Barclays closing expat bank accounts
 

Hi,

I was wondering if any of you who live in the USA and still have UK bank accounts with Barclays have been contacted by the bank regarding account closures. I use my account frequently to transfer money, plus I have monthly income from property rental in the UK. No one from Barclays has contacted me about this yet, but I am very worried in case my account is suddenly closed. My husband also has a current and savings account with Barclays from when he lived in the UK as a student. We both receive monthly statements and have heard nothing from Barclays directly.

Has anyone else heard from Barclays about this?

Thanks,

Andrea

Re: Barclays closing expat bank accounts
 

Several other posts regarding UK banks closing accounts. Not sure whether Barclays is among the list .
Most people opened Wise accounts to receive monies in the UK and to carry out transfers to the US.

Re: Barclays closing expat bank accounts
 

Thank you.

Re: Barclays closing expat bank accounts
 

I think this is a good move to make. Get a Wise GBP account which can be opened from the USA and it will give you a UK sort code and account number to use.

Re: Barclays closing expat bank accounts
 

I've had my Barclays account while being abroad for 22 years now. I use it infrequently and always manage to use it a bit when visiting the UK. I probably transfer money to it 3-5 times a year. Barclays actually contacted me about 5 years ago and had me fill in a form with my SSN etc.
I think Barclays is one of the banks geared up for dealing with US IRS things, so maybe all they care about is account dormancy.

Re: Barclays closing expat bank accounts
 

Thanks, Neill. Barclays also has my SSN - I had to complete forms for them a number of years ago.

So they haven't contacted you about closing your account?

Re: Barclays closing expat bank accounts
 

I have accounts with Barclays that have been kept active with my class 2 National Insurance payments for years.

Why are you so concerned about this? I haven't seen anything suggesting Barclays might close accounts of people in the US.

Re: Barclays closing expat bank accounts
 

It's coming to most expats. Some people might get away with it but a lot will see their accounts close. My wife just got a message saying so, although not US. Article on account closures

Re: Barclays closing expat bank accounts
 

Good summary of the situation in that article. Thanks.

Re: Barclays closing expat bank accounts
 

My account was closed this week, but I have an international account which will continue, expensive though.

Re: Barclays closing expat bank accounts
 

My UK bank is First Direct, but I haven't yet told them I've moved to the US. My UK mailing address is still valid, and any post from the bank (very rare) is forwarded to family address. If the bank asked me if I've moved abroad then I wouldn't lie, but I haven't got round to proactively telling them yet.

Re: Barclays closing expat bank accounts
 

https://www.barclays.co.uk/important...utside-the-uk/

From the horses mouth

Re: Barclays closing expat bank accounts
 

that seems to be pretty definitive

Re: Barclays closing expat bank accounts
 

No. I actually went in and closed some old savings accounts in person last year, and they said nothing to me. In my head, I was doing them a favour as I am trying to keep just the one account active instead of having multiple accounts with small money making tiny interest, that's not even worth reporting to the IRS.

Re: Barclays closing expat bank accounts
 

I have a First Direct account, and they’ve been absolutely fine about me living overseas in first Switzerland (2008-2011), and now the US. They’ve had my address all along. Years back I remember they sent me some forms to complete to comply with FATCA, since I was now a US tax person, but otherwise they just occasionally mail me a statement, and new cards when they expire.