International Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
International Savings/ING Direct?
Good morning!
Since I'm finally earning real money for the very first time in my adult life, I'm starting to think about opening a savings account here in Spain. I have an account back in the States but it's just not practical - or cheap! - to be transferring money when I need it. Do any of you have experience with/opinions about ING Direct? My normal bank doesn't offer anything that interesting. I need to be able to easily deposit/withdraw the money, since it'll be a rainy day fund.
Thanks in advance for any opinions you can add! Dad was my normal go to financial advice guy, but since things are a bit different here I figured I'd consult you all as well 
Re: International Savings/ING Direct?
Why dont you use a local bank?
If you are interested in opening a time deposit, I know several banks like Popular and Caja Madrid are offering some great interest rates.
I'm also nervous about a number of Spanish Banks, especially Caja Madrid/Bankia
What are you nervous about? I am just curious.
You might want to look at UBank (backed by NAB). They have a permanent* 6.5% rate.
*permanent = not just an introductory offer.
I've only used it to transfer to/from US accounts but I love my ING savings account. It's easy and free to transfer money within ING accounts and into/out of other banks' accounts. Also you can set up recurring transfers, like "take $100 out of my checking account into savings every Friday" really easily.
After the fusion fria I'm a bit nervous about a number of cajas.
Read: http://blogs.wsj.com/source/2010/10/27/cajas-up-to-no-good/
There's also the fact that Caja Madrid seems to be the "PP Banco" - http://www.elpais.com/articulo/madrid/PP/coloco/filial/Bankia/esposa/consejero/Aguirre/elpepuespmad/20111027elpmad_1/Tes
Wedding stuff.
I have ING Direct and FNBO Direct accounts that I set up maybe 5 or 6 years ago. I've never had any problems with them, but their interest rates are dismal now.
Do they allow foreign currency accounts? I know they are both FDIC insured, but I wonder how that works if it's not in US dollars.