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| Opening a bank account |
 Opening a
bank account in London when you first arrive is not easy.
The easiest way to get an account is to try open it before
coming to London. If your bank has branches in UK, then
that shouldn't be a problem.
Otherwise, if starting from zero here, you will need your identity
card (passport, driving license) and proof of residence
(through any utility bill or council tax). If possible, try to get
a recommendation letter from your employer.
If you haven't got all of the above, you will have a lot of trouble
to convince a bank to open an account for you. If you are moving
into a new flat where the bills are all set up, try convince your
flatmates to add your name to one of the accounts (telephone, TV
license, council tax, electricity, cable TV...).
Good luck!
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| Your Comments |
shop around, don't take no for an answer!
By Joe R |
Wed 4 April 2008 11:58PM |
Actually I found it amazingly difficult to get an account, and saying you don't want an overdraft facility didn't seem to help at all, they just view holding onto your money with the greatest suspicion... Shouldn't it be the other way around?
Anyway, most banks have got different people working in them, so just go from bank to bank, branch to branch asking them. Wear a good suit or at least smart clothing, and bring several bits of ID, any proofs of address you have (letter from your flatmate saying you're "subletting"). Another idea is to print your own employment letter (assuming you have a company so you can do your own letterhead). The company can be overseas and say they're transferring you. You should obviously be able to do some basic desktop publishing for that or have brought the letterheads with you.
Lastly, if you get on well with your new flatmates, try just changing something like the BT bill or gas bill into your name. It's just a phone call with the person whose name it was in sitting with you, and no special checks are made. Once it arrives with your name on it, you can go down and use it as proof you're at the address.
I was lucky, a nice lady at the bank actually sent a letter to the address (to check), and allowed me to come back with it (signed by me) as proof that I was at that address. But that was years ago and I made it sound like I was about to start a well-paid job ;-) |
Passport Accounts
By Maxine |
Wed 4 May 2008 09:43AM |
As I didn't have time to ask for bills to be changed to my name, several people recommended I open a Passport Account. You can open an account for 1 year(until you get more proof of residency). All you need is your passport and any other form of id(i.e driver's license) however some banks only need your passport.
It's the quickest, easiest way to open a bank account! |
Cuenta de banco
By José Góngora |
Mon 2 July 2008 08:15PM |
Hola, actualmente vivo en México y tengo una cuenta de banco en BBVA Bancomer, mi pregunta es si abro una cuenta de banco aquí ya sea en HSBC, Scotiabank, o si saben de algún banco que estando allá pueda realizar mis depósitos en ese banco.
Gracias |
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