Opening a new UK bank account without a UK address

This is a spin-off topic from a thread a started about transferring money to Germany from a UK bank account.

Because I already had a NatWest account when I moved - permanently - to Germany there is no problem for me to maintain it, which I do. However, with early retirement on the horizon, I wish I had the possibility to open an account with Nationwide, which would far better suit my needs. In hindsight I would have done this before I left the UK Nationwide's terms and conditions clearly state that one must be resident in the UK to open a Flex account.

My question is - has anyone managed, somehow, to open a new bank account in the UK after moving here; legally, I mean and if so, how?

To open a current account in the UK, you need to show a passport/driving license and proof of your address. The latter can take the form of a utilities bill or bank/credit card statement. Obviously it needs to be a UK address where you can receive post. So the first question is which address your NatWest account is registered to. If it's a UK address, then one of their bank statements will do just fine.

If it's registered to Germany, then you need to get yourself a new proof of address. Credit card companies hand out credit cards to every last pikey and their statements can be used as proof of address. Whether you can get one depends on your credit rating in the UK, which depends on when you moved to Germany, how long you lived at your previous address etc. If your parents are still around, using their address is ideal. You can pretend you've been living there as long as they have.

If you really have no links at all to the UK any more then it will be tricky. You could ask a friend if you could use their address. Applying for a NatWest credit card should help in this situation because you already have a relationship with them.

I checked to see if Nationwide offer an offshore-based current account, but it seems not.

This is the reason that anyone moving to Germany from the UK should ALWAYS keep some kind of an account with a UK financial institution.

...preferably Nationwide! I guess Barclays account holders can withdraw free of charge from Deutsche Bank, but then their accounts are pretty bad.

Thanks for the replies

It wouldn't be a problem giving Nationwide my sister's address for correspondence but, my point is, they specify that one must be resident in the UK in order to open a new account. As I said, I don't want to risk doing anything illegal which might come back to haunt me. Maybe I'm worrying too much; the bank will. after all, be gaining another customer.

<cough> one could go resident the next day.
SOME accounts you can only legally get if you are resident for tax reasons.
Normally the rules you are facing are for the banks own conveneince though.
becasue they only want residents as it is then easier to gouge them for more.

It does suck doesn't it. Clearly the banks have no LEGAL issues in reality, 'cos they happily take our new address in the land of the big sausages - just won't let you open a new account officially. I suspect they also want proof of address like utility bills etc making it more complicated to be shifty.

It's a joke 'cos banks like HSBC spend millions on adverts harping on about how international they are. They are even running adverts on TV at the moment showing how they will help you every step of the way when moving countries (complete with cute kids and removal vans).

But despite having been part of Europe for 30 years if you ring up and say "Hi I am working in Germany but need a Sterling bank account" you can fuck off basically 'cos they are not interested. It stinks.

You're not breaking the law by opening an account in your sister's address, as long as you're not committing fraud (i.e. forged proof of address) in order to open the account. If the bank ever found out that you were living abroad (highly unlikely), the worst they could do is close the account, and they're highly unlikely to do even that.

You don't need a UK address to open a UK bank account, just like you don't need a German address to open a German one. You are simply required to confirm to the banks satisfaction that you really do exist and can be reached by mail at a permanent residential address (e.g. in Germany). Some banks (or branches of banks) don't want the hassle so may provide no help from the outset - it's up to them to accept you as a customer or not.

I opened an account with HSBC only last year without too many problems, and did it remotely too. They wanted original copies (which they returned) of a least 3 official documents to prove my address, and I was required to present myself in person at one of their UK branches with passport within 12 months of opening the account. I *could* have visited an international HSBC branch, but as I was visiting the UK anyway a few months later that was easier.

When you say "you don't need" do you mean from a legal viewpoint or from the bank standpoint 'cos 99% of UK banks will tell you to piss off if not a UK resident.

Yes, we even had problems getting my wife added to my existing current account to make it a joint account at NatWest (spit). After being given the runaround different helplines, departments and the branch, being told to come in with this, then that, now come back next week. Oh and bring that document you've just showed us.

They then came up with 'We can't credit score someone who doesn't live in the UK', which was probably truer than any of the other guff they came up with. After ten years in Germany, my credit rating in the UK is probably not that good either, but then I already have an account.

From a legal point of view. Their only legal requirement is to be sure you are who you say you are. Of course, it may help to also dangle business in front of them to increase the level of motivation.

I managed to open an online savings account but with the same bank I have always banked with.

I believe that since 9/11 there are restrictions in place to control who banks where and the residence requirement is one of these measures.

Not sure it's anything to do with 9/11, to be honest, although it does get blamed for a lot of things. Current accounts have an overdraft facility, and banks want to know where you live so they can come knocking for their money if necessary. They therefore understandably don't want to deal with people living in different countries.

Nationwide International
They offer a current account that pays 4.75% gross interest, subject to a retention tax.
There will probably be some charges for bank transfers, but all that info should be on the website.

