How on earth do I get a bank account here??

There aren't any British laws saying you have to be here for a year before you can get a bank account.  Each bank of course can have its own policies and maybe some do have a residency requirement (I haven't found one but you never know) but if they do, there's no legal justification for it, just preference. 

My one year anniversary of arriving here was yesterday - woo hoo!  And I got 3 accounts with three different banks during the first two months.  I went to one bank (can't remember who now) who did tell me that they could not offer me anything more than some lame type of current account that didn't even have checking facilities or a bank card.  Thanks but no thanks!  It just depends on which bank you go to I think.

My one year anniversary of arriving here was yesterday - woo hoo!

Happy UK Anniversary!   

I think, as Londoners, we generally have a much easier time opening bank accounts than do people who live in areas where there are not as many foreigners.  From people's banking horror stories on here, it seems as though each branch sets its own rules.

I just posted this elsewhere, but wanted to mention that with Bank of Scotland we're being told its a problem to apply for credit and a loan because my UK spouse hasn't lived here in the past three years (though he's banked with them for 30 years!). We're waiting until he starts work next week to apply hoping that will help. Not sure if Bank of Scotland is more strict than others. We went into an HSBC and they didn't seem willing to help us at all.

I have been having trouble with HSBC too.  Two weeks ago we went in to try an open a current account for me. My husband had spoken on the phone with someone prior to our going in person to apply. He told them I don't have an NIN and have not worked over here yet. But I have started a new business, and want my own account to pay into it from the business account that is in his name. They said it was up to the bank managers discreetion. Well, the bank manager we have been dealing with has not been very helpful.  I have shown my passport, marriage cert, provisional license (no longer accepted apparently) letter from the Home Office showing my ILR, mail from the NHS about my shoulder surgery, and mail that has been sent here to me by the IRS,  and other various bits of mail, including from my doctor. I have been refused based on not having enough proof that I live here. I have lived here nearly 6 years now. 

Hubby has had an account with them for over 16 years, and they wouldnt' even put my name on his account. I feel like a criminal just for wanting to open a bank account.

So on the second visit, the bank manager says that he would accept a letter from my doctor (we mention we already provided that, and it was rejected, as was my mail from the IRS, after they told me the previous week that would be verification of my address). He backpedaled and then said that actually wasn't enough. Well, hubby got assertive with him, and mentioned that we had been told that it was bank managers discreetion. He said if only I wasn't a foreigner. I even showed my letter from the Home Office, stating my ILR and he turned his nose up at that too.  Well, like I said, hubby called him down on his inconsistancies,  and the guy relented and opened the current account for me. I recieved the checkbooks and debit card last Thursday.

Now today, I get a letter from the same bank manager, stating that they have frozen my account, (which they were happy to deposit my checks into BTW), until further notice, or until I provide more proof of where I live.

I am livid. So we have to put my name on a utility just to jump thru this hoop. I will do it, and then close the account, and go open one with another bank. I won't deal with this bank again.

Hubby has had an account with them for over 16 years, and they wouldnt' even put my name on his account. I feel like a criminal just for wanting to open a bank account.

Tebs, that is awful.  Ive only been here for 4 months and my hubs bank, Abbey, added me to his current account.  I only had to show my passport and our council tax bill with my name and our address on it.  It blows me away how different every bank is and not only that, but how each employee at the same bank will tell you something different!

Jenn, I am just as annoyed with hubby for the very reason that he hasn't put me on anything here, not on the council tax, utilities, bank accounts, anything. I know that is a huge reason I am having such a problem right now. 

I think you are right tebs - the best thing is to just have your name on a utility bill.  That seems to be the proof they always accept and is the easiest thing to do as well.  Doesn't matter how much other mail you have - the utility bill seems to be key.   I didn't realise they no longer accept provisional licenses!

Apparently one just needs to shop around. A lot.
I plan on spending a day or two on my banking issues when I get to England (and manage to get a utility bill or two in my name):

Day I:
Morning: Visit different branches of HSBC.
Lunch someplace nice. Glass of red.
Afternoon: visit more branches of HSBC/another bank
Evening: Dinner someplace good, more red wine.

Day II:
Depending on whether I go through all branches in town or not, I will either go to the same ones again or keep going. Otherwise same as Day I.
Evening of day II: if bank account opened, will go out to celebrate. If not, will get plastered.


Now if I were to get an account the first day, I could just celebrate that evening and take the next day off.

let me get this right - we're lending "them" our money and they're the ones doing the scrutiny!?

it defies all common sense.

it's like me checking out my credit card company before they decide to lend me money.

we're talking current bank acct here right - like checking acct in the US?

my first day in the US as a student and i opened two bank accts - it took a few minutes, i just walked thru the door - no job, no money, just some kid living in a dorm.

I think you are right tebs - the best thing is to just have your name on a utility bill.  That seems to be the proof they always accept and is the easiest thing to do as well.  Doesn't matter how much other mail you have - the utility bill seems to be key.   

yes! So true, I went to so many banks with about 20 pieces of mail in my name ,no utility bill since we just recently moved and the bills werent issued yet. My husband even tried to add me on his account which hes had since he was 16  years old!..but NOPE! We tried to explain our situation with just moving but they wouldnt hear of it, she wouldnt even allow my paychecks to be deposited into his account.  Another bank would've accepted me but since my passport was in my maiden name and I am married now she said legally I have to go by my married name therefore my passport wouldnt be sufficient,even though I brung in a marriage certificate!  Literally over 10 banks/building societys later... Barcleys accepted me with just my NTL bill.They didnt care about my maiden/married name thing and that I didnt have any utility bills..woohoo for them,that really made my day!

Another bank would've accepted me but since my passport was in my maiden name and I am married now she said legally I have to go by my married name therefore my passport wouldnt be sufficient,even though I brung in a marriage certificate!

  If you had said you weren't changing your name would she still have said this?  Wow...

  If you had said you weren't changing your name would she still have said this?  Wow...

I did tell her this! and she still said since I'm married "legally" I have to go by my husbands surname That bank is full of idiots

I was recently told by someone at my bank that certain branches are "fraud hot spots" so those branches are stricter at following bank policy. I bank with NatWest and the branch nearest my home will do just about anything for me but the branch nearest my office is tough as anything. And, the bank nearest my office is used to dealing with Americans because about ten of us from my office do our banking there BUT they are a fraud hot spot and have to be really careful.

I was recently told by someone at my bank that certain branches are "fraud hot spots" so those branches are stricter at following bank policy.

Very true.