Best Bank for me

Hi guys,

For the last four years I have had a bank account with Natwest. I recently closed my accounts (which has about one over charge but over all a clean bill of health) mainly because I hated their online banking setup. I was working abroad and could never get any information from them and my online banking log in would always break and then leave me stuck without a way to check my accounts. Regardless, I got the account back in the days when I was in Bunac and they pretty much set it up for me.

I was wondering... what my options would be to get a bank account now? I am will be working again in London, I have a small credit history but will it be enough to open an account with not being a citizen?

I heard that bank accounts can be a bit of a pickle with the UK. Also.. can anyone suggest a bank chain.. was thinking HSBC..

At the very least, *anyone* who is living here & can legitimately prove their identity (for anti-money laundering purposes) should be able to get a basic bank account (a basic bank account has no overdraft or check-writing privileges).  A credit check for this type of account should not be necessary, as there is no extension of credit involved with this sort of account.  Here is a Financial Services Authority pdf file regarding basic bank accounts:

http://www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk/pdfs/bank_accounts.pdf

And a Citizens Advice Bureau article on basic bank accounts...

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/winnn/press-060124

I won't recommend a particular chain, but I will say that some are better than others.   If a bank is refusing to give you a basic bank account for no apparent reason, make a written complaint!  Another good link...

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/

Hi,

The links Carolyn_b have provided should help you in the setting up of an account and the various requirements and seeing if you qualify etc etc..

I just wanted to put the point accross about Internet/Online banking with the major UK banks. I've used pretty much all of them in a testing environment for when I worked at Intuit. I agree, some 'experiences'  of UK banks online systems left alot to be desired, and some of the smaller banks and institutions really provided a remarkably good experience.

Since the early days and the early adopters of online banking (me being one!) I use HSBC and in terms of feedback from users when I was at Intuit and developing/supporting/testing Quicken, HSBC had the least amount of problems. Natwest had the most, by a longshot! Barclays, well they're just crap for not evening offering downloads for Quicken or MS Money (i need to research if they've changed recently though - I can download CSV statements for my Barclaycard credit card account) Lloyds TSB is quite a clunky interface and a little difficult to navigate but comprehensive nonetheless. Other's I have used but can't quite 'define' overall experiences as I did them quite a while ago.

I'll be doing a more comprehensive re-test soon, including updating which banks are doing what and how well (hope barclays have brought themselves into the 21st century!)
and will let all here on UKY know.

Hope this helps!

Cheers! Dennis! West London & Slough UK!

i use natwest online banking probably 3-5 times week.  never had a problem with them. 

HSBC has it goods and its bads, but almost any bank should do.  Personally I would go with someone with a branch near where you are living.

The fact that you have some credit history will make it a lot easier, but I know, just being fairly well informed worked for me when setting up my bank account.  Of course it was only a basic account.

I have both Natwest , HSBC I will recommend the HSBC .

Natwest
to slow to open an online account , when you lock your account , you will need almost two weeks to reset it. 
6 months to get a credit card from them  because I need 6 months residency in UK, another 4 weeks the credit card.

HSBC is an international company with presence in USA and many countries. 
I get a credit card /debit/online account in two weeks.
simple fast and easy ..

I'm going to check out Lloyd's when I arrive. They said we don't need a home address or lease to get an account -- the B&B address or a work address will do (along with ID, etc). We'll see if that holds true when I arrive, but that's the easiest banking solution I've found.

I was not able to open an account without Proof of address.  I believe that you need to have  it. See Lloyds TSB bank  requirments..

What proof of identity can I use?

Proof of address:

Non-Lloyds TSB bank, credit card or building society statement (we do not accept statements printed off the internet)

Current UK driving licence (only if it is not been used as your proof of identification)

Utility bill dated within the last 3 months

Local authority tax bill/council tax bill for current year

Benefits or pensions notification letter confirming the right to benefit (only if it has not been used as your proof of identification)

Below is an online list of identity documents required to open a bank account

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=22395.0

Correct - you need the proof of address (in addition to proof of identity) to show that you live here.  These are standard requirements both in the UK and US now, particularly due to anti-money laundering legislation -- although the banks may have other reasons as well for needing this.

If you do most of your banking online you could try an online only account. DH uses Cahoot and I use Smile and we've been happy with them. I used to use Halifax but got a bigger overdraft and more perks switching to Smile. I can definitely recommend them....

I had already contacted Smile, and they said something like you had to live in the country 6 months before you could get an account. I hate hearing that the bank statements can't be printed from online, as I turned all my accounts to paperless in the last few months so that I could easily access statements when I'm over there! They'll just have to take it or contact my bank for info. I don't really know what the problem will be if we wire in the money. They'll have the money. And I have older statements direct from the bank that are more than 3 months old to prove these aren't some money-laundering account.

If you have a paperless account and every now and then need an official statement for proof of identity or income or something you can print them online and then take them in to the actual bank to have them verified - it's an extra step but at least it's an option. I had to pay Smile for a few statements for my ILR application which was a drag, but it's not something I envision having to do very often....

If you have a paperless account and every now and then need an official statement for proof of identity or income or something you can print them online and then take them in to the actual bank to have them verified - it's an extra step but at least it's an option. I had to pay Smile for a few statements for my ILR application which was a drag, but it's not something I envision having to do very often....

That's good to know, though one of my banks is in Alabama and I'm Virginia, so I won't go in to verify statements from that one. And my husband's account is online, so I'll have to check and see how he gets his statements. If his are paper, we shouldn't have to worry since it's a joint account. Though I actually currently have a lot more in the bank than he does, but he's about to sell his car. But then of course the statements we'll have with us won't reflect the big deposit from his car. Ugh, England is a pain in the ass.

Some banks will give you an offshore account if you haven't been in the country for six months. I got mine at Barclays, I went into a branch and got a bit of a run around, made an appointment (had to wait a month for it since I needed one on a Saturday) and the person gave me an off shore/international account (I had to show passport, paid utility bill and my offer/contract from work). I also got a credit card immediately. Their international banking customer service line is top notch if I have to call for something...although I mostly do all of my banking online (at work that is because I feel my computer there is safer than the one at home).

Thanks for all the info. I found out that for 50 quid I can open a HSBC account scheme with my work visa and have it all setup before I even arrive.. which is promising as well