Kaptene

All
I was living and working in the UK with a valid resident card, I had an account with Natwest Offshore which was always operating without any issues.

I moved to another country 3 years ago and I am not resident in the UK. I received a letter from NAtWest that they wil close my account in 1 month...Any help?

Can I open an account in the UK while being abroad? I only have business visa for the moment to travel to the UK..

Thank you
REgards,

Kaptene

Common boys...any taughts.?

Stormer999

K my UK bank shut my accounts down when I moved to NZ and not being able to open another I moved to Lloyds TSB Offshore based on the IOM. I have UK £'s paid into my Sterling account and they move to cash my NZ Bank at my request with a good exchange rate. Why did Natwest Offshore dump you or have you taken up in a very volatile country.

Kaptene

Really no idea...I have never had any issue with my account, I just got a letter today stating that the account will be closed in september, and I have some funds on it...creazy

old.sparkles

Have you contacted them to find out why?

I was told that you cannot open UK accounts without UK address, but nothing wrong with keeping already held accounts open.

Stormer999

It's an Offshore account not UK mainland, it will be registered in IOM or Channel Isles or Malta etc.

Stormer999

K are you quite sure you are banking with the "Offshore" division ?

old.sparkles

I got that - and I admit I don't know anything about offshore banking, but would have thought that if it is okay to keep UK mainland account open, an offshore one would be okay too

Kaptene

certainly it's an offshore division, I have tried to call them, the relationship manager has changed, and the new one is out of the office...in a swimming pool while my money is at risk..

Stormer999

I think you will find the Offshore division will be the same problem coverage as the mainland. You should be protected up to something like £80/85k.....unless the new manager used yours to pay for his swimming pool!

Kaptene

I spoke with another manager, and they did it as a policy of considering the bank risk, as it depends on the adress of the holder....so if you put UK adress you are fine, anywhere else, you are either a drogue dealer or a money laundrer....have no idea what it means...

Stormer999

So where the hell are you residing. Offshore accounts are for Offshore peeps.

J.JsOH

I kept a NatWest IoM offshore account for the 18 years I lived in US.
Where are you now living?

BristolUK

You are supposed to be UK resident to open a mainland bank account.

The account is supposed to remain open, if one so wants, if one moves abroad - but some people have had them closed. This might have been because a particular account only operated due to a regular income (perhaps of a minimum amount) and being abroad means that may no longer apply.

It shouldn't really matter where one lives for an offshore account, but some of them do have conditions (income, minimum balances etc) that similarly may no longer be fulfilled by a move to a different country.

Might it be as simple as the account not having been used for a while? Accounts going dormant in such cases is normal even for ordinary accounts.

Kaptene

I was living in North Africa in the past 3 years after I relocated from the UK, I used my account quiet frequently I would say...