anybody know how to open a UK bank account for non-resident?

maxblink · Joined: 14 May 2006 Posts: 3 Location: London

I'm now in London and will stay here for about a month and will be back here again from now and then.

I tried to go to about 4-5 bank to open a bank account but almost all of them is asking for landline or other utility bills.

I don't have all this and as long as i'm in London, I stayed in Hotel room only.

do anyone have idea about how to open a bank account for non-resident ?

thanks for your kind help.

yngvarr · Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 11

they won't open u an account, if u don't give'em some confirmation of ur proper british address.. so, if u haven't got one, i don't think u can get an account here.. anyway, the best way to check it is to call customer service line of one of the banks.

boredatwork · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 8

You're not allowed to open bank accounts in most countries unless you live there.

Londondude · Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Posts: 80

Hello there

I have been staying in the UK for a while and have managed to open a bank account without a utility bill.

If you have a relative here or a friend who can INTRODUCE you as a relative or close friend to the bank. You need to make an appointment with the bank clerk or manager at the bank then both of you need to go through and see the person. This takes about 1-2 hours.
This is how mine was done.

Otherwise give 1st Contact a call. They can do it for you for about £35.
They use a similar technique but you don't have to go to the bank.

Hope this helps
Londondude

arnie7 · Joined: 20 May 2007 Posts: 2

You usually need a utility bill but the address doesn't need to be in the UK.

Banks specifically aiming for non-resident accounts include HSBC.com, Barclays.co.uk and citibank.co.uk but most banks (not building societies usually) will open non-resident accounts. It's usually easiest if you go to a major branch.

Failing that, you can also open non-resident accounts in the various offshore islands eg Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar. Although not in the UK, the banks are within the UK banking system and many people use banks in these places when doing their UK banking. For instance, natwestinternational.com (a major UK bank).

arnie7 · Joined: 20 May 2007 Posts: 2

If you are living in the UK, it's different. You don't need an introduction or a utility bill. What happens is that you fall under the "other methods" sections of the various forms if you don't have utility bills or other proofs of address. Usually, that means that the bank manager/clerk goes round to visit you at home to provide the proof of address (they obviously won't accept hotel addresses, unless you happen to own the hotel of course).