Ways to simplify bank account opening

I don't consider what I'm trying to do fraud.  I will be living at my friend's address the day the account is opened.  Don't really see the need to debate this.

Thanks for the suggestion about the employer's letter.  

I read some comments on the MSE forums that confirm what people are saying about Barclay's.  A Barclays employee or two post there.

In terms of contacting banks, I think I'll do this if I can find email addresses for specific branches.  There's probably not much value if I'm just contacting some central number who will read me some statement from their website.

If you'll be living with your friend then that's different.  Your original post made it sound as though you would be living somewhere else and just using his address to obtain a bank account. 

exactly my experience.  the manager at barclay's that i spoke with explained that if you're setting up the account after having just recently moved, all you need to show are documents from your home country.

I just wanted to second this.  We were in the UK last week and stopped by a few different banks to ask about opening an account, and Barclay's seemed to be by far the easiest.  They told us, however, that US driving licenses weren't on their list as acceptable proof of address (it would be strange if this varied branch to branch, but perhaps some are more lenient than others?), but if we had had our US passports and a utility bill with our current US address on it, that that is all we would need.

We also were able to get a flat rented without having a UK bank account or employer letters, or having to pay six months up front - the agency just wanted copies of our US bank statements as assurance that we weren't complete deadbeats. 

Hi all, new to the website, already finding a ton of really useful info!

I'm thinking one can kill two birds with one stone here. I've just read in another thread that you can open a Citibank credit card just for people moving from the US to the UK. Presumably that will not only get you the credit card you'll probably need, but you can put in a UK billing address. (I haven't opened the PDFs but it looks as though you need to fax it somewhere in the UK.)

Then you will have an account with a UK billing address with which to open up a UK bank account. Et voila! It's nice that (at least that branch of) Barclay's lets you open up an account with very few questions asked, but that may not be the best option for everybody for other reasons.

Someone further back on this thread stated that Lloyds TSB will give you an account without proof of address.

This is NOT true, not in my case. A branch of Abbey, Lloyds, and Nat West ALL demanded to see my passport for ID, and a houshold bill for proof of UK address. No ifs ands or buts.

When I argued with each of them that my situation made the address proof impossible and isn't there another way I could be accepted, the staff member I was talking to, who was VERY nice, very understanding and we had a perfectly pleasant conversation,  actually GOT OUT A STAFF RULE BOOK, opened it up at the section dealing with what staff must ask for, and pointed out to me the chapter-and-verse, literally, of what is needed to open an account.

At no point was any of this an argument, so they weren't just being difficult with me, nor I with them. All of this was done with mutual courtesy, and their sympathies but also their regrets.

I said I'd try another bank.

They said all banks have this official book to follow.

Some people seem to have not been held to this rulebook, but I was. The only way I wound up getting something at Lloyds was when I landed a live in job -- still no household bill in my name, but at least a letter from my bosses saying I do indeed live in the place.

You might be lucky and have nobody ask for proof of address. But I got the "book thrown at me" almost literally.

On the other hand, I got a break with registering for a GP. The receptionist simply asked verbally for my address to make sure I was in the catchment area, but never even asked to see a household bill (which at that time I still didn't have). So in that case, somebody was not following the "by the book" rules.

Just to put the warning out there that there are supposedly strict rules but "your mileage may vary" and you may get an account with virtually nothing to show them but air to breathe at them, or they may ask for the whole nine yards from you.

I just wanted to second this.  We were in the UK last week and stopped by a few different banks to ask about opening an account, and Barclay's seemed to be by far the easiest.  They told us, however, that US driving licenses weren't on their list as acceptable proof of address (it would be strange if this varied branch to branch

But it does vary branch-to-branch. Or they just inconsistently apply general rules. Over three years ago, I also had a Barclays bank manager tell me they'd accept US DL as proof of address for a certain amount of time.

So if you get turned down in one branch of a bank, try another branch or another person.

But it does vary branch-to-branch. Or they just inconsistently apply general rules. Over three years ago, I also had a Barclays bank manager tell me they'd accept US DL as proof of address for a certain amount of time.

So if you get turned down in one branch of a bank, try another branch or another person.

I tend to think sheer inconsistency in applying the general rules has to be at the bottom of most of these widely varying experiences.

Just as in my example of my GP receptionist who glanced at my passport, never asked for a household bill to confirm my written and spoken address, and waved me on into acceptance at that doctor's office with virtually no proof of anything but my passport and my NHS number I'd already had looked up, what happens can vary enormously. My new GP I'm looking into, because I've now moved to a new area, has asked me to bring my water rates bill. No other household bill will be accepted by this one.

