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在英國兌換外幣 Foreign Currency Exchange in UK

正如我們在“英國國際銀行戶口” 文章裏提及過,在香港銀行購買外幣是非常普遍。 但是,英國國際銀行戶口的運作和性質與香港的有所不同。 請參閱我們的文章,以了解不同之處!


英國人需要外幣時在哪裡兌換外幣?我們會討論在英國常見的不同方式。


As discussed in our ‘The UK International Bank Accounts post, it is very common to buy foreign currency with the bank in Hong Kong. However, the nature of an international bank account in the UK is different. Make sure to have a look at our post to understand the difference!


So where do the Brits exchange foreign currency in the UK when they need it? We will discuss the different ways that are commonly seen and done in the UK.



兌換外幣的不同方式:

Different ways to exchange foreign currency:


  1. 銀行 Bank

  2. 郵局 Post Office

  3. 找換店 Foreign Exchange Bureau / Bureau de Change

  4. 虛擬銀行– 銀行咭 (等於香港EPS) Virtual Online Bank– Debit card



1. 銀行 Bank


在香港,在你的綜合銀行戶口裏購買外幣是非常普遍的做法。但是在英國,跟銀行購買外幣並不是太流行,因為通常都不是太放便。好多時候,你無法立即領取己購買的外幣。


你可能還會時常聽見外幣稱為 “旅行貨幣 Travel Money”,這是因為英國人都傾向於需要在旅行時才會兌換外幣多於用作來投資。但是在香港用作來投資是很常見的。


在銀行訂購外幣

  • 如果想在銀行購買外幣,是需要跟銀行有一個戶口。

  • 可以在網上,電話裹或直接在分行購買外幣。

  • 可以最快第二日直接送到家中或在分行提取,但是有一些銀行需要三至四天工作日。

  • 需要購買一個最低的指定金額,如果購買少於一定的金額,一些銀行可能會收手續費。

由於每間銀行都有不同的政策,請直接與銀行聯絡以獲取更多資訊。


銀行好多時嘗試跟其他外幣店保持有競爭力的對換匯率,但是它通常比找換店或郵局提供的匯率更差。一些銀行也會收取佣金。與找換店相比,找換店提供的外幣種類通常比銀行多。


In Hong Kong, it is very common to buy foreign currency in your integrated bank account. However, this option is less popular in the UK because often it can be inconvenient. You cannot immediately collect your foreign currency that you have ordered.


You might also hear the foreign currency, as ‘travel money’ as the British tends to exchange foreign currency when they need to travel, rather than for investment, which is more commonly seen in Hong Kong.


Order foreign currency with a bank:

  • need to have an account with the bank to be able to purchase the foreign currency.

  • order foreign currency either online, by phone or in branch.

  • the earliest you can collect your money could be the next day either deliver to your home or collect at branch. Some banks may be within 3-4 working days.

  • there is also a minimum amount you need to order and some banks might charge an admin fee if you order less than a certain amount.

Please check with the bank for further details, as each bank will have a different policy.


Banks do try and keep a competitive exchange rate, but it does tends to be worse than foreign exchange bureaux or the post office. Some banks will charge a commission fee as well. There are also more types of foreign currencies available from foreign exchange bureaux than in the bank.



例子 Examples:


Barclays巴克萊銀行:

最低訂購量 Minimum order: £50

Can collect or delivered by next day that depend on when you order.


Halifax哈利法克斯銀行:


Lloyds萊斯銀行:

Can collect or delivered by next day that depend on when you order.

Can order via online, by phone or in branch.


NatWest國民西敏寺銀行:

Order between £100 - £2500

£5 charges apply if order below £500

低於 £500,則需要支付 £5 費用


Santander桑坦德銀行:


Bank of Scotland蘇格蘭皇家銀行:


Tesco Bank Tesco銀行:

0% commission fee

Can collect at over 560 Tesco stores

Can order using the Tesco Mobile app

Offer price match locally if you buy in store


M&S Bank馬莎銀行:

HSBC滙豐銀行:

Delivery within 3-4 working days.





