Banking Options: Barclays or HSBC?

Just arrived yesterday, which basic bank account do you all recommend?  I was either going with the HSBC passport account or Barclay's basic account.  I need a credit card too, but since I don't have an address (living with the family I sit for until I find my own pad) or a job, i understand that I don't have a credit rating. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Not sure re. the bank account question, but if you happen to have a Citibank credit card, you can get a new one for the UK...

::remembers to go and write that on the to-do list::

Thanks - do you know if that credit card helps your UK credit score?  I feel like it is just an extension of the US one.  No?

Do you still have a US bank account? If you happen to have one with Bank of America, you can withdraw from Barclays without charges, or so I'm told. If you have a US Citibank account that you want to use in the UK, you have to open an account in the UK.

I don't know anything about the accounts, but I know it ain't easy to get one at Barclays.  I tried all 3 branches in Glasgow yesterday.  All I can say is oof!

My contract with university accommodation and an official letter from my uni was not enough to prove my address to them.  They then suggested I get a TV license for a TV I don't have, a provisional driving license for a car I don't have nor will I need, utility bills which I won't have because it's included in my rent, or a phone bill for a phone I can't get because I don't have a bank account.

Since you say you don't have an address, I'd start with going to various banks and asking questions about their range of accounts and what you'll need to open one.

ETA: I forgot the most important part.  One branch also asked if I had a UK credit card for proof as she sat there denying me a bank account.  Yes ma'am, because clearly I would have acquired a credit card within the week and a half that I've been here, despite the fact that I'm not sure I technically exist in this country as far as credit goes and also despite my inability to prove to any of you people that I'm worthy of a bank account.

You can get a provisional license even if you never intend to use it.  It's very good as a form of ID and proof of address.  I'd recommend it.

True.  I just wasn't willing to spend the money or the time when I knew I shouldn't have to get one just to get a bank account.

cg, you're a student and you couldn't get a bank account? That's really odd, in St. Andrews the RBS at the very least is quite well set-up for giving accounts to international students, I'm surprised Glasgow doesn't have something similar.

cg, you're a student and you couldn't get a bank account? That's really odd, in St. Andrews the RBS at the very least is quite well set-up for giving accounts to international students, I'm surprised Glasgow doesn't have something similar.

I actually went to RBS today and found it was much easier.  I wish I'd gone there from the start!  I think Barclays just has a stricter policy when it comes to addresses, at least as far as the Glasgow branches are concerned.

I think Barclays just has a stricter policy when it comes to addresses, at least as far as the Glasgow branches are concerned.

Were you applying for a Barclay's student account or for a regular current account? The bank should have special provisions for student accounts that allow them to be opened without needing the same proof of address as for a regular account.

The Barclays student accounts webpage states (under required identification):

Identification documents required

Student and graduate accounts
To open an account we need confirmation of who you are and where you live, according to government regulations. We need original documents (not photocopies) as detailed below.

To confirm who you are, we need one of the following:

    * Full passport.
    * European Union member state identity card.
    * UK photocard driving licence or UK full paper driving licence.
    * UK Armed Forces ID card.
    * Student ID card (where none of the above are available).

To confirm where you live, we need one of the following:

    * Student accounts - UCAS letter with name and address. If you don't have a copy of one of your UCAS letters, bring another form of address verification below and proof that you're a student (eg student ID card).
    * UK photocard driving licence or UK full paper driving licence with current address (if not used as identification).
    * Gas bill (less than three months old).
    * Water bill (less than three months old).
    * Telephone bill for a fixed line, not a mobile, (less than three months old).
    * Local authority/council tax bill (current financial year).
    * Bank statement (less than three months old) from another bank (Internet statements are not acceptable).
    * UK credit card statement - no older than three months (Internet statements are not acceptable).

Graduates must also show confirmation of completed studies, eg degree certificate and last three months' bank statements.

However, for a current account, the address requirements are:

To confirm where you live, we need one of the following:

    * UK driving licence with current address: Paper version - full licence only. Photocard version - full and provisional. (Cannot be used if it has already been used for ID).
    * European Union member state identity card (if not used as ID).
    * UK bank statement - no older than three months (Internet statements are not acceptable).
    * UK credit card statement - no older than three months (Internet statements are not acceptable).
    * UK mortgage statement - no older than 12 months (Internet statements are not acceptable).
    * Foreign bank statement.
    * Gas, water, electric, cable TV or landline phone bill (less than three months old). Mobile phone bills are not acceptable.
    * Local authority council tax bill (current financial year).
    * Council rent book (must be current).
    * Household or motor insurance certificate (no older than 12 months).
 

I was applying for a student account.  A limited one at that, with none of the usual overdraft options that home students get.

I'm getting a Key Account at RBS which is essentially the same thing.