Basic Bank Accounts during Bankruptcy

jason909

So I'm 4 months into my bankruptcy and the so called 'Bankruptcy friendly bank - Barclays' have now blocked my online access, so thats now online, mobile, and telephone. Personally I cannot manage finances like this.

Anyhow recently I've been in contact with Yorkshire Bank who are happy to accept people during bankruptcy for a basic bank account only. Plus if you switch to Yorkshire Bank and have at least £1000 plus two direct debits they will give you £150 even with a basic bank account.

http://www.ybonline.co.uk/personal/current-accounts/standard-current-account/

This will get you a mastercard debit card, mobile banking, online banking and telephone banking.

You can apply in branch or over the telephone.

LoveLifeAgain

Think this must be an individual bank thing as I got online immediately and after people saying they do this very thing I rang them a few weeks ago they said I was alright to keep it all and that was just over 4 months since BR, they have been great.


Very strange but reports do seem to differ. Pleased you are getting a new bank sorted and good luck.

debtorwithaquestion

Wrong. Just clicked on your link to that basic account and the question: "are you currently bankrupt" appears. When you select yes, they explain you cannot have the account.

tigerfeet2006

It will be interesting if they do give you an account, last I heard 6 months ago they were refusing accounts to bankrupts and I've just double checked the link and it does say no to bankrupts.

Barclays removing internet and telephone facilities are well documented on here and yes they are bankrupt friendly as they offer bankrupts an account which other banks don't. There has also been a few reports lately that they are re-instating internet and telephone banking so why don't you ring them and ask, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Please let us know the outcome OP, it'll help to know either way.

CKhalvashi

tigerfeet2006 wrote: »

It will be interesting if they do give you an account, last I heard 6 months ago they were refusing accounts to bankrupts and I've just double checked the link and it does say no to bankrupts.

I didn't know they gave them, too.

Will be interesting if they do, especially if people aren't happy with Barclays.

TheGardener

I thought losing my internet banking was going to be the end of the world! The reality was that once the necessity to juggle finances to 'rob Peter to pay Paul' was gone I found that within a few weeks I stopped stressing about it.
You can ask for weekly postal bank statements (sometimes even the bank staff don't realise this) and you can have text alerts for credits and debits over x amount - you choose what value the transaction needs to be before triggering an alert.
Getting the internet/mobile service back was easy - just go to the bank with a copy of your printed out AD report from the IS website and it was all switched back on in minutes.

jason909

Important update:

*Application was done over the phone it sounded more like a credit check with some of the questions. No questions if I am bankrupt or ever been bankrupt.

*5 Minutes into call was advised application has been referred

* Callback 3 hours later by same advisor informed me my application has been successful for a basic bank account only. Was advised all documents will be sent in the post and that I will need to sign.

* 3 Days later no forms have arrived

* Called Yorkshire bank have been advised forms have not been sent to out due to a 'problem' but advisor will pass it on to sort out on Monday.

* More info coming soon….

Either they have just found out I'm bankrupt (Unlikely), human error with completing things properly or computer issue.

Deep_In_Debt

jason909 wrote: »

Important update:

*Application was done over the phone it sounded more like a credit check with some of the questions. No questions if I am bankrupt or ever been bankrupt.

*5 Minutes into call was advised application has been referred

* Callback 3 hours later by same advisor informed me my application has been successful for a basic bank account only. Was advised all documents will be sent in the post and that I will need to sign.

* 3 Days later no forms have arrived

* Called Yorkshire bank have been advised forms have not been sent to out due to a 'problem' but advisor will pass it on to sort out on Monday.

* More info coming soon….

Either they have just found out I'm bankrupt (Unlikely), human error with completing things properly or computer issue.

Hi OP,

I just wonder what makes you think that it is unlikely that they have found out about your BR?

tigerfeet2006

jason909 wrote: »

Either they have just found out I'm bankrupt (Unlikely), human error with completing things properly or computer issue.

One of the checks they do is a BR check on the IS website so yes they will find out you are BR.

This is what happened with the case I know of 6 months back. Similar set of circumstances.

skintoz

I was made bankrupt early last year and opened a Barclays account the day after. I had internet and telephone banking all through my bankruptcy.

I told them I was bankrupt when i opened the account and they didn't seem bothered and gave me a visa debit card.

Still using the same account now never had any problems with them.

Santander also gave me a basic account when bankrupt they also knew i was bankrupt but no online banking and they never closed my debit account either although i never owed them any money so that maybe why.

tigerfeet2006

Skintoz, with the Santander account you were very much the exception. It is very rare they let a BR have an account.