I've looked all over that website and I see no mention of a current account...?

Nothing to do with 9/11 and nothing to do with overdrafts (which the bank can limit anyway). It's to do with crime. Directive 2005/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26.10.2005 requires banking institutions to check identity beyond reasonable doubt in order to minimise money laundering by enforcing Directive 91/308/EEC, imposing a customer identification obligation.

Not read the full thread but lets make it 100% clear there is NO registration in the UK.

Therefore there is no way of proving if you a resident or not - what ever that means with the EU anyhow...

If you need an address as other people have pointed out you need to show credit card bills, utility bills or bank statement etc going to an address. Which address that is up to you ...friends, mothers, brothers. If you already have a bank a/c get a statement sent there and then get so other semi official stuf sent there.

So just remember there is No registration for residency in the UK...it is not Germany...use that to your advantage...

Final thing there are some easy account to open in the UK that do not involve a credit check. The banks provide these with less hassle as there is no over draft facility no check gaurantee card etc...the Labour government encouraged them so they could pay benefits and giros to the poor and unemployed... Not saying in this case it fits but pointing out for the general readership. I opened one when I was in need a few years ago with Halifax...

@YL6: That's only why they require ID in the first place; it doesn't explain why they don't want non-UK residents.

Not totally true - you are supposed to be registered on the electoral role and should fill out their forms with all residents in your property when they send them out each year... I think these can be checked for credit etc...

It's the banks decision - it's often too much hassle for them to deal with. If you are bringing good business they'll beat a path to your door. When I opened my recent account my business was negligible, but I was very persistent until they gave way.

Not true... I have never been on the electoral registrar and joined the Armed forces, been Government D1 security cleared, secured a mortgage, opened bank accounts, got credit cards - you name it. To be on the electoral registrar helps with your credit score but is not a must. Also you will find lots of people do not bother with the electoral registrar most probs lots of working class people (my family and old school friends in particular)...

So I repeat again there is no official registration in the UK...the electoral registrar is used as a psuedo registration* but is not a requirement to receive any services as a citizen... you can play with residency in the UK far easier because there is no registration nor official addresses... So use it to your advantage...

Says the guy who lives in Manchester, Munich, Zurich at the same time...mmmmmm

* Its name says it all anyhow - Electoral registrar for those that want to Vote.

anyone know how a person can get back on to the UK electoral role?
just asked cuz I already have a UK Bank account but I tried recently to open an account with Nat West they checked if I was on the electoral register (www.192.com) and I'm not.

You can get on the electoral roll by contacting the Electoral Office in the district where you were last registered. Clearly if you are living here you should register as an overseas voter/resident.

You can only do this if you have been absent from the UK for less than 20 years.
Being on the electoral roll should not be pre-requisite for opening a UK bank account, but it might help. I'm on no UK Electoral roll, and opened a new bank account last year without major problems.

15 years since last registration in the UK, but I agree it might not make any difference to the ability to open an account.

I just read on the Citibank UK website that they offer special benefits on their accounts to non-residents so obviously they allow them to open UK accounts. You can also open Euro and US dollar accounts with them which are free if you have their Plus account (though this account costs £10 a month, it saves if you plan to have a Euro or dollar account and hold less than £2,000 in your accounts, as otherwise they account cost €20/$20 a month respectively.

OG that seems pretty expensive either as a minimum ammount required or a monthly fee for the account.
It's good to have that kind of option but that is dearer than keeping a UK account active when you move to Germany.

You simply need to prove to the bank's satisfaction that you exist. Your residential address is not relevant. It's as simple (!) as that. How much effort the bank puts in to accept your evidence is another matter and probably depends on how much they want you as a customer (i.e how much money you dangle in front of them)

MT, the fee is only if you have their plus account. They offer a standard account for free but you need to pay extra for the euro and dollar accounts then. £10 per month is pricey for the Plus account but gets you a Sterling, a Euro and a Dollar account, as well as a bunch of other less tangible benefits.

The benefit I can see is that you can make transfers within the euro zone for no fee, commission or exchange rate fees, so more beneficial for small companies, I would say, who have customers in in the euro zone or the US. Possibly also of interest for someone coming to Germany for a short period who wants a euro account.

ah, right, for a small business or the short term seems a cool set up.
Citi is going through a crisis right now, will they keep such niche products available?

Stanford - it's actually illegal not to truthfully fill out Electoral
Registration forms and return them when received at a UK address..
It's also sensible because credit rating agencies use
the Registers as source data.

Ahhh, but there are two versions of the register!

The FULL register contains EVERY registered voter.
It is ONLY available to the council, political parties and the government under legally specified circumstances.

The EDITED register includes all those who didn't tick the box to exclude themselves and this is available to ANYONE who pays a wedge to the council.
This is the one used for marketing.

Isn't a full copy held in public libraries as well?

The full register is in public libraries, on paper or microfiche, which a member of the public may inspect but not take away or copy en masse.