sign

Going back to the UK soon, a couple of weeks in maybe Brighton, have a place, self catering, roomed apartment with a UK postral address to the place. I will be a UK resident for two weeks, so in essence i can open as many savings accounts as i want? Onshore.Not the case now as i write as i am a Ozzy resident with no UK apostal address before i fly. Anyone done this? I am with the Natiuonwide, my mate he went back, changed his address to his holiday abode online before flying, opened several accounts and so recieving mail associated to his newly opened accounts to his holiday abode prior to leaving the UK again after his hols? Any bad experiences or issues i may face? Just thought i would ask. Thnaks

spouse of scouse

A 'friend' did something similar, he has UK and Oz citizenship. He went into a bank last time he was in the UK, on the off chance that he could open an account, pending a future move back to the UK.

He was upfront about everything, the staff member consulted with her supervisor, and then told him that she 'didn't hear' that he wasn't ordinarily resident in the UK, and that if he had a UK address to sent any correspondence to, all he needed to open the account was his passport.

The only hiccup he's had with this account is when he tried to access it online, stuffed it up, and requested online assistance. He got an immediate email back, saying that they were calling the UK phone number he'd provided on opening the account, to verify his identity.

The phone number and address he'd provided were his brothers' (which the bank knew when he opened the account) - but his mad dash to the phone to ring his brother was too late - the bank had already rung and the brother, not expecting the call, let the cat out of the bag.

So the account is currently suspended, and he needs to wait until he's back in the UK to sort it out.

If you need any more info you can email me through BE, I don't 'do' private messages. Hope the info helps.

verystormy

Not sure of the point?

Amazulu

Anyone can open a bank account in the UK - resident or non-resident

carolinephillips

My daughter has an account with the Nationwide, that MIL puts birthday money into. Now she has reached 18 it has been shifted into a non- interest bearing account until she can come in personally and open an adult account. They know she is a student in Australia, but still want her there in person- so 5k in pounds is going to be sat there for over a year doing nothing.

spouse of scouse

I think the OP's point is - can he open a bank account in the UK without having a permanent UK address.

jad n rich

The UK made it very hard for non residents opening a bank account. Security after the terrorism attacks was the reason given by the banks.

This is going back about 4 years, you not only needed a UK address, but Council tax, utilities, driving licence, employer letter etc etc to open acct.

Giving a relatives address wasnt going to cut it obviously.

I ended up opening with HSBC from Australia, $200 fee and lots of ID but they sorted it all. There were many people on this forum having trouble around that time, and HSBC might have been suggested on BE as well.

I dont know if the UK has eased up on security now, and anyone can just walk in and open a acct but that certainly wasn't the way a few years back.

spouse of scouse

It would have cut it if certain people were more proficient on a computer, or failing that, could run faster

Bermudashorts

I also thought that proof of address would be required to open an account.

Agree with VS, I do wonder what the point of opening "as many savings accounts as I want" is.

Swerv-o

Tax evasion?


S

Bermudashorts

Money laundering?

Swerv-o

Probably nothing so mundane. I have found it quite helpful maintaining a UK bank account - particularly for visiting, paying people locally, and adding money to my Premium Bonds.


S

Soozi

With all due respects to previous posters, why are you trying to do this by the back door? Why don't you go direct to the source itself - i.e. the banks - for accurate information?

Lloyds has a good website, for example, which even sets out what ID you need to open an account:

Lloyds Bank - Banking With Us - Moving To The UK - New To The UK

We have moved around between the UK, OZ and NZ for twenty-odd years, and have bank accounts in all three countries, with no problems. My UK bank is First Direct, which is internet-based, and I have found them to be very good. It is part of HSBC, so you can use their branches if you need to. We have no problems operating our UK accounts from OZ, where we are currently. We find it useful to have UK accounts to send presents, flowers etc to relatives, and of course we use our accounts when we go home to visit.

sign

Thanks for all the replies. In answer to some of the questions. You only need a UK passport to open an account, but you must provide a UK postal address, UK based, and mail will be sent to this address unless otherwise instructed. If you are with the Nationwide, you can change your address online to a UK address, then while in the UK, open accounts in branch or online, so long as you have an account with them, not sure about new accounts, but i have one. Why you may ask, well, i am going back sometime, then may leave for Europe again, then may return to the UK again. I hold my savings in Sterling, why, because i want to. My home is the UK, and i will always call it home. There are a couple of accounts that interest me, and i want to open them, so on my visit to Brighton, hopefully, the trip will enable me to. Nothing complicated, just my choice, but my time in Australia has been great, lovely country, but i like to travel, but retain any not needed funds at home in the UK.

Bermudashorts

Me too. I would not dream of not having a UK bank account. It was just the "as many accounts as possible" that I was commenting upon.