Veeworth Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Hi. Have been told trying to open a bank acc when returning to live in the UK is a nightmare? I'm moving back in Feb after 6 years in oz. Is this true? And anyone got any tips on which is the easiest bank to deal with etc . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellers and Whitehead Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I went to my old bank who I have been with for 30 years...had issues with other banks after two years away but no problems with my long standing bank! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peccavi Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Yorkshire/Clydesdale Bank. Look it up online. It can be done from Australia quite easily. Barclays too, but they want a minimum £5000 deposit, which is annoying, because some folks don't have that amount. They have as much right as others to open a bank account. Yorkshire. They were very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest 47403 Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Most banks will credit check you before opening an account, but there must be a way around it as all those European immigrants coming each month manage it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veeworth Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 Thank you have looked online but doesn't give much info. Will give them a ring :biggrin: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zephyr Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Hi, we were away for over 2 years and on return opened an account with Lloyds - which was very straightforward :-) Good luck with the move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peccavi Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 (edited) 'ere tis: (I copied; I won't know if it's a live link until posting). http://www.cbonline.co.uk/private/offshore-migrant-banking/migrant-banking-private/apply-for-a-uk-bank-account/ It shows Clydesdale Bank which I believe is now only Scotland??? Go through the fields and it shows their partner Yorkshire Bank (who are all owned by NAB Australia). Don't bother going into NAB for this, it has to be done online. YB are OK, Clydesdale have been interesting..... I couldn't show up any one bank with a glowing reputation btw!! NB: Be mindful of the fact that any funds you put into a UK bank from Australia, cannot be accessed until on UK soil. Edited December 20, 2013 by Peccavi Update. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisher1 Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Hi I returned to the UK after 24 years in Belgium and Luxembourg and opened an account with Lloyds with no problem at all. We only had a difficulty opening an interest bearing savings account. Current accounts are fine, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victoriagal Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 We tried Santander but having no credit history as we have been away 9 years they wouldn't accept us. We are currently using our offshore HSBC account but don't think that will help with credit history. Have been told we won't get a rental property unless we pay upfront as we have no credit history. Also struggling to get a decent price on car insurance as no-one will accept our overseas NCD. Wouldn't mind so much but at our age and having just bought a 1.4l Desiel not exactly a high risk! Finding it it all a bit daft really especially as we have never had 'credit' our whole life! I will try some other banks I the new year and see how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest 47403 Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 We tried Santander but having no credit history as we have been away 9 years they wouldn't accept us. We are currently using our offshore HSBC account but don't think that will help with credit history. Have been told we won't get a rental property unless we pay upfront as we have no credit history. Also struggling to get a decent price on car insurance as no-one will accept our overseas NCD. Wouldn't mind so much but at our age and having just bought a 1.4l Desiel not exactly a high risk! Finding it it all a bit daft really especially as we have never had 'credit' our whole life! I will try some other banks I the new year and see how it goes. Try Tesco for car insurance, I went from a company car to taking a car allowance a couple of years ago and they accepted a letter from the company car insurers as proof of my claim history although they wouldn't give me full NCB and I had to settle for 3yrs which I've now built up to full NCB, might be worth a shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest41161 Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 (edited) We tried Santander but having no credit history as we have been away 9 years they wouldn't accept us. We are currently using our offshore HSBC account but don't think that will help with credit history. Have been told we won't get a rental property unless we pay upfront as we have no credit history. Also struggling to get a decent price on car insurance as no-one will accept our overseas NCD. Wouldn't mind so much but at our age and having just bought a 1.4l Desiel not exactly a high risk! Finding it it all a bit daft really especially as we have never had 'credit' our whole life! I will try some other banks I the new year and see how it goes. On the flip side, I returned after 9 years. Walked into Barclays and came away with current and savings accounts. No issues at all. Car insurance, we went through Aviva for car and home, happy to honour both overseas no claims, and have never asked to see proof of this. Rented 2 properties in the past year. One private, one through agency. No problems with securing these, and both were happy with our rental references from OZ. Also on top, both my wife and I got phone contracts with 3, with no credit history here in UK. Edited December 23, 2013 by guest41161 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest 47403 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 We tried Santander but having no credit history as we have been away 9 years they wouldn't accept us. We are currently using our offshore HSBC account but don't think that will help with credit history. Have been told we won't get a rental property unless we pay upfront as we have no credit history. Also struggling to get a decent price on car insurance as no-one will accept our overseas NCD. Wouldn't mind so much but at our age and having just bought a 1.4l Desiel not exactly a high risk! Finding it it all a bit daft really especially as we have never had 'credit' our whole life! I will try some other banks I the new year and see how it goes. Try Tesco for car insurance, I went from a company car to taking a car allowance a couple of years ago and they accepted a letter from the company car insurers as proof of my claim history although they wouldn't give me full NCB and I had to settle for 3yrs which I've now built up to full NCB, might be worth a shot. Think nothing of it your welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nomes Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 I moved back to the UK in July 2013 after spending 33yrs overseas. Had no problem opening a bank account, just needed to present my British Passport Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bell123321 Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 I guess the main issue is they credit check you before opening an account. How about this account from Barclays if you have trouble with normal current accounts: http://www.barclays.co.uk/Otheraccounts/Cashcardaccounts/CashCardAccount/P1242557963900 Its not a current account but it does everything the same as a current account (Just not cheque book and overdraft). You get a visa debit card and online banking etc all the same. Only thing is I think you need to apply in person (but they allow people with no credit to obtain this account). Barclays also have this page about opening an account whilst international: https://wealth.barclays.com/en_gb/home/international-banking/who-we-help/resident-non-doms/moving-to-the-uk.html Also Llyods seem to do an account for people moving to the UK: http://www.lloydsbank.com/banking-with-us/joining-lloyds/new-to-the-uk.asp Hope that helps a little Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt Agatha Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Scottydog did you have to pay several months in advance to secure your rental property? I kept my Lloyds account going during my 10 years (so far) in Oz so hopefully that will help things along a bit generally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Why not just keep your accounts open ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.