Opening a bank account

I am trying to open a checking account and as a student LLoyds needs a ltter from the university with my English address and passport...they said this is becz of september 11th..and how terrorists were opening fake bank accounts and using the money for terrorism...the univeristy is backed up with requests for letters...but at least it is not too hard to have an account as a student..considering that i dont have any credit over here

Have you tried Halifax?  

I was lucky, and able to open an account with HSBC while still here on a tourist visa - got my student visa after that - maybe try them, if you haven't already?

Good luck!
~Christa

I just got a letter from the university that states i am a full time student here so im going to try lloyds tsb and see what they will say....its what they needed