2. 郵局 Post Office


Post Office Online Rate 郵局網上匯率 : https://www.postoffice.co.uk/foreign-currency


這是英國人在需要一些外幣去旅行時會較常見選擇之一。

  • 可以在網上購買,也可以直接在郵局購買。

  • 你會在郵局裏看到找換店 (法文: Bureau de Change) 和即時的外幣匯率。

  • 網上匯率和郵局裏的匯率可以是不同。最好的匯率通常都是在網上。


你有時可能會發現英國郵局實際上是在便利店或在書店 (WHSmith) 裡。英國政府已在2015年出售了郵局 Royal Mail 剩餘的 30% 股份,郵局全面私有化正式開始。 為了減輕經營成本,多數的郵局都會給街角商店 (便利店) 或書局 (WHSmith) 負責出售郵票或/和外幣兌換。書局 (WHSmith)裏的郵局通常會是在市中心和購物商場裏見到。


This is one of the more common options for the British to exchange foreign currency when they need to travel abroad.

  • can either buy online or at the post office branch.

  • you will see bureau de change section at the post office branch with the current rate of the foreign currencies.

  • the online rate and branch rate can be different. The best rate tends to be online.


Sometimes you might find the post office is actually in a convenience store / corner shop or in bookstore (WH Smith). The UK government has sold the remaining 30% of the Royal Mail in 2015, and the post office’s full privatisation has officially begun. In order to reduce operating costs, corner shops (convenience stores) or WHSmith also acts as post office to sell stamps and/or foreign currencies. Post offices found in WH Smith are usually seen in town centres and shopping centres.





Post Office and Bureau de Change within WHSmith



Corner shop running as a post office



Post Office inside a corner shop

Sometimes it will be the shopkeeper doing the post officer job as well as running the shop!





3. 找換店 Foreign Exchange Bureau / Bureau de Change


這是另一個常見的選擇。在英國,找換店也有不同的類型。 有時,你會看到找換店的名子是用法文寫成 – Bureau de Change。


This is another common option and in the UK there are different types of foreign exchange bureaux. Sometimes you will see the name written in French as Bureau de Change.


連鎖店 Chain Stores


Examples 例子:


Locations 地點:

  • Town Centres 市中心

  • High Street 大街

  • Airports 機場

  • Shopping Centres 購物商場


每間找換店的匯率都是不相同,有些更會收取佣金。 最好在購買外幣之前向找換店查詢。


網上匯率通常比在實體店裏更加高!你可以事先在網上購買定外幣,從而得到較高的匯率,然後在到找換店裏提取。


The currency rates vary between each bureau and some of them will charge a commission fee as well. It is best to check with the bureau before making a purchase.


The online rate tends to be better than in the actual shop (bureau)! You can order online and get the higher exchange rate and then collect it at the bureau.



Personal Experience 個人經驗:


在找換店裹,一位女職員告訴我們網上的匯率比較好。 這位女職員建議我們立即在網上訂購該外幣,因為她也可以即場給我們! 這並非時常會發生的,因此,如果你想獲得好的匯率,請提前計劃定。


Was in a Foreign Exchange Bureau and was told by the lady that online offers a better rate. The lady advised us to order the currency online immediately as she was also able to give the foreign currency in cash to us straight away! This does not always happen, so make sure you plan in advance if you want to get a good rate for your exchange.



