Barclays

Just to get it out of the way, no, I don't work for Barclays, or anyone for that matter... stupid job market. The route I've chosen may not be for everyone, but it's far cheaper than signing up for a one year contract to a bank account that should by all rights be free. Luckily, I have the luxury of being able to live off my wife, but I fully understand that others coming here on their own will not have that option and may need access to their money immediately.

I would also like to state that if anyone is wanting to try doing what I've described below, please call ahead to your local branch, explain your situation and get confirmation of exactly what you need to bring in. You'll likely need to make an appointment anyway, so it's good to call ahead. While I've tried to be exhaustively detailed, I'm not superhuman and may have forgotten some key piece of information, so please confirm this with your local branch!

To open an account at Barclays, just bring along one of your recent (3 months or less) Canadian bank statements and your Canadian passport. That's all you need. You don't have to prove your UK address, they'll simply take your word for it! They never asked for any proof of residency (i.e. biometric ID card). I didn't know they operated like that so I waited until my UK driving licence came through to use as proof of address. The girl opening my account kindly explained it all to me. Like most banks, you've got a choice of accounts, but the free current account option is there for the taking. Free is good. Once you've opened your account and gotten your card through the post, just do a one time wire transfer from your Canadian bank (PC bank costs $30 plus cable costs) and you're all set! Wires aren't instant, but in my experience they don't take much longer than 5 business days to come in. Your mileage may vary.

Prior to Barclays, I tried HSBC and NatWest and both showed me the door. NatWest told me that since I couldn't prove my UK address to their satisfaction (at the time I couldn't) they refused to do anything for me, citing financing of terrorism and money laundering regulations which tie their hands. This was the reason I waited to get my UK driving licence before trying again. Oddly enough, the DVLA just takes your word on your address, so looks like NatWest was just passing the buck. As many of you know, HSBC offers a product especially for newcomers. However, when I popped in to their branch, they told me that my fiancé entry visa wasn't valid for long enough so they wouldn't give me an account. I explained to them that it's pretty much a formality to get 2 years further leave to remain after the wedding, but they wouldn't hear it and told me to come back once I had gotten that leave. I took that to mean that they were scared they wouldn't be able to collect the entire £96 in fees off the 1 year contract.

Frankly, if banks are going to be like that and pretend as if it's beyond their control that they can't do anything for you (like NatWest), I don't want anything to do with them. The Barclays banker told me that they would have been more than happy to open an account for me on the day I landed if I wanted. These supposed regulations which made it impossible for NatWest to do business with me don't seem to apply to Barclays, so I'm guessing that they're just internal policies. HSBC lost out on a guaranteed £96 because they were afraid I'd disappear after my visa expired. Oh well, another customer lost.

I hope that however you choose to establish a bank account in the UK, it goes smoothly and hassle free.

Cam

I went to Barclays the day after I arrived. Within 30 minutes I had bank accounts...one with an automatic savings. Free account, and didn't have to prove residence or anything (which is good since I was still in a hotel). They were very friendly and easy to deal with it...I'd definitely recommend Barclays to anyone coming here from Canada.

isn't Barclays tied to CIBC here in Canada?? After reading horror stories about setting up bank accounts, it makes me a little nervous however I read somewhere to research the Canadian banks and see if they have any affiliates in the UK.

I'm aware that Scotiabank is affiliated with Barclays. I like knowing that I can use my card at any Barclays and not get charged extra.

wow Scotiabank has quite a few affiliates!

when it comes time, I am just going to set up a meeting with my bank and see what comes out of it. You never know what you may find out if you don't ask.

Here's the list of Barclays' global affiliates:

Put the following lines together.. I don't have enough posts to do do URLs yet..

barclays.co.uk
/Helpsupport/Usingcashmachinesabroad/P1242558955276

Cam

Awww reading that post about opening a Barclay's bank account puts me so much more at ease. For I arrive in the UK in ten days and will need to open a bank account and started to worry after I started read some of other people's posts. Thanks for writing that up!

Just to get it out of the way, no, I don't work for Barclays, or anyone for that matter... stupid job market. The route I've chosen may not be for everyone, but it's far cheaper than signing up for a one year contract to a bank account that should by all rights be free. Luckily, I have the luxury of being able to live off my wife, but I fully understand that others coming here on their own will not have that option and may need access to their money immediately.

I would also like to state that if anyone is wanting to try doing what I've described below, please call ahead to your local branch, explain your situation and get confirmation of exactly what you need to bring in. You'll likely need to make an appointment anyway, so it's good to call ahead. While I've tried to be exhaustively detailed, I'm not superhuman and may have forgotten some key piece of information, so please confirm this with your local branch!

To open an account at Barclays, just bring along one of your recent (3 months or less) Canadian bank statements and your Canadian passport. That's all you need. You don't have to prove your UK address, they'll simply take your word for it! They never asked for any proof of residency (i.e. biometric ID card). I didn't know they operated like that so I waited until my UK driving licence came through to use as proof of address. The girl opening my account kindly explained it all to me. Like most banks, you've got a choice of accounts, but the free current account option is there for the taking. Free is good. Once you've opened your account and gotten your card through the post, just do a one time wire transfer from your Canadian bank (PC bank costs $30 plus cable costs) and you're all set! Wires aren't instant, but in my experience they don't take much longer than 5 business days to come in. Your mileage may vary.

Prior to Barclays, I tried HSBC and NatWest and both showed me the door. NatWest told me that since I couldn't prove my UK address to their satisfaction (at the time I couldn't) they refused to do anything for me, citing financing of terrorism and money laundering regulations which tie their hands. This was the reason I waited to get my UK driving licence before trying again. Oddly enough, the DVLA just takes your word on your address, so looks like NatWest was just passing the buck. As many of you know, HSBC offers a product especially for newcomers. However, when I popped in to their branch, they told me that my fiancé entry visa wasn't valid for long enough so they wouldn't give me an account. I explained to them that it's pretty much a formality to get 2 years further leave to remain after the wedding, but they wouldn't hear it and told me to come back once I had gotten that leave. I took that to mean that they were scared they wouldn't be able to collect the entire £96 in fees off the 1 year contract.

Frankly, if banks are going to be like that and pretend as if it's beyond their control that they can't do anything for you (like NatWest), I don't want anything to do with them. The Barclays banker told me that they would have been more than happy to open an account for me on the day I landed if I wanted. These supposed regulations which made it impossible for NatWest to do business with me don't seem to apply to Barclays, so I'm guessing that they're just internal policies. HSBC lost out on a guaranteed £96 because they were afraid I'd disappear after my visa expired. Oh well, another customer lost.

I hope that however you choose to establish a bank account in the UK, it goes smoothly and hassle free.

Cam

Wow thanks for the post . Really appreciate the info and it's definitely reassuring to know.

amandabear - how was your dealings with Barclays? I was just declined an iBank wealth account - probably on the premise that I don't officially have a job despite the fact that I sent them a bank statement that would have even proved I had more than enough funds to make the inital deposit cut-off...and I leave in 2 days!!!!

I'd try Lloyds but if I want/need a credit card, they only have Mastercard...and I want Visa for which I know Barclays supplies.

I'm freaking out because I will have nothing to prove my UK address except a facebook conversation with the person that I'm staying with (which includes correspondence about my arrival and address and everything) so I have my fingers and toes crossed that what everyone has been saying about not having to prove their UK address is true.

Barclays is amazing! I just walked in and opened a bank account with them in Brighton no problem. All they asked for was my passport. It was super easy and free! I recommend them for sure