Bank accounts for personnel from abroad

bosnia

A friend of mine from Ghana has recently been sucessful in getting through selection and is now awaiting a training date for the Royal Artillery. He has been told that he must have a bank account set up before commencing training. Problem is, I can't find a bank that will accept him for an interest bearing current account as he has only been in UK for 8 weeks. Some will offer a basic 0% interest account. Any ideas which bank/building society might accept him for an interest bearing account please?

Andy_L

Abbey via Forces Financial might, failing that he'll have to use a zero % current account until he's built up enough financial history.

kyh

I am surprised Lloyds won't take him as they were always the recommended bank for the RN at least. They actually have an Armed Forces section.

misty4798

I was going to say the same as Andy L - I know that the Commonwealth soldiers out here in Germany bank with the Abbey. If your friend contacts Forces Financial they will be able to help him:
http://www.forcesfinancial.com/banking/index.asp

Hope this helps.

Misty

bosnia

Thanks for all who provided advice. I have contacted both Lloyds TSB and Forces Financial and they are going to send me out the blurb.:T

Cat695

he will get a bank account when he gets to the training regt......i was a training cpl a few years ago and we had a abbey lass actually on camp that dealt with all new recruits that joined without bank accounts....so i wouldn't worry

bosnia

Thanks for your help Corporal,

I have just had a nightmare hour with Lloyds TSB where they would not open an account for him despite him having correspondence from the Army confirming his appointment as he doesn't have proof of his UK address in the form of bills etc!!. Army bumph given to him seems to insist that he has the account open before starting!

Any ideas on whether they sort him out with a National Insurance number or whether he will not need one being a non-British subject please?

Cat695

Trust me he will get it all sorted when he starts his training......untill it does he will get cash paid (50 pound a week)and the rest will go into credit account that he cannot touch till he finishes training....he just needs to tell people when he starts.....we had this issue all the time hence why the Abbey national girl worked on camp as it was alot easier to sort out!

oh and i'm a SSgt now hehe

phillip3153

Have you tried RBS Holts in Farnborough. Very Forces Friendly and I have never known them turn anyone down.

phillip3153

Sorry, Cat695 you are now a bit out of date. JPA has kicked in and they will receive payable orders at the end of the month when they have not drawn all of their money from their pay account.

P.S. Congrats on the rapid promotion. :D