Mr.pastgit

Hey Guys,

Any advice on which UK high street bank provides best free services. I am intending to send part of my salary each month and possibly pick up a mortgage in UK after six months or so after moving to Japan.

Personal experience is appreciated.

Cheers

Pulaski

If you are opening an account it will be quite easy while you are in the UK. If you try to do it after you leave, it may be next to impossible.

Ditto a mortgage - anecdotally it seems to be very difficult to get a mortgage in the UK while not living in the UK, and if it is possible the deposit required is substantial (I have heard of a bank asking for 50%), and the interest rates are substantially higher too.

scot47

https://www.alrayanbank.co.uk/current-account/

Easier if you are in UK, but not impossible if you are far away

SushiFan

Should this "UK high street bank" also have a physical presence in Japan? Or is that not relevant to you?

Mr.pastgit

Probably not needed, as long as they provide services, their physical presence not needed.

scot47

My experience was that the above named Rayan bank was easiest

Do not be put off by the fact that the trading name used to be "The Islamic Bank of Britain"