Page 206 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - England's South Coast

204  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Banking and Currency DIRECTORY

Although people now tend to buy most things with credit Bureaux de Change
and debit cards, visitors will still find it useful to carry some Moneycorp
cash. The high-street banks usually offer the best rates, ∑ moneycorp.com
commission-free, for currency exchange, and cash machines Travelex
(ATMs) are readily available at banks and elsewhere. Before ∑ travelex.co.uk
using one of the many privately owned bureaux de change
found in major airports, railway stations and tourist areas, Banks
check commission, handling and minimum charges.
Barclays
∑ barclays.co.uk
HSBC
∑ hsbc.co.uk
Lloyds
∑ lloydsbank.com
Metro Bank
∑ metrobankonline.co.uk
NatWest
∑ personal.natwest.com
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS)
∑ rbs.com
Visitors at the Travelex Currency Exchange counter near the Tower of London Western Union
∑ westernunion.com
Bureaux de Change ATMs
Private bureaux de change may Most banks have an ATM, from ATMs
be more conveniently located which you can obtain money American Express
and have more flexible opening with a debit or credit card ∑ americanexpress.com
hours than banks, but rates of and your PIN (see p192). Cash
exchange vary and charges machines can also be found in Currency
can be high. Moneycorp and some supermarkets, shopping
Travelex all have branches across centres and post offices, and in FairFX Currency Card
southern England and usually petrol, train and London Tube ∑ fairfx.com
offer good exchange facilities, stations. Some ATMs may charge
as do many main branches of for cash withdrawals (typically
the Post Office (see p207). £1.70 per transaction). American Credit Cards
Express cards have a handling Throughout England credit
charge for each transaction of cards are widely used. However,
Banks 3 per cent or £3 (whichever is some small shops, guesthouses,
Every large town and city in the greater). Be vigilant while using markets and cafés may not
south of England has a branch of ATMs as there have been some accept them, so always check in
at least one of these five banks: inci dences of card crime. advance of your purchase. Cards
Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC, NatWest that are accepted are usually
and Royal Bank of Scotland displayed on the windows of
(RBS). Banking hours vary but the establishment. England uses
most are open 9am to 5pm the “chip and PIN” system instead
Monday to Friday. Main branches of a signature. A four-digit PIN is
open on Saturday mornings too. required, so check with your bank
Banks close on public holidays, before you leave home. With a
although Metro Bank offers “contactless” card, you can pay
longer opening times, including for items costing £30 or less by
Saturday after noons, Sundays placing your card on the terminal.
and most public holidays. A credit card allows visitors to
If you run out of funds or need obtain cash advances up to the
money quickly, family or friends credit limit at any bank or ATM
can use their own credit or debit displaying the appropriate card
cards on the Western Union sign. You will be charged the
website to transfer up to £800 credit card company’s interest
for collection at any one of their A typical ATM for HSBC, one of Britain’s rate for obtaining cash and may
many agent locations. popular high-street banks incur a currency exchange fee.

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