Bank Accounts

Before you arrive in the UK, contact your current bank and ask if they have a reciprocal banking arrangement with the UK.  This is, without doubt, the easiest way of opening a bank account in the UK.

If you have already arrived, and you still need to open a bank account, go to any High Street bank with:

• two forms of ID (e.g. a passport and driver’s licence);
• proof of employment;
• proof of your address (such as a tenancy agreement or utility bill); and.
• a letter from your bank at home, stating you have a good credit history.

NOTE:  If you don’t have a utility bill or tenancy agreement with your name on, take along a letter from your employer as an alternative.

The Big Four

The 4 major banks in the UK are: Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds-TSB and Natwest.

ATM machines (‘cash-points’)

These days, ATM machines are pretty much the same everywhere in the world - so you shouldn’t encounter any problems when using your bank cards from home.

Credit Cards

If you’ve only just arrived in the UK, it is extremely unlikely a bank will offer you a credit card.  However, once you have built up a good credit rating, you may find your doormat covered in letters offering you credit cards and loans.  But a word of advice, before you purchase anything on credit, remember you have to pay the money back and if you go home owing British pounds you could find yourself working for the next century just to clear your debts.

Bank Charges

UK banks do not charge you for withdrawing money from your bank account, so long as you use an ATM belonging to your bank or an affiliate bank – look out for your bank’s logo on the ATM machine.