Opening UK bank account from abroad

GrS

A relative ( UK passport) is returning permanently to UK from South Africa.
She would like to open a bank account here as asap ( to redirect UK pension payments etc)
What is the easiest way to do this? Obviously has no UK address yet.

zaax

There isn't one (or extremely difficult), no UK address no bank account. Can she use your address? Get a SA bank to open a UK account?

book12

When she arrives back in the UK, some banks can open an account with just a UK passport. Lloyds and Nationwide are examples that allow this. Not sure about the other banks, but check their website.

Get on the voters roll when coming back here.

I guess it's a good idea to show proof of foreign address too.

Hopefully, they can make some exceptions

Ballard

There's no legal reason for banks to insist on a UK address but I suppose that clearers may insist upon it anyway. If she is remaining in SA for another few months then it's conceivable that a clearer could open an account with a foreign address on the basis that she is about to return to Blighty.

Failing that it may be possible for her to open an account with the London branch of her SA bank if they operate one. There are a number of SA banks in London but whether they operate retail accounts in London would be the question. Depending on her relationship with them they may be able to open an account temporarily. Perhaps even the Johannesburg branch of a UK bank could assist.

To the best of my limited knowledge there's no exchange control any more which would have cost her a small fortune.

jonesMUFCforever

book12 wrote: »

When she arrives back in the UK, some banks can open an account with just a UK passport. Lloyds and Nationwide are examples that allow this. Not sure about the other banks, but check their website.

Get on the voters roll when coming back here.

I guess it's a good idea to show proof of foreign address too.

Hopefully, they can make some exceptions

Lloyds will want a verifiable address unless found on electoral roll.