百貨公司 Department Stores


馬莎找換店 (馬莎銀行)

M&S Bureau de Change (M&S Bank)



  • 找換店位於 M&S 馬莎百貨公司內

  • 找換店內存有40多種貨幣

  • 如果找換店內無法提供你想要的貨幣,則可以網上訂購並到馬莎店內提取 (Click and Collect)

  • 如果在下午4點之前訂購,則可以在同一日到馬莎店裹提取(僅適用於歐元和美元)

  • 最低訂購金額:£250


大約有 108 間 M&S 馬莎店內有提供找換店服務


  • The bureau is located inside M&S

  • Stock over 40 currencies in the bureau

  • If the currency you want isn’t available in the bureau then you can order online and collect in store

  • Click and Collect on the same day is available if order before 4pm (available for euros and us dollars only)

  • Minimum Order: £250


Around 108 M&S stores have the bureau de change services in store



John Lewis Bureau de Change (John Lewis Finance)

John Lewis 找換店 (John Lewis 財務)

  • 下午3點前在網上訂購,第二天可以提取

  • 平日有免費送貨:超過£1000

  • 最低金額:£250

  • 網上約有61種貨幣

  • John Lewis 店內約有30種貨幣


提取方式:

  • 送貨上門

  • 到 Waitrose 內提取 (共330多間)

  • 到 John Lewis 裹提取 (共34間)


  • Order online before 3pm, delivery the next day

  • Free weekday delivery: over £1000

  • Minimum value: £250

  • Around 61 available currencies online

  • Around 30 available currencies in store at John Lewis


Method to receive your money:

  • Home Delivery

  • Click & Collect at Waitrose (over 330 shops)

  • Pick up at John Lewis (34 stores)


超級市場 Supermarkets


Tesco Travel Money Bureau (Tesco Bank)

Tesco 找換店 (Tesco銀行)


  • 0%的佣金

  • 可在 560 多間 Tesco 裹和 200 個服務台提取

  • 皇家郵政 Royal Mail 送貨上門

  • 可以使用 Tesco Mobile 應用程序訂購

  • 如果您到 Tesco 找換店購買外幣,Tesco 會提供與當日匯率相符的價格 (price match)

  • 與Tesco找換店3英里內的其他找換店進行匯率價格。如果對方有更加好的匯率,Tesco找換店會接受和提供那個更好的匯率給你。


  • 0% commission fee

  • Can collect at over 560 Tesco stores and 200 service desk

  • Home Delivery by Royal Mail

  • Can order using the Tesco Mobile app

  • Offer price match locally if you buy in store

  • Offer price match service with other providers within 3 miles of the chosen Tesco Travel Bureau on the same day




Asda 找換店

Asda Travel Money Bureau


  • 0% 佣金

  • 在Asda店裹購買(目前由於COVID關係所以暫時關閉了)

  • 網上訂購可以在 Asda 店裹提取

  • 最低£500或以上

  • 星期一至星期四下午2點之前訂購的歐元和美元,可以第二天送到家中

  • 電話訂購:0800 188 4002 (免費電話)


  • 0% commission fee

  • Exchange in Asda store (currently closed due to COVID)

  • Order online and collect it at Asda stores:

  • Minimum £500 or more

  • Next day home delivery for Euros and US dollars ordered before 2pm, Monday to Thursday

  • Place order on phone: 0800 188 4002 (free number)




Travel Agents 旅行社


大多數旅行社內都會有找換店,並可以提供兌換外幣服務。


Most travel agents will have a bureau de change inside their store, so you can exchange foreign currency.






4. Virtual Online Bank 虛擬銀行 – Debit card 銀行咭 (等於香港EPS)


這是現在英國人去旅行時最常見的方式。

This is becoming the most common ways for people in the UK to travel.


  • 唔麻煩,因為無需訂購外幣或到找換店提取及買外幣

  • Mastercard 的匯率更好

  • 無管理費或交易費


  • Hassel-free of the need to go to order and collect or to the bureau de change to buy the foreign currency

  • Better exchange rate from Mastercard

  • No admin or transaction fee


Examples 例子:


Monzo

Revolut

Starling (for business)


請查看我們的 ‘英國銀行’ 文章,去了解更多 Monzo 和 Revolut 的資料。

Please see details of Monzo and Revolut bank details in our ‘UK Bank’ post.




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