Getting a bank account

Was an easy thing to achieve!

First off I used Ingo's already done research in order to pick an online bank (that I liked the look of and they had an ok website–kiwibank I miss your awesomeness) called Norisbank which has a few branches just in case translation over internet and phone becomes difficult and I need to actually try and talk to a person. Then with Ingo's help I signed up online, went to the post office to confirm my identity and post that confirmation off to the bank, then sit back and wait for the letter, no wait make that 2 letters, no no no got that all wrong, 3 letters, no 4 lett, 5 le, wait make that 6 letters to arrive.

Yes that's correct 6 individual letters - which makes sense really when you think about security, 1 letter was my "welcome here's your bank account number" letter
Then there was the "wahoo! it's a money card" letter
Followed a week later by the "oh and so you can use the money card, here's your pin number"
Another was my "here's your phone banking code"
Then there was the "here ya go, an online internet banking code"
Then there was the "oh but wait, to actually DO anything on the internet you also need to have this stupid piece of paper with 100 random codes on it and whenever you want to transfer money, pay a bill, etc. etc. you will be asked randomly for a specific code which you then have to enter in from your piece of paper" letter.

Phew. So yeah, actually getting the bank account was no problem, using online banking however... I haven't (apart from using the money card) actually done anything on online banking yet, it's too difficult and I can't be bothered. In fact now that I'm at a new address I should really go and change my address, but again, too difficult... Seriously kiwibank, you're awesome, don't ever change!

Country and culture differences I think are obviously a huge part in this, NZ is small with not as many people, therefore not as many annoying people who try to steal your bank account and all your moneys in it *knock on wood* as there could be... Germany on the other hand is a lot bigger with millions more people and therefore thousands more of those idiots (who actually are not idiots in the haven't-got-a-brain sense at all) Also I think because NZ is a much younger country there are less rules and restrictions around what a bank and it's website can be and should have on it... Just a couple of thoughts there anyway :)