Banking in the UK Forum

Greetings,

I read the posts and didn't get a whole lot of details...
I want an account for the same things as mixtressariadne. I just want a regular bank account so I can get a job and a flat. I'm leaving for London in two months...what will I actually need? Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.

Cheers.

look on the previous page for details of lloyds tsb and nat west offshore accounts.

u will generally be unable to set up a normal onshore uk bank account unless u already have a uk address and can prove that u have lived there by showing a utility bill to the bank.

it might be possible to set up an hsbc uk account before u arrive if u are currently a customer of hsbc bank canada, but u'll have to ask ur bank branch about this.

david, transferring from the uk to canada presents no difficulties. when transferring from the uk, it's cheaper to transfer in gbp and specify to the uk bank that u want td to do the currency conversion.

ian.

I use Alliance and Leicester. Originally it was difficult because they wanted a 5-year address history for me to qualify. I phoned their head office in the end complaining that it was ridiculous. If I was working and paying National Insurance and living in the UK legitimately, I should be entitled to a UK bank account without having lived here for 5 years. They gave me the account in the end.

I do hate the annoying questions that -all- companies ask though. Even when applying for jobs, the application forms want far too much information. The UK has a far less privacy than in Canada and I don't think I'll ever get used to that. If you have any problems with any bank account, just phone their head office.

Just thought I'd add that I requested an overdraft with A&L of 50 pounds just because I only just found out that if you go near your zero mark you won't get the "insufficient funds" message like in Canada. Instead, you go into unauthorised overdraft and get charged 5 pounds a day (50p a day if you have an agreed overdraft limit). That is so underhanded, honestly. I didn't want an overdraft because I didn't want it to ever go into negative money, but they don't give you a choice. I'd rather have the 'insufficient funds' message than inadvertently dig into an overdraft (god knows how many days I'd go without even realising, paying a fee each day). Sneaky little bankers! And this is with their Premier 21 account (for those aged 21 and under). Way to help out the young'uns A&L!

I visit the UK often and for long periods of time and would like to have a UK bank account to use while I'm there. However, I am a self-employed musician and do not have an income at the moment. When I looked into HSBC and Lloyds International banking they both require a large income ($25 000 - $50 000) and large deposits to be made into the accounts.

Are there any options in setting up a UK bank account where I don't have to have such a large income?

Please help a starving artist

I have been working with Paul Viveiros from Lloyd's out of the Toronto office. He has been very helpful and patient with me while I amass the documents required to open an account. I have sent the final things in to him, so I am hoping to have the account open soon. I will let you all know when it is open and if successful, what I needed to do to get it open.

Thanks!

if successful, then let us know what type of account u have: some current (chequing) accounts have a monthly fee (£3 up to £17) and others don't, while some accounts are with lloyd's tsb of the uk and others with lloyd's tsb international, a jersey subsidiary. uk residents normally have current accounts with no fee. however, paying a monthly fee may not be as big a concern as actually having an account up and running before u leave canada.

http://www.lloydstsb.com/current_accounts.asp

http://www.lloydstsb-offshore.com/international/account/

ian.

Something interesting happened last week. I received an email from Lloyds Account Opening department. They had received my packet (it must have been couriered to the UK to get it so fast) and someone had already reviewed it. That's not the crazy part. The crazy part is they noticed I had an old Terms of Service page signed and dated (old version) so they had me fax and mail a new copy in with the current date.

They really scrutinize documents is that is the case. Here is hoping for an approval!

Hi all!

I spoke with Michael Ammendolia a few weeks ago about setting up an Lloyds account in the UK from Canada. I just wanted to let everyone know the service I received was prompt (he replied to my initial email the next day), friendly and he made sure I understood the process and exactly what documentation was required as well as answer any questions about he process. I sent everything off to him and he examined the package to make sure it was in order and then forwarded it Lloyds in the Isle of Man for account activation. The whole process took about 3 weeks and I now have an account. They even called me from the Isle of Man to see if I had any questions or needed any further assistance.

Anyone needing to open an account use Lloyds! I'm very impressed with the service I received so far and would highly recommend them to anyone.

Thanks Michael and Lloyds for making the move overseas a little bit easier!

I am still "in process" so to speak. I had a few transactions come up in my banking history from 3rd parties and they wanted to be sure those would not be deposited - same as paypal. They seem a LOT more strict than any other country I have banked in before (Mexico, USA, Canada)

I have sent back round 3 of responses to their questions. I am hoping to have the account set up soon.



It took several follow ups and prods to their "Account Opening" department, but I received my welcome packet today in the mail. It contains account numbers, iban, swift... all the info you need to wire funds to the account. I already funded the account so that is not important.

It states I will receive my bank card and cheques soon.

I registered for their online banking which required entering my info online, and then calling England to confirm my request, and now waiting for my username to online banking via post (mail). This is a far cry from how North American banking works.

Either way I am up and running.

I have successfully opened a Lloyds Bank account in Aug. 2009 with Lloyds while I was in Canada. I do not regret it and it was simple to do.

It sure came in handy when I was in London and able to use my card. Felt like I was at an ATM in Canada.