Moving abroad and keeping the bank account open

vidoramego

Hi everybody!
I was wondering if somebody could tell me whether it is possible/legal/allowed to keep your UK bank account when moving abroad.
If you google for it, you'll find too many different opinions out there, which is confusing :mad:

Is there anybody here who has delt with this question and knows the reliable answer?

Thanks in advance for your efforts
regards

guesswho2000

It is possible and legal, and whether your bank will allow it is down to them - you'll have to call them and ask, but I suspect some will, some won't. RBS group let me have an account with Ulster Bank in the Republic of Ireland with a UK address, I expect I'd be able to keep my NatWest accounts if I moved there.

In fact, MBNA will let you keep your credit card accounts if you move abroad, it's specifically in their FAQs.

colsten

Don't take the opinion of a stranger on the internet - ask your bank. Most have no problem at all letting you keep your accounts if you move to any of most countries in the world. Some countries are on restricted dealing lists or even blacklists, but you probably wouldn't want to move to any of them, anyway - and if you did, you would know that it wouldn't be a good move to tell anyone.

Most UK registered banks won't allow you to open new accounts if you are not a UK resident, so open any accounts you need before you leave.

vidoramego

Thanks guys!

Well, my bank is Barclays.
So, you mean I should call or go there and ask rather than google or searching for an answer on internet?

vidoramego

colsten wrote: »

Most UK registered banks won't allow you to open new accounts if you are not a UK resident, so open any accounts you need before you leave.

Do you mean that things are changing or has it always been like that?
Actually, when I moved to the Uk I had no problem to open an account with Barclays. Well I was at a studio flat. Nobody asked me for a bank account there. I paid cash (they were a bit strange and suspicious, I admit). With their letter of confirmation I went to the bank and was able to open an account