Advice on opening a bank account when newly arrived in the UK

NH2004

My wife has recently joined me in the UK on a spouse visa.


We are having big problems in trying to open a back account for her because she has no credit history.
We have even been refused on adding her name to my account.


I have never had any credit problems and am in full time employment earning a fairly high salary, but they will still not add her to my account.


We thought we could then open a simple everyday account like the Barclays cashcard account, but I have just been told online by Barclays that she cannot open any account until she has been in the UK for 6 months!


Added to that the only proof of address we have for her is a water bill, but this only issued as an online bill and the bank tells me they will not accept an internet printout.


So what can we do. She is unable to get a job until she has a bank account, but at every attempt we are being told she cannot open one.


Anyone with any similar experience of newly arriving in the UK and what we can do?

SeduLOUs

When you give a bank account for payroll at a new job it doesn't necessarily need to be yours.

You could open a basic bank account for her to use until she is able to open one of her own or possibly a joint account together later?

Archi_Bald

You don't say where your wife is from but may be Lloyds can help? http://www.lloydsbank.com/banking-with-us/joining-lloyds/new-to-the-uk.asp

(not sure what the info about Switching on this page is about, I'd just ignore it)

jjlandlord

NH2004 wrote: »

She is unable to get a job until she has a bank account, but at every attempt we are being told she cannot open one.

I don't think employers would care if she gave your bank account for payment of salary.

You could try to apply for a Basic Bank Account with HSBC, which they advertise as suited for people "new to the UK".

10pence

It has nothing to do with credit history, it ill be issues with some of the following: ID, address verification, and the visa itself - time on the visa, country wife is from and so forth.

NH2004

Thanks for the replies.

We will give HSBC a try. It that's not successful then it looks like we will just have to wait until she has been here long enough as even the basic bank accounts are drawing a blank.

It seems ludicrous that we cannot,even open a basic bank account with which we just want to deposit money and withdraw no more money than we have paid into the account.

I guess just another example of computer says no! Oh for the days when bank managers could use their common sense and discretion!

My wife is from The Gambia, and is here on a settlement spouse visa. She has no bad credit history and did have an account with standard charter in The Gambia. But we closed it before she left thinking she would no longer need it. In hindsight that was a bad decision!

jjlandlord

If she is looking for a job, it may be useful to wait until she has found one and signed her contract.
I highly doubt HSBC (or another bank marketing accounts for people new to the UK) will refuse her application if she shows an employment contract.

SeduLOUs

jjlandlord wrote: »

If she is looking for a job, it may be useful to wait until she has found one and signed her contract.
I highly doubt HSBC (or another bank marketing accounts for people new to the UK) will refuse her application if she shows an employment contract.

I suspect this is unlikely. An employment contract is meaningless unless you are employed by someone very stringent in ID checking. Even so, banks want their own proof of ID and residence.

Whilst she can 'prove' she is entitled to be in the UK, she may not be able to satisfy the banks as to who she actually is and where she now lives for the purposes of all the background fraud and credit checks. 6 months doesn't seem forever to wait, so set up a bank account in your own name for her to use in the meantime if it is going to be a problem.

My first step would be to obtain an NI number if she hasn't already got one (needed if she is going to get a job), and take whatever steps need to get her on the electoral register so that her 'file' can start to build.

Sanne

From experience, try a number of branches even from the same bank), taking no her passport and a utility bill. Don't try online or over the phone. I know quite a few people who struggled getting an account and would sometimes be told in branch A that they can't have an account whereas branch B offered them a credit card alongside a current account.

There is now also accounts particularly for people who have just moved to the UK - have a look around for them.

Personally, I got ine when my husband (who the bank manager knew) went into the branch with me. That was Lloyds by the way. They even offered me a small overdraft even though I hadn't started my job yet when I applied.

10pence

NH2004 wrote: »

My wife is from The Gambia, and is here on a settlement spouse visa. She has no bad credit history and did have an account with standard charter in The Gambia. But we closed it before she left thinking she would no longer need it. In hindsight that was a bad decision!

Credit history is not the issue here, please stop going on about it.

The account opening process isn't as simple as it once was, manager's discretion has little to no standing in regards to anti-money laundering (AML) and anti-terror (AT) laws and regulations. Banks have a legal obligation to 'get to know their customers' and this is satisfied by the customer providing relevant ID, VA and possibly other supporting information - in your wife's case her visa.

Unfortunately, some countries are of a higher risk to UK banks than most; whether it be due to sanctions or poor AML/AT regulations. The Gambia is one those countries, so a bank might be able to offer an account but it could take further evidence, some extra time to open or be restricted until further security checks are completed.

HSBC might be able to offer a basic bank account; if they do, the opening process should be started in branch and not paper based as the staff will need to complete a few extra security checks.

henm2

10pence is right. Following the heavy 2012 fine by the US authorities and the 5 year deferred prosecution agreement HSBC's AML procedures have become very thorough. As Gambia is classed by them as a high risk country as regards compliance with international AML regulations this will have an effect on the application even for a basic bank account. Lots of questions will be asked at the branch and the bank account application will then be referred to a head office team for approval which may take weeks for an answer.
You may find it quicker applying for a basic bank account through another bank.