'International student':top bank accounts and cards

dbk-bazee

Hi:
I can see many tips for students for opening bank accounts and savings as well as funding the studies, etc. on the site and in chat forums. However, despite these I think a more specific bit of information is missing: for INTERNATIONAL students.

Almost all banks treat INTERNATIONAL students differently, right from opening the bank account, charges, card facilities, overdraft to name a few. RBS in my Uni even won't open a bank account to newly joined staff without a address proof listed, ***letter from Uni office is NOT recognised!*** You can imagine what happens to the student carrying travellers cheques/drafts and CASH in thousands of pounds for his/her living and fees.

Can we come together with our experiences to benefit the ones willing to arrive in UK for studies from abroad?

Thanks
dbk-bazee

Voyager2002

Well, my wife is Chinese and arrived here as an international student. She was turned down by most of the banks, despite having proof of address (I had put our water bill into her name) and evidence of funding from a university research project. She was eventually offered a NatWest 'STEP' account: this is a basic account without cheque book or credit facilities. Even after a year, they refused to upgrade her to a standard account -- even though she has about 5,000 pounds on deposit with them (earning interest of less than 1 per cent each year).

MUHAMID

my experience is if u have college/Uni letter (shawing your name,address & must be written to the bank) HSBC is good for international students.

seaweasel

My friend had trouble getting a student account here because her family lives in France, even though she's British. I noticed that LloydsTSB had some posters up in Polish, they might be a bit more receptive.