How to get a bank account - if you're unbanked - basic bank accounts

wolvesrule8

I was in trouble with my finances and had problems opening a bank account until I found out about Think Banking which is part of RBS I pay them £12 a month and they sort out everything for me They are very helpful too. Everyone is welcome with them. You get two account one for where your money goes in and DD come from and the other is a debit card where they pay you what is left after stopping so much for your bills DDs etc you are guaranteed not to get over drawn saving you a fortune in overdraft payments so the £12 a month is well worth it as you don't have to worry where to find the money for bills as they stop an agreed amount with you each time your money goes into your account.
I even got my car insurance through them and I was surprised at how little it was but they only offer this if you have got an account with them.
I hope people will find this useful. Just take a look at their site thinkbanking.co.uk

Old_Wrinkly

As MSE Wendy clearly knows, there are 62 pages (currently) of posts on the Basic Bank Accounts thread stickied at the top of the forum list. Surely we don't want all those people reposting in this thread with their experiences. Time for someone to analyse the data there? Or has it already been done?

Incidentally, am I the only one to have some viewing problems with the first posting here (i.e. Wendy's post)?

wejl

For a basic bank account, savings and loan facilities try your local Credit Union, run on a non profit basis for and by the members and with a priority on those financially excluded, there are Credit Unions all round the country

Dix5522uk

I had problems Ulster Bank and had to wait till id been in my present address for 3 months to get a utility bill before I could open an account. I also do not have a driving leicence or a passport.
Now my oldest son wants to open a bank account but he is only 14yrs, has no utility bills, no driving leicence and no passport. The other problem he has is hes a very big lad and most take him for 18yrs so I have to go with him and even any id i supply isnt enough.

Joodle

I work for a company supporting people back to work, and one of the major barriers people face is not having a bank account, as employers won't pay wages in any other way.
We always advise our clients to follow the process Martin suggests, and even as far as asking for the specific name of the basic bank account in that particular bank (i.e. step account for NatWest).

However, the major problem is ID. If you don't have a passport or driving licence, which frankly many unemployed or low income people don't because of the cost, not all banks will accept a benefits letter. Also if you still live with your parents then its unlikely that you'll have a utility bill in your name, not even a mobile bill if you have a PAYG phone, and for some banks mobile contract bills aren't even accepted.

I think the Government or the FSA, or whoever, should make a list that spells out very clearly what ID is required for a basic bank account. Even between branches of the same bank the requirements are different - its appalling.

claire5005_2

I have an account with SMILE (part of the Co-op). Last year when my cheque book ran out I was surprised that I didn't receive a new one but I found an old one I hadn't used and just used that. Last week this one ran out and still a new one didn't arrive so I asked the bank for one and was told that I could not have a cheque book due to my credit scoring. I cannot manage without a cheque book as I show dogs and most dog show entries have to be paid for by cheque. They refused to reconsider.

I rang up RBS and now have an account with them with a cheque book - no problem.

Old_Wrinkly

I say this in all seriousness.
Why do they insist on these levels of ID anyway? (for no-credit accounts)
The country operated without it for many years with no huge problems arising.
I know there are issues with bankrupts, etc but these can be accommodated.
If those who had something to hide wanted an account for some reason, then they are perfectly capable of getting around the current system (at least the intelligent, organised ones - who are the ones we should be most worried about).
The present system seems to be having it's greatest (& presumably unwanted) effect on those innocent people who are not readily able to circumvent the system. Indeed they might be forced into slightly illegal methods to do so or avoid banks altogether and thereby run into other problems.

... Sits back and waits to be shot down in flames ...

Patr100

Old_Wrinkly wrote: »

I say this in all seriousness.
Why do they insist on these levels of ID anyway? (for no-credit accounts)
The country operated without it for many years with no huge problems arising.
I know there are issues with bankrupts, etc but these can be accommodated.
If those who had something to hide wanted an account for some reason, then they are perfectly capable of getting around the current system (at least the intelligent, organised ones - who are the ones we should be most worried about).
The present system seems to be having it's greatest (& presumably unwanted) effect on those innocent people who are not readily able to circumvent the system. Indeed they might be forced into slightly illegal methods to do so or avoid banks altogether and thereby run into other problems.

... Sits back and waits to be shot down in flames ...

I'm with you there. Also I had little problem opening several online accounts when rates favour - Surely if I were money laundering I could just as well use a saving acccount to store. Also I don't need/want any credit facility on my current account.
-

purplestar1uk

I was advised by National Debtline to open a basic bank account, due to financial problems. HSBC turned me down outright when they saw the recent bank statements I'd been required to bring along, because I'd gone over my overdraft limit recently (which was the whole reason I didn't want overdraft availability any more!).

I recently tried to apply for a Halifax basic bank account, because although I now have one elsewhere I wanted one with a debit card. At the end of the online application form I realised I couldn't, in all conscience, tick the terms and conditions box because it banned people with CCJs from applying, and I have a CCJ.

dotstar24

5 years ago i applied for basic bank accounts with natwest, barclays and halifax. all of them turned me down.
in the end i went to nationwide, asked for a card savings account (which can have money paid into it, but cant have DD's etc going out of it) which i got, and about a year later they let me have a basic bank account, which is now finally going to have a 'proper' bank card and not a cash only card.
it's frustrating especially when your being told you should be able to get one!