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Luckily EU regulation now requires most banks to open a (basic) bank account. Just need an ID and a proof of address. Some banks even allow opening the bank ac

Luckily EU regulation now requires most banks to open a (basic) bank account. Just need an ID and a proof of address. Some banks even allow opening the bank account over the internet if you are a EU resident. (I know your pain though, opened a UK bank account a year ago, from the EU as well. The most difficult thing for me was actually the proof of address. Metro Bank required 2 plus 2 proofs of ID, a different bank was fine with just one proof of identity and even googled my post code when I forgot a letter :) )

DanBC 10y ago
The UK seems to have pretty stringent "know your customer" regulation. Or maybe the banks are copper-bottoming the regulation.
deleted 10y ago
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scoot 10y ago
> The most difficult thing for me was actually the proof of address. You don't need to prove a UK address, just an address. Depending on the bank, you can open a UK bank account with an overseas address, and change it after you move. If you haven't planned ahead, then anecdotally Barclays will open an account in branch with only a passport.
- oskarpearson 10y ago
  I wrote what I-hope-is-the-most-comprehensive StackExchange answer about this, just in case anyone else is battling: http://expatriates.stackexchange.com/questions/85/how-to-open-up-your-first-uk-bank-account-without-proof-of-address/693#693 http://expatriates.stackexchange.com/questions/85/how-to-ope...
- vidarh 10y ago
  UK banks will also tend to be a lot easier to deal with if your employer is willing to write a letter and/or call their business banking contact to arrange for it. That's how I got my first UK account.
  - dogma1138 10y ago
    Same thing, tho when I brought the letter they were meh about it said that the letter head did not look real enough.... I told them to sod off and to look up the company in the company house. Passport Accounts in the UK are pretty limited with what you can do with them, so I don't advise opening one up front if you planning to immigrate. Just ask your employer for a cash advance and either use cash for the first 2-4 weeks or use your debit/credit card from your previous country of residence. When I relocated initially I've arranged that the employer will cover the hotel upto 6 weeks, provide everything needed for a bank account, provide/cover the accountant needed to sort any tax liabilities when moving funds, cover the deposit for the first rental and the agent fees. If you are hired by a large corp which does relocation all the time they'll have a standard and even a better package, if they company doesn't do relocation on a regular basis make sure all your sides are covered. Otherwise you can land in a limbo state where you need a bank account to rent a flat, and you need an address (a hotel won't do) to open a bank account (they ask for a utility bill).

DanBC 10y ago

The UK seems to have pretty stringent "know your customer" regulation. Or maybe the banks are copper-bottoming the regulation.

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

scoot 10y ago

> The most difficult thing for me was actually the proof of address. You don't need to prove a UK address, just an address. Depending on the bank, you can open a UK bank account with an overseas address, and change it after you move. If you haven't planned ahead, then anecdotally Barclays will open an account in branch with only a passport.

oskarpearson 10y ago
I wrote what I-hope-is-the-most-comprehensive StackExchange answer about this, just in case anyone else is battling: http://expatriates.stackexchange.com/questions/85/how-to-open-up-your-first-uk-bank-account-without-proof-of-address/693#693 http://expatriates.stackexchange.com/questions/85/how-to-ope...
vidarh 10y ago
UK banks will also tend to be a lot easier to deal with if your employer is willing to write a letter and/or call their business banking contact to arrange for it. That's how I got my first UK account.
- dogma1138 10y ago
  Same thing, tho when I brought the letter they were meh about it said that the letter head did not look real enough.... I told them to sod off and to look up the company in the company house. Passport Accounts in the UK are pretty limited with what you can do with them, so I don't advise opening one up front if you planning to immigrate. Just ask your employer for a cash advance and either use cash for the first 2-4 weeks or use your debit/credit card from your previous country of residence. When I relocated initially I've arranged that the employer will cover the hotel upto 6 weeks, provide everything needed for a bank account, provide/cover the accountant needed to sort any tax liabilities when moving funds, cover the deposit for the first rental and the agent fees. If you are hired by a large corp which does relocation all the time they'll have a standard and even a better package, if they company doesn't do relocation on a regular basis make sure all your sides are covered. Otherwise you can land in a limbo state where you need a bank account to rent a flat, and you need an address (a hotel won't do) to open a bank account (they ask for a utility bill).