Patzy

Will definitely use them - doesn't seem to be that difficult at all if the info here is anything to go by

http://www.lloydstsb.com/current_acc..._to_the_uk.asp

Fleaflyfloflum

No its not difficult at all. We were in and out in 10 minutes both with a bank account!


To boost your credit rating in the UK for the future, I also suggest getting a Next catalogue account which they gave me after only being back here 2mths! I just bought a few items which i could easily have paid off straight away but made sure i did it in 3 motnhly payments to accrue a credit account. This also allowed me an increased credit limit and now i just hang onto the account for when i get a permanent home.
Also try getting a 3 mobile broadband dongle account. I needed a new laptop as mine was stolen 2mths before i left Australia. I paid £200 upfront towards the laptop tied in with the dongle account. After a couple of months they were begging me to take out a phone contract which does great things for your credit rating.

Patzy

Thanks for this - also, which I think has been mentioned before, Lloyds TSB has good international banking options particularly if you are living in US - you can open account in US dollars, euros or sterling.

Cherylbe

I just looked into this and can't open one without a deposit of $50,000
I just want to open a account to move money into for when I leave here ( Jan)
How did you do it..

bromleygirl

When I moved back 5 years ago I had an awful time getting a bank account open. I had of course shut everything down being that I had been away for a number of years and thinking that I would not return.

Although I had a contract to start my new job and a rental agreement for a property I was about to move into I was told because I had no credit rating, no utility bill and was no longer on the electoral role that they could not open an account for me anywhere. I spent probably the best part of 2 weeks going from one bank to another with 2 young children in tow being told the same story. Then HSBC said they would, when I turned up they then told me they could only open one up if I was a foreigner coming to the UK to work. Thank god I had my other passport with me and used that instead otherwise I don't know what I would have done.

SarahInTX

When I came back last year, I tried HSBC first and was told they couldn't help me, so I went to Lloyds and had absolutely no problem -- for account w/debit card and 500 pounds overdraft. I recently got a credit card and a loan through them -- though I got the loan from them because everywhere else I looked at online wanted UK address for 3 years.

pintofbitter

Lloyds TSB have been amazing. Walked into a branch and came away with a current account and savings account in less than half an hour. Why other banks can't be like that, I don't know.

Elvira

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=22395.0

Additionally, the British Bankers' Association has published a document for new arrivals wishing to open an account. It can be found at: http://www.bba.org.uk/content/1/c4/3...eaflet2004.pdf

There is an important paragraph at the end of the document that says:

If you have followed the advice in this leaflet and
you are still finding it difficult to open an account
with a bank in the UK, you may find it useful to
talk to the Branch Manager of the bank you have
visited.

This is quite important because, as a few bankers have said, some of these people opening accounts don't always fully understand the documents required for opening accounts. If in doubt, always ask for someone more senior.