A UK Banker

Hi all.

I'm a bit of a lurker, but I've noticed that people are sometimes a little unsure of the UK Banking system. I work for a UK Retail Bank and would be happy to help anyone with issues.

The only real thing that worries me is I will be moving to the UK in the spring from Sweden to work, need desperately to set up a bank account so I don't have to carry large sums of cash on me and will also need to have a bank account when I try to rent a flat, so if you can suggest any way I can do this without getting caught in the vicious cycle of need to rent-need a bank account-need proof of residence or utility bills, which I can't get until I have a bank account-which I need to rent that would be truly amazing and wonderful.

I, too, have the same concerns as the previous poster and would love some help. I will be coming over from the US with three children. Hubby will enjoy a nice quiet flight without us at a later date. I keep having visions of arriving safely, with the children all in good spirits, luggage landing with us, clearing immigration and then realizing that somewhere along the way I have lost all of the cash that I will have to be carrying. Makes for a pretty ugly nightmare.

I, too, have the same concerns as the previous poster and would love some help. I will be coming over from the US with three children. Hubby will enjoy a nice quiet flight without us at a later date. I keep having visions of arriving safely, with the children all in good spirits, luggage landing with us, clearing immigration and then realizing that somewhere along the way I have lost all of the cash that I will have to be carrying. Makes for a pretty ugly nightmare.

You don't have to bring loads of cash with you. You can use  an ATM to withdraw money out of a US bank when you need it, use your US credit cards, etc. You only need enough cash to last you till you can get to an ATM, and they are everywhere.

I, of course, would be dealing with a Swedish bank, who don't give debit cards unless you are already employed, which is why I'm moving to the UK, for employment, and my cash card for withdrawals from Swedish banks only works at Swedish cashpoints, not outside the country.  So my concern will still be getting a bank account started as quickly as possible, so I can transfer funds from Sweden by wire transfer and also be able to rent a flat.

The only real thing that worries me is I will be moving to the UK in the spring from Sweden to work, need desperately to set up a bank account so I don't have to carry large sums of cash on me and will also need to have a bank account when I try to rent a flat, so if you can suggest any way I can do this without getting caught in the vicious cycle of need to rent-need a bank account-need proof of residence or utility bills, which I can't get until I have a bank account-which I need to rent that would be truly amazing and wonderful.

You should not have any problems providing you have been in the UK for less than 3 months we would accept a Passport, (for id) and a EU ID card, or a Swedish Utility/bank statement showing your Swedish address.

Should you run into any problems ask the Adviser to contact their HelpDesk who will give authorization.

Most Banks run a similar acceptance policy to try and prevent financial exclusion. Should you experience a problem PM me and I'll give my Banks name.

The policy is not to be obstructive but to meet our regulatory obligations

Thank you very much for the information.  I've sent you a PM as well.

I, too, have the same concerns as the previous poster and would love some help. I will be coming over from the US with three children. Hubby will enjoy a nice quiet flight without us at a later date. I keep having visions of arriving safely, with the children all in good spirits, luggage landing with us, clearing immigration and then realizing that somewhere along the way I have lost all of the cash that I will have to be carrying. Makes for a pretty ugly nightmare.

If you are arriving from the US your Passport and driving license and/or a recent bank statement will be fine

So, when I come in January, I can walk into a bank, show my passport, my driver's license, and a recent bank statement from my American bank and open an account? Sounds too easy to me after everything I've been told.

So, when I come in January, I can walk into a bank, show my passport, my driver's license, and a recent bank statement from my American bank and open an account? Sounds too easy to me after everything I've been told.

Believe it or not that's our current requirements, the regulations do changeevery so often (usually after an incident 9/11, 7/7). Most of the difficulties seem to be due to a lack of training or willingness on the part of the banker.

As it's a couple of months before you are due to arrive you could look to open an "off-shore" account with any of the big Banks. Either Google it or send me a PM

So, when I come in January, I can walk into a bank, show my passport, my driver's license, and a recent bank statement from my American bank and open an account? Sounds too easy to me after everything I've been told.

No... it's not quite this easy!
Show your passport, yes...  they wont be interested in your US driving licence.  But the main thing is that you have got to show proof of your UK address. 

they wont be interested in your US driving licence.

Depends on the bank, Nationwide wanted to see prove of previous address in the US.

But her US address would have been shown on her US bank statement... she didnt need to show the driving licence as well.   

But you're right... some of this stuff can be different from bank to bank.
I can only speak for RBS/Nat West.

I just wish I could find a bank here in the UK that would take my US gov't cheque each month without taking damn near a month to clear! What I do now is take the cheque which I received from the USA by mail, fill out a deposit slip and post it off to my bank in the USA. Then I have to draw it out as cash from an ATM and deposit it into our UK account. Such a hassle and I have been doing this for five years already. I keep hoping the dept which I get the cheque from in the USA will one day start a direct deposit!

Pebbles, I had the same problem before MD instituted direct deposit for child support.  I had the address of my cheque changed to my mother's address and she deposited it for me monthly in a US bank.

I recently had a large US cheque mailed to me here.  I deposited it in our UK account.  Because we are in good standing, the amount was credited to our account relatively quickly.  However, if the cheque had bounced, the bank would have been quick to take back their money and it can take quite some time before the cheque properly clears the US system.

Of course, I could be mis-remembering.  Once my hubby signs on (grumpylad), he'll be able to tell you more about that process for his bank.