Lloyd's TSB Account Opening Experience

Further to what was mentioned on this thread http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=53720.0 I thought I'd start a new thread about my experience because Lloyd's seems to have a new policy that allows foreigners to open an account right away. 

Caveat: I have been here for six months and I have a job offer.  People right off the plane or without an income may have a different experience. 

I was able to open a bog standard current account with a debit card and checkbook really easily.  I had to show one piece of ID, which ended up being my provisional driving license since my passport is in my maiden name.  They also photocopied my visa.  I didn't need to produce any proof of address or even proof of employment.  I also had the option of opening a Silver account, which costs about £8 a month and includes AA breakdown cover, travel insurance, and an overseas money transfer card, among other things. 

All in all, it was surprisingly easy.  I have put off opening a bank account because I had heard such horror stories and since I had no income it wasn't a big deal.  Had I known it was this easy, I would have done it earlier.  But when I first arrived in the UK in December, I filled in an online form for Lloyd's and was told that I would need to produce proof of address in the form of a utility bill, etc.  So either there's a new policy in place or 6 months residence makes a big difference.  Either way, it's worth a try. 

I walked right into a Lloyd's checking account, too. Almost the first thing I did when I got here.

It was very easy, but several things worked in my favor: this is the sort of small, friendly town where you're on a first-name basis with all the people in the bank, my husband (then fiance) was a longstanding customer with a healthy balance, and I had a few thousand to start off with.

OT, but: Congrats on the job offer, Historyenne!

Can you explain what this overseas money transfer card is?

OT, but: Congrats on the job offer, Historyenne!

Thanks!

Can you explain what this overseas money transfer card is?

It's for sending money to people in other countries.  The bank gives you a card, and you put money onto it, send the card and the PIN to someone overseas, and they can use it like a debit card. You load money onto it using your account here, and they can use that money there. 

This is encouraging, I will still open an HSBC passport before I leave because I'll need to be 100% sure that I'll have a bank account ready the day I land, but my next stop will be a Lloyd's to see if I can get a full featured account such as this up and running quickly.

I plan to buy a car within days of arriving so being able to write a check, or get a cashiers check made up would be a big plus, and the HSBC passport doesn't allow for that.

It's for sending money to people in other countries.  The bank gives you a card, and you put money onto it, send the card and the PIN to someone overseas, and they can use it like a debit card. You load money onto it using your account here, and they can use that money there. 

I wish there was one that worked the other way so I could send money to MYSELF!  I still get paid in $$$ from my U.S. employer and getting money from my U.S. account involves fees and other inconvenient things.

Thanks for this post.  I'll have to open my own account soon and hearing from someone who's been there is always nice.

My husband's experience with opening an account with Lloyds was much the same three years ago before we had even moved over.

They were very good to deal with.

I was asked for proof of address by Lloyds, and I got the impression I would have been turned down if I hadn't been able to produce it plus a letter from my boss showing I had employment. I was also denied anything but a basic "Cash Account."

I still can't write checks.

This was in February of this year.

I'm a born and raised British national, and had been repatriated back in this country for seven months at that time. At six months I had been outright refused by Abbey and by Nat West.

So I'm sorry to contradict, but they gave me a very tough time and they did indeed want proof of address from me, and my passport. And I'm FROM this country in the first place.

I'm pretty wowed by the fact that they are now handing out bank accounts more easily to others than to those born here. I had to jump through hoops before I was able to become a holder of a bank account in my own country...

Well, I think I showed my passport and a letter addressed to me here.

Well, I think I showed my passport and a letter addressed to me here.

I showed Natwest the same, my passport and several letters addressed to me at the place I was staying.

They refused me and even showed me the policies printed out in a book, to illustrate exactly why what I had was not good enough for them. The letter had to be something official like a bill. I was and still am shocked and angry. I have my Lloyds account now but as mentioned, it isn't even a full one.

I just want to bring balance by saying that all these easy experiences may not be universal -- I'm a Brit, so one would think it would be easiest of all for me, and yet three banks gave me a hard time until I had an address and a job.

I showed Natwest the same, my passport and several letters addressed to me at the place I was staying.

They refused me and even showed me the policies printed out in a book, to illustrate exactly why what I had was not good enough for them. The letter had to be something official like a bill. I was and still am shocked and angry. I have my Lloyds account now but as mentioned, it isn't even a full one.

I just want to bring balance by saying that all these easy experiences may not be universal -- I'm a Brit, so one would think it would be easiest of all for me, and yet three banks gave me a hard time until I had an address and a job.

That sucks MB.  Frankly, that sort of thing was what I had been expecting, that's why I didn't open an account right away.  I had heard all kinds of stories on this forum about how difficult it is to get a bank account here.  I posted my experiences because they were different from the majority of ones I'd read about. 

Another thing to mention is that I do live in a very small town, with just one bank.  I don't know if that actually makes a difference, but there's a chance it might. 

I opened mine at HSBC - because I was employed, they weren't too concerned about the temporary address, so they just asked that I have my employer write a letter verifying that I was at that address at the time, and they used that and a copy of my passport/visa and I had the account opened in a day, and was able to do a wire transfer from my other account in the next 2.  Cannot complain at all.  And when I found my current place, I just changed the account contact information through online banking.

They refused me and even showed me the policies printed out in a book, to illustrate exactly why what I had was not good enough for them. The letter had to be something official like a bill. I was and still am shocked and angry. I have my Lloyds account now but as mentioned, it isn't even a full one.

I just want to bring balance by saying that all these easy experiences may not be universal -- I'm a Brit, so one would think it would be easiest of all for me, and yet three banks gave me a hard time until I had an address and a job.

It sucks, but post-9/11 laws make one's nationality essentially irrelevant. They legally need proof of residence, which merely being a British citizen ovbiously doesn't give.

Barclays turned me down and that's where DF banks so I'm going to try LTSB when I get home from my visit to America.

Thanks 

historyenne:  Does your provisional license have your address on it?  I wonder if maybe they counted that as proof of address?

Thanks for the inspiration!  I'm going to the UK on a rental scouting trip this weekend.  I've already got a letter from my future employer stating my salary and employment status--maybe I'll try this whole bank opening thing myself!  Can't hurt, right?