TSB Classic Plus Account - use without a local branch?

ultramegabones

I'm considering opening a TSB Classic Plus current account to use as a saving account. The 5% interest on balances up to £2,000 is perfect for my current financial situation. Only problem is I'm based in Northern Ireland and TSB have no branches here.

Would it be possible/wise to apply online, select a branch in the mainland UK as my 'local' branch and rely purely on online banking?

Is it likely TSB would allow me to do this? Or would they require me to appear in-branch as part of the account setup process?

jimjames

I've never used my local branch so can't see an issue - assuming tsb offer accounts in NI?

Porcupine

I've opened accounts at Bank of Scotland (there was a handy postcode lookup showing my 'nearest' branch is Berwick upon Tweed) and Ulster Bank (which made me pick from a list - I just selected a random one in Belfast).

I've never been to Northern Ireland, and it was fine. So I imagine won't be any problems with TSB either. You just have to pick a branch to appear on your chequebook/etc.

B_G_B

I’m in England
I have an account with Bank of Scotland, Nearest branch 362 miles away. I had a payment held up for additional security checks and stupidly decided to call them to push the payment through, rather than just let it take its course, and had to answer a series of questions taken from one of the CRA’s. (Quite awkward to remember dates of current account openings, on the spur of the moment, when I have opened a few over the past couple of years). I failed this check and had to produce I.D. in branch. Fortunately I was able to use local Halifax branch, otherwise I would have been stuffed. I did ask if there was an alternative to a branch visit. No was the answer.

Don’t know if TSB operate a similar system, if there is an account problem. May be worth finding out first.

butterflymum

TSB do not seem to have any problem opening accounts for NI based customers. Yes, a potential problem would be if you need to present ID at a branch, and have no trips to the mainland planned that would facilitate same, but most account openings can be dealt with via online credit reference checks at time of applying

Seakay

I already had a TSB account and wanted to open another to take advantage of the interest on up to £2k. I had to get two forms of ID and take them to my nearest branch even though I wanted the account to be paperless and had been a customer of the bank for about 30 years. Once ID is established then you don't need a branch and can do everything online, but in the first instance you have to nominate a branch and take your ID to it to be verified.

apollo_

It depends on whether your identity can be electronically verified - when I opened up my TSB account and subsequent credit card, I was able to do everything online and still have yet to set foot inside a TSB branch. Unfortunately, you won't need whether you will need to produce ID documents in branch until you apply.

yorpington

I just opened mine and needed to go in branch to show them my ID. I imagine you could send them but they might ask for originals rather than copies.

ultramegabones

Ok thanks for the advice everyone!

Paully232000

yorpington wrote: »

I just opened mine and needed to go in branch to show them my ID. I imagine you could send them but they might ask for originals rather than copies.

I have just opened one of these and have to take ID to the nearest branch, which luckily is only 2 miles away. If i had to send them they say they have to be certified originals, and are very specific about who can sign and what they have to write on the documents. Has to be a solicitor or accountant (and they may/will charge for doing this), and send by registered post.