This is off topic and doctor stuff, but I believe its the same principal as the banks. You never know what you're going to get, be asked for, or not be asked for. It's not consistent even though there are supposed rules, supposedly applied universally --- uhm, they're not, it seems to me.

Someone further back on this thread stated that Lloyds TSB will give you an account without proof of address.

This is NOT true, not in my case. A branch of Abbey, Lloyds, and Nat West ALL demanded to see my passport for ID, and a houshold bill for proof of UK address. No ifs ands or buts.

I have to agree with the rest of you about inconsistency. I called Lloyds before heading into one of their branches so I could be sure to bring the proper paperwork. I was told I'd need either proof of address or to bring my husband, who also has a Lloyds's account, so he could "vouch" for me. It turns out I needed neither, and I opened up an account quickly and easily with just my passport.

The woman who opened my account said (and I quote), "You only need a passport to open an account nowadays." After reading the various troubles some of you have been through trying to open an account, I highly doubt this is the case.

I have to agree with the rest of you about inconsistency. I called Lloyds before heading into one of their branches so I could be sure to bring the proper paperwork. I was told I'd need either proof of address or to bring my husband, who also has a Lloyds's account, so he could "vouch" for me. It turns out I needed neither, and I opened up an account quickly and easily with just my passport.

The woman who opened my account said (and I quote), "You only need a passport to open an account nowadays." After reading the various troubles some of you have been through trying to open an account, I highly doubt this is the case.

Me too -- no less than three different banks would not accept only my passport as enough to open even the most rock-bottom basic account. They all wanted a household bill in my name. Two of them got out a (literally) "big black book" of regulations/requirements, to "prove" to me that there was no way around this.

Edited to add:
I didn't catch a break until six months down the line when I landed a live-in job and had the family I worked for print out letters confirming my abode is their home.

And even THEN...the bank asked for one of THEIR household bills to prove THEY lived there too!

This was Lloyds TSB in a north London branch, who wanted this.

I was six months without a bank account until this point, as I had no fixed abode for that long. They actually asked if the friends I was staying with could "switch their TV satellite bill to your name temporarily?"  just for proof of address.

HSBC has an account for people moving to the UK.  It is their passport account and it looks like you can open it before even moving to the UK. 

HSBC has an account for people moving to the UK.  It is their passport account and it looks like you can open it before even moving to the UK. 

That account costs £200 or $200 or something to open now, I think.

That account costs £200 or $200 or something to open now, I think.

I am not seeing anything that says that, any idea where I can find that online?  I am looking at bank accounts at the moment.

Me too -- no less than three different banks would not accept only my passport as enough to open even the most rock-bottom basic account. They all wanted a household bill in my name. Two of them got out a (literally) "big black book" of regulations/requirements, to "prove" to me that there was no way around this.

Edited to add:
I didn't catch a break until six months down the line when I landed a live-in job and had the family I worked for print out letters confirming my abode is their home.

And even THEN...the bank asked for one of THEIR household bills to prove THEY lived there too!

This was Lloyds TSB in a north London branch, who wanted this.

I was six months without a bank account until this point, as I had no fixed abode for that long. They actually asked if the friends I was staying with could "switch their TV satellite bill to your name temporarily?"  just for proof of address.

Unfortunately, MB, I think the Lloyd's accounts that can be opened with only a passport are for non-UK citizens only.  That's the impression that I got at least. 

Got my cheque book today and it reminded me to post an update here.

Ended up not doing the address thing I posted about above.

Went with Lloyds because the vantage feature on their current accounts seemed like it offered the best rates. 

Experience of single employed male on tier 2 visa

Not sure what the above poster's situation is, but I had no problems opening an account at Lloyds.  I walked into the branch and told the guy at the "help desk" that I want to open a current account.  He asked to see some id and I showed him my passport.  He handed me off to a person in the back.  She made a copy of my passport photo page and also my visa. Nothing about proof of address. We then went though the standard questions, like name, address, birthday, employment status & length of employment (started the following day in my case), length living at address (1 day), net monthly income, etc... I ended up opening a silver current account, which has a small monthly fee.  I asked about the free account (do they call it "classic"?), but she kept trying to up sell me.  I'll probably downgrade after the introductory fee period ends.  I also was given a small overdraft which surprised me.  Got my debt card in the mail like 2 days later, followed by my pin and cheque book. 

So in summary, the process was really easy.  Looking back, I'm not sure why I was concerned in the first place.

Read some of the previous posts.  I did not have to show a letter from my employer.  They asked for my US address but only because it was my previous address.  Didn't have to show anything for it