Fastest possible savings account application process?

loveandpolisci

Hi everyone,

Newbie to MSE here. I'm a foreign national living in the UK, in the process of applying for a partner visa to extend my stay in your fine country. My partner and I have been trying for months to open a new joint savings account, following the site's recommendations for the top accounts at the time -- have tried Santander, Halifax, and Natwest, all of whom have lost our documents in the post during the course of the application :mad:. As this account needs to be opened as soon as possible in order to support my visa application as evidence of our relationship, I'm now abandoning interest-rate chasing for the time being and am just going for the account that will be quickest to open.

Does anyone here have any recommendations on a savings account with online banking that can be opened and set up within one day? What's the best of that lot? I live in Wimbledon, London if this helps at all!

Thanks in advance!

innovate

3 banks losing your applications for a savings account? Unlikely story.

Pop into a bank branch with your partner, your passports, and proof of address (utility bill etc). You'll also have to provide them with information about the source of your deposits.

NB. If you go to a Metrobank, you can also bring your dog.

meggsy

Try Principality Building Society online.

loveandpolisci

innovate wrote: »

3 banks losing your applications for a savings account? Unlikely story.

Yeah -- ridiculous to believe, I know, but this is what happened. Somehow they never made it from me to Santander, the Halifax branch lost them twice from their branch in Wimbledon to their account opening team, and the Natwest branch has appeared to do the same so I'm trying again. Each time we've given photocopies of passports, my visa, a utility bill from my partner and a bank statement from my current account. I expect this will take another 2 weeks with Natwest to trying to find something faster that I can just set up that day.

Thanks again for your help everybody.

loveandpolisci

meggsy wrote: »

Try Principality Building Society online.

Just called them -- their eSaver account (or any attractive savings accounts of theirs) cannot be opened in joint names, thus defeating the purpose unfortunately.

Thanks anyway!

vacheron

Out of curiosity, why are you specifically after a savings account? In my experience the proof of finances/savings requirements for visa applications just needs to show proof of the existence of the funds, so wouldn't proof from a current or basic bank account in joint names not also be acceptable?