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.
I believe, if I'm not mistaken, that the "above poster" you are referring to is me.
My "situation" is that I'm a born and raised UK citizen, who emigrated to the US in 1989, held a green card there but never naturalized or held dual status, returned to the UK in 2008, still a British citizen with a UK passport --- and got refused by three different banks because I had no proof of address.
I was living at the home of a boyfriend with whom I had already broken up since arrival (long, upsetting story) and so it was not to be my permanent home as originally planned.
So I had no households bills in my name and was not about to for another eleven months as it turned out.
I was specifically, categorically and with no uncertainty told that I needed to show the bank proof of ID (which I did: my passport) and proof of address.
When I reasoned with them that I am living with friends until my circumstances make it possible for me to provide my own bills, they would not waver.
They even got out a book and physically SHOWED ME "chapter and verse" where it says IN WRITING that these things are REQUIRED before an account will be set up.
They showed me the "rules"
written in a book. I got the impression that meant for anyone, not just me. (But I guess it's not so....)
I have long and steady credit history and solid rental history in the US.
NO credit history in the UK.
NO rental history in the UK, until three months ago when I finally secured my own flat (and now do indeed have household bills in my own name.
The only and first time a bank (Lloyds TSB) finally permitted me to open an account was when I landed a position of employment as a nanny housekeeper living-in with a family.
This gave me still no household bills, but the bank asked me to obtain a letter from my employers stating that I do indeed live with them at such-and-such address. But even THEY, the family I worked for, had to provide, according to my branch of Lloyds, one of their own household bills to prove THEY lived there.
I understand that the letter from my employers was not to confirm employment but simply to confirm my living abode, which, happened to be under their roof given the nature of the job. Only then was I given the most basic of current accounts. Even though I was already earning a very healthy salary which ought to have assured I would be given something more.
Yes, all this really happened.
This bank was a north London branch of Lloyds.
I was earlier refused (on grounds of no proof of address) by a Lloyds, an Abbey, and a Nat West in Loughton, Essex where I previously had been staying temporarily. All because they asked for a bill to show proof of address, and it was not something I could provide.
Even then, the north London branch of Lloyds would allow me nothing more than a "cash account" with no overdraft facility, no check writing option, just a debit card.
Again, I'm actually a born native citizen of the UK, returned from twenty years living in the US but still a UK citizen, and yet it seems I was given a harder time opening a bank account than many of you Americans are having.
frankbrown, I'm very, very happy for you that yours was so easy and you "didn't have to show anything for it." And even that you were even given a hardsell to upgrade. How wonderful.
I, however, for no clear reason, was put through the ringer, and that's a true story.
I'm educated, personable, I dress nicely, am attractive, and present very well -- I say this just incase it might be thought I "didn't look trustworthy," gave a bad impression, or created doubt or fear just walking into these banks.
As stated, there are no dark marks on my credit. I was a clean and "newborn" entity in banking in this country, aside from a little used Nat West account in my teens that I closed properly before emigrating to the US, an account in which I was permitted checkcheque writing.
Now at age 47, having been financially responsible and even running my own business in the US for years, I was treated in my own country as though I could not be trusted even with the most basic account.
I'm glad some of you have had an easy peasy time of it. I didn't. Go figure.
