Basic Bank Account Thread

baby_frogmella

bibise25 wrote: »

you can still put her on the electoral roll if she comes from a country that is a member of the commonwealth.

Thanks for that, yes she's from a Commonwealth country so looks like she can be put on the electoral roll. However the question still remains, will all banks still require proof of address even if she's on the electoral roll?

EmH

Never mind, I found the information I needed, thanks

book12

baby_frogmella wrote: »

Hi

My wife (non EU national) is coming from abroad to live with me in a few weeks time and i want to open a basic bank account for her after she arrives, so rather than carrying cash around she can withdraw cash as and when she needs to using her cashcard (her account will be funded from my current account). Problem is that i won't have any proof of address for her, only her passport, national ID card and birth certificate. And i don't think she will be allowed to register on the electoral roll as she is a non-eu national. So are there any banks which would allow her to open a basic bank account without providing proof of address? If not, could i apply for a provisional driving licence for her and use that as proof of address?
Cheers

baby_frogmella wrote: »

Thanks for that, yes she's from a Commonwealth country so looks like she can be put on the electoral roll. However the question still remains, will all banks still require proof of address even if she's on the electoral roll?

Try opening a bank account with Barclays.

They are foreigner friendly. Ask your wife to bring foreign utilty bills and bank statements. According to the brochure I have, those documents are fine when customers have been in the UK for less than 3 months. As for ID, she can use the national ID card or passport. Therefore, no need for proof of UK address.

It takes a while for the voters roll to be updated.

KEZ5

Does anyone have any concrete information on what ways are allowed to fun a basic account. I know some banks can be very strict about this. Some ways of funding a basic account is through a job, and job seekers allowance. Are there any websites out there with the cold hard facts on what is allowed and what isn't? I have also noticed that one of the status choices on a basic account is "unemployed without income", "unemployed with income".

HappyMJ

KEZ5 wrote: »

Does anyone have any concrete information on what ways are allowed to fun a basic account. I know some banks can be very strict about this. Some ways of funding a basic account is through a job, and job seekers allowance. Are there any websites out there with the cold hard facts on what is allowed and what isn't? I have also noticed that one of the status choices on a basic account is "unemployed without income", "unemployed with income".

Cash? Transfers from OH? Pension? There are lots of ways to fund a bank account.

pmduk

I only know of the Post Office Card account having any restrictions. That only allows benefit payments to be received. Certainly the Yorkshire and Co-op banks allow the same sources of income as any other bank account.

KEZ5

HappyMJ wrote: »

Cash? Transfers from OH? Pension? There are lots of ways to fund a bank account.

There are lots of ways to fund an account. Anyone knows that. The question here is not how you can fund an account. It is what is acceptable by law for a basic account. I did not ask for guesses, that is why I said concrete information, preferably something with a reliable source.

Cash, cheques, or savings are not allowed because the banks say they "have to know where the money is coming from". They also do not allow rent as a source of income. Let's say you own a house, and you are renting out a few rooms, and you get money from that. It is not allowed. You are also not allowed to fund the account through a club, charity, trust, sole trader, company partnership, or business. Are you allowed to have a basic account if you are unemployed with no income?

pmduk

The law makes no specific requirements for a basic bank account. The same rules apply as for any bank account. Some banks may apply additional rules, the only authoritative answer will be obtained from the relevant bank. I've already told you what happens at the 2 banks that I have accounts with.

pmduk

The FSA (Financial Services Authority has a booklet about Basic Bank Accounts. http://www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk/pdfs/bank_accounts.pdf

chipbeck

Went to the co op to open a basic account on Saturday. Bloke asked me if I had any bad credit etc. Told him I had CCJ he said not a problem. Only touble is he said he couldn't open one on a Saturday and just took my phone number.

Wonder if he'll bother ringing back?