What kind of bank account will you need abroad? Having your accounts with an international bank is advantageous, especially if you are likely to move from one country to another, as you can keep the same account each time you move on. But as always, you need to be sure the services on offer are the ones you need - you do not want to be paying for something you will never use. Choosing the right overseas bank account will take a bit of research, so give yourself time to do this before you head to pastures new. To start with, think about what you are going to be using the account for - do you need it to deal with your everyday banking, or do you need to put your money in a high interest account and access it at short notice? Can you tie it up for a period of time? Do you need to be able to hold money in more than one currency at a time? The answers to these questions will give you a good idea of what sort of offshore account you should be looking at, and to help here is a breakdown of the sort of accounts you might want to consider. No-notice accounts These savings accounts, which are also known as 'easy access accounts" do not require you to give any notice before you make a withdrawal. Typically, these would have a lower rate of interest than the accounts which tie your money up for a period of time, but that may not be the case on some of the lower-paying accounts, so check carefully. For example, at the time of writing the highest rate available on a no-notice account is 2.1pc with the Nationwide International Bonus Access Account Issue 3, which is based on a deposit of £25,000 and includes a bonus of 1.6 percentage points for 12 months, according to data from Moneyfacts.co.uk. Having a bonus paid on the account is not a bad thing, but you do have to be aware that after the bonus period has ended, you will see the interest rate paid on the account drop significantly. You also need to consider the amount that you will have available to deposit, as the headline rates may appeal but the actual rate you might get could be worse. This Nationwide International account will pay just 1.55pc on deposits of £5,000 to £24,999, and this includes a bonus of 1.05 percentage points for 12 months. The best rate available for this type of account without a bonus is from Alliance & Leicester International on its eSaver Access Issue 2, which pays 2.05pc on deposits of as little as £5,000. Notice accounts As the name suggests, you need to give the bank advance warning of withdrawals to avoid being penalised, which usually means losing some or all of the interest you would have been due. You would expect the best rates on these accounts to be higher because you need to give notice, and you will not be disappointed - but check the terms and conditions carefully to ensure you can comply with them. Nationwide International again tops this table, with 2.4pc paid on its Bonus 95 Account Issue 2, which requires 95 days" notice of withdrawals. This is also paid on deposits of £25,000 and above, and includes a bonus of 1.55 percentage points for 12 months. After this, the rate will fall to 0.85pc, so you need to keep an eye on this. A perfect example of why research is so important is highlighted by the fact that the sixth-highest paying notice account on the Moneyfacts offshore accounts table is from Skipton International, and pays 2pc on its International Select 40 account. As the name suggests, you need to give 40 days" notice of withdrawals, and this rate is paid on deposits of £100,000 or more. If you had just £10,000 to invest, you would get 1.75pc interest on this account, which is markedly less than the 2.05pc you would get on the above Alliance & Leicester International account, and on that you can access your money immediately. Offshore bank account These generally offer the same services as an onshore current account, such as an overdraft and a debit card. But unlike most of the UK current accounts, you will probably be charged a fee for having the account. Just like in the UK, some banks will ask you to deposit a minimum amount into the account, or ask that you earn a minimum amount each year before you qualify for it. With these accounts the interest paid is less of an issue, as they are used primarily for your day-to-day banking, but even so the more you can get the better. The Santander Private Banking Gold account is currently the best payer, according to Moneyfacts, with 0.75pc paid on £100,000. Anything between £5,000 - the initial minimum deposit - and this amount will not receive any interest payment at all. For those with more modest means, the NatWest Offshore Advantage Cheque account will pay 0.15pc on deposits of £1 or more, and this rises to 0.25pc when your balance reaches £5,000. Multi-currency accounts These are particularly useful for expats who have income or payments they need to make in more than one currency, as it can be easier to hold two or more different currencies at the same time so there is no delay in your payments being made. For example, you may still be paying a mortgage in the UK, or have a child at university who may need some last-minute funds for their coffers. The interest rate you will receive can vary considerably depending on the currency you are holding your funds in. The Nationwide Euro Bonus Access Account will pay 1.75pc on balances of €25,000, again including a bonus of 0.85 of a percentage point for 12 months. The equivalent US dollar account from Nationwide International pays 1.6pc on balances over US$25,000, including a bonus of 1.475 percentage points for 12 months. If you have less money to hold in the account, then Lloyds TSB International's International Bonus Saver Account will pay 1pc, including a 0.5 of a percentage point bonus for 12 months on balances of €5,000 or more. Its equivalent US dollar account pays 1.51pc, including a 1 percentage point bonus for 12 months on US$5,000 deposits. The difference in interest rates means you are able to move your money between accounts and benefit from better rates when they are available, although you also have to take into account the exchange rate you will receive from the bank and any charges. Lloyds TSB International has recently removed the charges for moving money between two currency accounts and for international money transfers to any other accounts. It also claims to have better exchange rates than the onshore banks. It may seem a simple task to get an account abroad, but there really is a lot to consider. So if you are unsure, then speak to someone to get some advice generally about sorting your finances before you emigrate.