Starting from scratch: Banking for someone relocating to the UK

knightfox

chexum wrote: »

There are two kinds of accounts - the basic ones generally don't need as tough proofs of addresses, they are always free and don't offer any overdraft or cheques and sometimes offer only UK only cashcards. All the rest are full accounts (can be free too), even if "at the moment" there are no official overdraft facilities attached to the account - the banks are still prepared to allow (and charge heavily for) an unspecified amount of unauthorised/unarranged overdraft. This is what makes opening a bank account a trust issue. The ID requirements are the same.

The US credit history is not transferable at all, due to data protection rules, as far as I can tell - the only exception being if you have an US issued Amex card, talk to them, they can arrange an UK one to be issued to you. How exactly, I'm not sure, feel free to explain This could kickstart building your credit history. The advantages won't be visible though for 6-12 months, but that's the time when you can have a credit card which you otherwise wouldn't :cool:

Amex do as you say as well.

https://www.americanexpress.com/globaltransfers/global_card_transfer_en.shtml

HSBC offer a similar service as well.

FB13

You'll probably have the most luck opening the Lloyds Vantage account. I was able to open one on my second day in the UK. Just had to show my visa.

http://www.lloydstsb.com/current_accounts/new_to_the_uk.asp

I don't think you'll be able to open a Halifax Reward account. I tried to open one after being in the UK for 12 months and they weren't interested. They would only offer me their basic account.