Retain bank account when leaving

We've been here just about 10 years and have citizenship, but are moving back to the States. Hoping to return at some point so want to maintain our bank account (HSBC) and a credit card (CapitalOne). I got a PAYG to maintain a UK number.

Any suggestions how to maintain some kind of address for them?

Reckon I can leave my current address on the accounts? Just call before the cards expire, say I'm travelling abroad, and ask them to post it to the States?

It would depend on your bank. My UK bank is RBS and they insist on a UK mailing address.

My assumption is that unless you can use a mail forwarding service there, I think that putting everything as "deliver electronically" and then  as you suggest, calling them and having them mail your cards to you overseas because you are "temporarily" out of the country might be your only option.

My husband has been here 15 years and has maintained his HSBC account the whole time.  Changed our address to wherever we lived.  It didn't effect the account. If we need to call them, we just add an international plan to our Verizon temporarily. IT's never been a problem. We keep a few grand in there at all times.

That's good info, Wren. I wonder if it's because HSBC also has a presence in the USA?

We moved to the USA in 1987 and kept our HSBC account. Simply gave them our US address, and each time we moved, about 9 times over 29 years, we informed them of our new address. Certainly made it easy when we returned in 2016, not that was ever in the plans, it was just very useful to keep a UK bank account.

That's good info, Wren. I wonder if it's because HSBC also has a presence in the USA?

I don’t think so.  There aren’t many branches and we have never attempted to bank in person here. It sure is convenient to have it available now as we’re moving to the UK next year.