Best Bank for me

FYI, if anyone else is looking for a bank, Lloyd's worked great for us! We showed up and used my husband's work address for our address and got the account started! If you have time to set one up before you get to the UK, I'd do HSBC and get some money in there before arrival,  but if you're on a short timeframe like we were and need to do it all when you arrive, Lloyd's seems to be easiest. And we had a folder full of bank statements from U.S. banks that they never asked to see!

I have had sterling service and no problems setting up an account at all with Barclays, and that was after NatWest had brushed me off and told me they didn't even want to talk to me, which, as an EU citizen (I'm dual Swedish/American), with proof of my identity and residence in Sweden, they should have been legally able to open an account for me.  Try sending a message to grumpylad here on the site, he's a banking god!

I've had HSBC since we moved to the UK. I never really compared banks. We only went with HSBC because my company banked with them and thus allowed me to open an account easily.  Their website is great. 

My only complaint with HSBC is their stringent fraud protection plan.  For a while, practically every time I leave the UK, which is at least once a month, they call me to verify purchases made overseas.  On one occasion, my debit card was FROZEN on a Friday night and I was stuck without access to money until Monday morning when their Fraud Prevention team office reopened.  Luckily I was staying with my sister in Paris, otherwise I might have starved on the street!  I finally went to the bank in-person and explained my travel-work situation, so they've eased up a bit on the "fraud" claims.  At least they're watching!

I second HSBC... I went with them after so many good recommendations from this site!
I got an account the week I arrived, was very well treated, got what I asked for, and have (knock on wood) excellent service since.

aptsyle, in regards to the fraud protection... I ring them each time I'm going out of town to let them know where I'll be, and have never had a problem.  My bank in CA (a credit union) is also very stringent, but I'd rather have that.  I send them a fax each time I'm going somewhere else.  Again, never a problem.

Personally I like Abbey.
They were only able to open a basic account when I opened my account in late September (with ability to set up direct debit and standing orders and a cash card), but I just upgraded and am getting a Visa Electron card.

Their online banking is a breeze, and they work quite fast with "odd" situations--DH misplaced his card and called them up in the middle of the night last Friday to freeze it. He got his new card today.

I banked with NatWest when I last lived in the UK, and DH still has one account with them. I've gone along with him when he's had to deal with them, and the whole establishment makes me shudder and want to run to Abbey.

On principle I didn't go to HSBC, as I refuse to pay £50 for the privilege of opening a bank account. They're just ripping off desperate foreigners (and I'm sure they rake in huge sums of money on this one).

I never had to pay £50 to open an account.

Didn't pay to open an account either.
I went with Citibank, and managed to open 2 accounts - one with an international banking card and an UK basic savings account.
Best part of this was that I'm not even in UK yet.

I have HSBC and didn't have to pay to open my account.

I never had to pay £50 to open an account.

I have HSBC and didn't have to pay to open my account.

When did you guys open your accounts? I presume before last summer--AFAIK that's when this was introduced.
I was told very adamantly I'd only be eligible for the Passport account (http://hsbc.co.uk/1/2/personal/current-accounts/passport) as I had no recent banking history. And that would've cost me £50 (or £5 per month for a year).

Ah. I opened mine January 2006. I had no idea they were doing that now.

I opened a Savings account this past September at NatWest an they didnt make me put any money in my account to open it.

When did you guys open your accounts? I presume before last summer--AFAIK that's when this was introduced.
I was told very adamantly I'd only be eligible for the Passport account (http://hsbc.co.uk/1/2/personal/current-accounts/passport) as I had no recent banking history. And that would've cost me £50 (or £5 per month for a year).

I see.  Sorry, I wasn't aware they'd implemented this.
I opened mine the week I arrived, March 2004.

I also like Lloyds TSB! -- In my opinion, they have a good setup and treat me the most like my Credit Union at home ie.. customer service and saying 'Yes' to strange requests. My husband has Natwest and has had mucho problems with the online banking system. 

there's hugh variation in the banks here... for reviews you can check out this great website...

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/

there's hugh variation in the banks here...

Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreally.  WHERE?!?!


  Sorry.  Couldn't resist.