Proving your identity is simple. They allows up to £200 per month in free withdrawals in both the UK and abroad–after that you’ll be slapped with a 3% fee for each withdrawal you make until the end of the month. The company has relationships with several traditional banks including Lloyds and HSBC and facilitates an introduction to the banks, enabling you to open a UK bank account without the usual proof of residency documents like a utility bill. With Monzo or Monese, you can open a UK bank account with just a few clicks. Paying with your debit card is free though, including when you are abroad, which is a great perk. These are designed specifically for non-residents, so they’re a great option if you don’t have the documents to prove your UK address. Link your bank account. More info about UK bank accounts for non-residents you will find in our blog post. Check out our blog post about opening a bank account in the UK without proof of address and get a free UK bank account in Euro. This can take the form of a passport, drivers licence or national identity card. Money that if your current home is outside the EU or EEA, you’ll have to wait until you’ve secured a UK address before you can open an account. Proof of address and identity are usually needed to open a current account. To open a UK business bank account, you will need two documents, one to prove your identity (usually your passport or National Identity Card) and one to prove your address, which applies to both in branch and online. According to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), if you're unable to provide these documents, you can ask if they accept the following documents: https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/opening-bank-account. You’ll also need to be careful to stay in credit. Good news is that there are companies like Monzo or Monese which offer UK bank account even without the proof of the address. Using an ATM outside the UK is never free. Other country guides: How to open a bank account in the US, Canada or Australia as a non-resident. If you don't have your documents with you, you can select to do this later. In general, if you are a foreign national, your best bet is to use your passport.2. that will help you with the process of opening a bank account in the UK. You can also transfer at the standard mid-market exchange rate and hold money in over 20 currencies. You might need even more proof… If you are opening a student account you’ll need a letter or ID showing where you are studying or going to be studying. HSBC’s biggest advantage is that it operates in about 64 countries around the world. Most banks actively target students in the hope that once you’ve graduated and start making money, you’ll stick with them. UK banks ask customers to prove who they are and where they live in the UK before they open a bank account. It’s usually easier to open an account with one of the UK’s largest banks - Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC or NatWest. It’s also probably one of the easiest banks to open an account with if you’re new to the UK. You’ll also get access to an emergency cash service, so you can withdraw money from your account using just a security code if your card is lost or stolen.⁷. Local bank details in the US, Eurozone, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Poland to get paid like a local. All the details about opening a bank account in the UK without the proof of address, you will find in our blog post. What is the best UK bank account for non-residents? And with so many options on offer, figuring out which account best suits your needs can be tricky. If you don’t, you’ll get an unfavourable exchange rate plus the fees charged by your UK bank. The account includes a free overdraft of up to £3,000 for three years and a contactless debit card. You usually need to provide two identification documents when you open a new account: Name ID usually has to be a passport, birth certificate (or a driving licence if you are over 17) Address ID includes utility bills or bank statements and can be in a parent or guardian's name if … After opening your account online, you'll need to verify your identity through their interface. Whether you’re thinking of moving to the UK or you’ve arrived there already, at some point you’re going to need a bank account. Many banks will charge a non-sterling transaction fee, which can be as high as 2.99% per transaction. In most cases you will only need to produce one of the following: a current UK photo driving licence passport from the United Kingdom If you are an existing customer, you can use your existing bank card with Chip & Pin to verify your identity. Many banks also offer free cash withdrawals even if you’re not a customer. It’s probably easier to open a bank account if you’re an EU national than when you’re from a country outside the EU. You’ll also get a range of business tools, including accounting software and legal assistance at a reduced price.³. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely. Now you can send, receive and organise your money internationally, without crazy fees or even-crazier exchange rates – just a small, fair charge when your money moves between currencies. Mobile phone bills are generally not accepted. And it gets expensive when you try to use them across borders. Barclays also has special accounts for students and businesses. You may also be able to do this via internet banking. Some banks are strict with their requirements, so opening a bank account with them will be difficult. A business bank account could save time and money so it's worth considering. To open a bank account you usually have to fill in an application form. However, some ATMs aren’t free; and can charge you between £1.50 and £3 per transaction. It’s also tough if you’ve landed in the UK and are living with relatives and don’t have any bills in your name nor a rental contract. Proof of address ensures that a bank account is not opened under a false identity. Before you are able to open a bank account, you will need to provide a range of documents. You can have a UK bank account with just a few clicks. Do you need to pay or get paid like a local but can't open a bank account without proof of address? They will require a proof of name, in the form of a Current Signed passport, Original Birth Certificate, EEA member state identity card, Current UK or EEA driving license, Registration card for self-employed individuals, Resident Permit issued by the Home office to EEA nationals, National Identity card or Firearms certificate. More importantly, if a foreign ATM asks you which currency it should charge you in, always choose to be charged in the local currency. Your home bank may be able to set up an account for you if it has a correspondent banking relationship with a British bank. But we have good news - there is a possibility to open a bank account in Euro for free. Proving your identity is simple. That way, you can get more information and ask questions about any difficulties you may have. With a borderless account, you can now:i) send EURO from your regular account to your TransferWise Euro account for freeii) convert all or part of it to GBP for a low fee (0.41% or a £4.08 to convert 1,000 EUR to GBP)iii) pay with your TransferWise Debit card, set-up direct debit with UK provider to pay your