to_send_SCT
50 safest banks:
ww w.gfmag.com/tools/best-banks/10533-worlds-50-safest-banks-2010.html#axzz1gE45TqqK
I would be interest to hear if people think the above is a reliable source or why DKB and its parent (BayernLB) or some of the other German banks mentioned on other posts aren't showing up on it, ...