A customer case study

WHY SHE CHOSE HSBC:

- A global network with branches and offices all over the world.

- A wide range of bank accounts to choose from
HSBC understands the expat experience.

- Country guides give invaluable advice

Dynamics of the relocation:

Although 12 months may not seem like a long time, this is a significant move for Luciana. Besides experiencing a new country and culture, a motivating factor for the move is financial - Luciana will earn nearly 50% more in Japan than she does currently.

Her agency will also fund her accommodation and the relocation, giving her a further opportunity to save. Luciana's aim is to capitalise on the extra income so that she can return to Brazil with a secure and sizeable nest egg.

Right now, Luciana is concentrating on the logistics and practicalities of the move. She also reads literature about Japan, its people, culture and the expectations placed on foreigners.

Why the HSBC Offshore Country Guide was invaluable
Luciana found the HSBC Offshore website to be full of relevant expat advice, other than simply the financial side of moving abroad. After reading through the country overview, she ordered the complete Country Guide for Japan from the website and it was emailed to her immediately.

The most useful tip she found in the guide, says Luciana, was the etiquette surrounding the exchange of business cards in Japan: you receive the card in both hands and study it carefully before putting it on the table in front of you. It never gets put away during the meeting, as this is seen as an affront to the person whose card it is. Who would have known?

Saving is Luciana's primary objective for making the move to Japan. She therefore needs an account that offers competitive interest, paid gross of tax, as well as the ability to transfer the funds internationally when she returns to Brazil.

She's chosen to open the Instant Access Savings Account because it is available in Japanese Yen, as well as other major global currencies. It was also quite easy to open the account - she downloaded application forms straight from the website.

Luciana also likes the fact that HSBC has a global presence and is a well-known name in Brazil. This provides additional security and peace of mind, she says, especially as she is going to a country that is completely new and foreign to her.