bills or make a local transfer for free (to pay rent for example)You'll also have UK bank details to share with an employer. Then, you might be required to provide 1 or 2 original documents to prove that you live where you claim to live (i.e. Proof of the address in the UK. This can make your bank account expensive to open and run, especially if you still don’t have a job. If you’re having trouble deciding which is best for you, Monzo versus Monese, here’s a round-up of what each offer. Of course, if you’re new to the UK, you probably don’t have any of the documents on this list. The biggest traditional banks in the UK are HSBC, Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland (often referred to as simply RBS), Barclays, NatWest, Santander and Nationwide. If you don't have a proof of address, have a look at our blog post about opening a bank account in the UK. There are numerous types of accounts in the UK, but a standard current bank account is what most people want to for basic everyday use such as paying bills and receiving a salary. Opening a bank account in Canada can be difficult if you’re not a resident but not impossible. The good news is that companies like Monzo or Monese offer a UK bank account without proof of address. TransferWise Borderless Account and card let you pay and get paid like a local in the UK. If you have moved to the UK to work, then you will need to open a bank account so that you can get paid, deposit cash and pay bills. The account is free and comes with a contactless visa debit card as standard. They hold money only in one currency. In fact, you can even pre-apply for an account online before you arrive in the UK. Don’t commit to a product without at least having a look at what else is out there. Proof of address. While it contains the essential information and documents that all banks will most likely ask, we may ask for more information, either for regulatory purposes or if you need other products and services. Let’s have a look at what each of them have to offer. Note that even though you don’t have to submit a proof of address, you’ll still need to supply a UK address–this is also where your debit card will be delivered. HSBC has more than 1100 branches around England and Wales, but a lower number in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Some banks will also charge you a monthly fee in addition to these requirements. Without Proof of Residency, How to open a bank account in Canada without proof of residency, Digital Nomads — Getting Your Finances Right, How to open a bank account online in Australia without proof of residency, The best international bank accounts for digital nomads, travelers & expats, Which company offers a bank account in the UK if I don't have the proof of address? First things first: what are the different accounts available? Very often, you’ll have to make a big initial deposit and commit to paying in a minimum amount of money each month. You can get a basic current account at no monthly cost from most high street banks. Who this guide is for. Santander is very popular because of its 1|2|3| account. Is it possible to have Euro bank account in the UK? It’s quite easy to open an account, even if you’re new to the UK; and the Classic Plus account has some great perks. Local authority council tax bill for the current council tax year, Bank, Building Society or Credit Union statement or passbook dated within the last three months, Mortgage statement (issued for the last full year), Solicitors letter within the last three month confirming the property purchase (or the land registry confirmation of address)), Council or housing association rent card or tenancy agreement for the current year, HMRC self-assessment letters or tax demand dated within the current financial year, NHS Medical card or letter of confirmation from GP’s practice of registration with the surgery, a letter from a care home manager or warden of sheltered accommodation or a refuge, a letter from the warden of a homeless shelter, a letter from a probation officer or a hostel manager, if you are a traveller, a letter from the local authority that verifies your address, if you are an international student, a passport or European Economic Area National Identity Card and letter of acceptance or of introduction from a body on the Department for Education list, or, if you are an asylum seeker, an application registration card, local authority council tax bill for the current council tax year, bank, Building Society or Credit Union statement, Solicitors letter within the last three month confirming the property purchase (or the land registry confirmation of address). However, the biggest four UK banks are Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC and NatWest. Barclays is one of the oldest banks in the UK; and has more than 1500 branches around the country. Check our comprehensive guide on how to go about it. Co-Founder of Monito and money transfer expert, François has been helping Monito’s users navigate the jungle of money transfer fees, bad exchange rates and tricks for the last six years. But if you want or need a bank where you can actually walk into a branch, then you’ll want to consider a traditional bank. If you already have a Basic Bank Account with us, you might be able to upgrade to an account which offers lending. In general, if you are a foreign national your best bet is to use your passport — EU national identity cards are usually accepted (though how this works after Brexit takes effect is anyone’s guess), but if you are from, say, Australia, your home drivers license may not be accepted. Depending on the bank and type of account, they might also ask you about your job, income, national insurance number or marital status. There’s another hoop you’ve got to jump through if you weren’t born in the UK. You don’t have to wait until term starts to set up your account either so once you’ve arrived in the UK it would be wise to put this near the top of your list of things to do. Open a TransferWise Borderless Account online and get UK bank details, a multi-currency account and a debit Mastercard. Barclays also offers a few different business accounts, depending on the yearly turnover rate. You can also transfer money into 15 different currencies (including Euros and US Dollars) at the standard mid-market exchange rate. , What documents do I need to open a bank account in the UK? Monito's tip is to open a TransferWise Borderless Account which gives you UK bank details (among others) to pay and get paid like a local and a Debit card to spend in multiple currencies (including GBP). You also get a 12-month subscription to Perlego, which gives you access to more than 400,000 academic and non-fiction eBooks.¹. This publication is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to cover every aspect of the topics with which it deals. Doing it regularly could incur high fees. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. 1stContact offers several packages which includes: But if you really need a proof of address... Banks and financial institutions, according to the Money Laundering Regulations 2017, are required to ask for appropriate Identity Evidence when certain financial transactions take place. Before you get in touch, please select Check my eligibility first. 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