UK building societies/banks that I can open from here
Mar 17th 2010, 3:09 am
#1
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Location: Perth
Posts: 1,179
UK building societies/banks that I can open from here
Which UK building societies or banks can I open an account with from here using the internet and/or post?
Mar 17th 2010, 3:21 am
#2
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Mt Martha, Melbourne
Posts: 1,199
Re: UK building societies/banks that I can open from here
Hi
You have to use the off-shore ones, you can't open a mainland account. We still have our UK bank and they still wouldn't let us open a new account they had just launched.
You'll have to fill in an on-line form and then post them certified copies of required documents.
We got so far with opening one for our house sale funds but we didn't have the correct wording on the passport copies for certification so they sent them back, anyway it was a bit of faffing around and in the end we brought most of the money over (good job as it turns out!) we still have a bit over there earning nothing and just waiting for the pound to improve a bit!
None of the off-shore bank accounts pay much interest so you'll need to go for savings but do remember that you also have to have a nominated bank account to use to transfer savings in and out of. So if you have no accounts in the UK you might have to open two - this could be a pain if you needed urgently to get your money over (i.e. the rate spikes) as there were delays in money being available.
We also looked at Halifax and their account seems to be more of a bank account and were happy to pay 3rd parties from it (i.e. HiFx etc).
You need to do a bit of research for your situation and find out which one suits you best.
But in answer - yes can be done! Also check the guarantees...I think most of them in Jersey and the IOM now have the 50k per person guarantees in place. They were a bit slow to do so and I remember reading on here that one chap lost all his savings as the off-shore accounts are covered differently to main land accounts.
KK
You have to use the off-shore ones, you can't open a mainland account. We still have our UK bank and they still wouldn't let us open a new account they had just launched.
You'll have to fill in an on-line form and then post them certified copies of required documents.
We got so far with opening one for our house sale funds but we didn't have the correct wording on the passport copies for certification so they sent them back, anyway it was a bit of faffing around and in the end we brought most of the money over (good job as it turns out!) we still have a bit over there earning nothing and just waiting for the pound to improve a bit!
None of the off-shore bank accounts pay much interest so you'll need to go for savings but do remember that you also have to have a nominated bank account to use to transfer savings in and out of. So if you have no accounts in the UK you might have to open two - this could be a pain if you needed urgently to get your money over (i.e. the rate spikes) as there were delays in money being available.
We also looked at Halifax and their account seems to be more of a bank account and were happy to pay 3rd parties from it (i.e. HiFx etc).
You need to do a bit of research for your situation and find out which one suits you best.
But in answer - yes can be done! Also check the guarantees...I think most of them in Jersey and the IOM now have the 50k per person guarantees in place. They were a bit slow to do so and I remember reading on here that one chap lost all his savings as the off-shore accounts are covered differently to main land accounts.
KK
Mar 17th 2010, 4:11 am
#3
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Location: Perth
Posts: 1,179
Re: UK building societies/banks that I can open from here
Thanks. I have Nationwide and HSBC but am looking to leave Nationwide. I shall look into HSBC's savings and bond accounts and see if I can open one from here.
Mar 17th 2010, 7:35 am
#4
Bright in Orange
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Orange, NSW
Posts: 515
Re: UK building societies/banks that I can open from here
You should be able to open one with HSBC as they allow you to do it the other way round, and there website talks about helping people with overseas banking needs, although you may have to pay for it
