marvinc

We need to leave money in an account in the UK to pay for various endowments etc, which banks are good for this and which aren't

We bank with Halifax and noticed online they state the services on their internet site are for UK customers only.

I'll need to be able to shuffle stuff around from time to time, so will need internet access for whichever bank we leave money in and it'll need to be an account that will pay direct debits, s/o

Thanks

Centurion

Try Intelligent Finance, the internet only bank owned by the halifax. Since they have no branches at all you are never required to go in for any reason whatsoever and can do everything by phone and internet.

I arranged our funds transfers simply by phone from here in Australia for example, whereas others had to give written authority to a branch personally etc.

I should imagine any of the internet only banks would be the same.

ray2gill

We use HSBC online banking. We can pay bills, arrange standing orders transfer money from one account to another and pay any third party provided we have their banking details. We have used them for years. Here in Dubai local online banking is a joke - but if you set it all up in the UK before you leave it's fine. They have our overseas address and have no problems with that.

Regards,

Gillian.

sprug

We bank with intelligent finance. When I called them and asked about accessing my account fromoz they were really helpful. They gave me a direct dialnumber to callfromoz BUT they told me that internet access to my account is barred as this is only for uk residents.
Hope this helps

itsjulie

We have online accounts with the Abbey and Lloydstsb. I haven't asked them yet if we can still access from Oz but could we put a change of Uk address, parents for example, then you could still access? Or is this illegal?

DrWho

We're with LloydsTSB... Changed our address to over here with no problems... Still send bank cards, etc...

asher

we are with smile as its a fully internet account we have had no problems OH is in Oz and he transfers money instantly pays bills etc with no problems

datamile

Abbey, set address to Mother in law. Online works fine.

ray2gill

Will you have problems claiming any interest gross as you are using a UK only account with a UK address? How do you prove you are out of the country and entitled to the full amount without any tax deductions? May be you put C/o but not sure if that is acceptable.

GinaUK

To get bank interest paid gross, you download form R85 from the Inland Revenue web site (www.hmrc.gov.uk then put R85 in the search box).

You fill in the form and send it to your bank/building society. No "proof" or anything else needed for the bank.

Gina

gavinrobertson

I've got accounts with both Royal Bank of Scotland (who know I'm in Australia) and first direct (who don't) which both have online access from Australia.

ashwood

This is quite scary!

Barclays are saying on their online banking website that it is OK to access accounts from abroad. Does anyone know about American Express, Citibank or Nationwide?! I had never even considered this until reading this thread.

I_Will_Freckle

I spoke to First Direct about this yesterday. They said that we could keep all our accounts open and just to let them know our new address when we get one. We have a savings account with them so there will be no monthly fees for our current accounts. Also they told me that they charge a £21 fee for transferring money to Oz but that reduces to £10 if it's going to HSBC.

DerekM

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I have a/c's with HSBC, Nationwide and others etc and they all know I live in Oz and my address. All my credit cards, bankers cards are posted here and all my access is online. Never had any problems at all moving money about from a/c to a/c or paying bills, standing orders etc. Quite straightforward. Biggest problem is when I have to telephone them which isn't very often if I can help it and then we go through all the security rigmarole.

RRZ

We have an account with Lloyds TSB and have no problem operating internet banking as far as paying local bills etc., However, we have two other problems:

1) Occasionally they demand by letter (to Australia) that we visit a local branch in order to change our address .. even after it has been explained to them (again) that we live in Australia.

2) Unlike Australian internet accounts you just can't transfer any funds overseas - you need to send a letter (not fax, email etc.,) to your branch manager and it is up to their discretion as to whether they will transfer. It's like the Dark Ages :curse:.