Can Bank of Ireland reject my application because I live in England?

davethorp

Not a lot will happen would be my guess since their website clearly says current accounts are for NI only

SnowTiger

MyUsername wrote: »

I just asked to switch my TSB account to a Clear Account, they were aware at the time that I was Resident of England.

This is the application page.
https://www.bankofirelanduk.com/personal/current-account/clear-account/application/

Their website seems to offer conflicting information.

If you go here, then click on the I want to link at the top of the screen, the only current account option listed is 'Open a current account (NI only)'.

However, nothing else seems to suggest you can't open a current account with them if you live in England. This page mentions '3 months’ recent bank statements from your existing bank (Non UK applicants only)', suggesting they accept applications from anywhere in the UK and elsewhere.

People who live in England aren't a 'protected group', so I'd guess BoI could reject your application for that reason.

Why not wait and apply after you've moved to Northern Ireland?

eskbanker

davethorp wrote: »

Not a lot will happen would be my guess since their website clearly says current accounts are for NI only

While it's true that the only navigation routes to https://www.bankofirelanduk.com/personal/current-account/ seem to be via links labelled 'current account (NI only)', once there I can't see anything definitively stipulating this?

Indeed the Ts & Cs clearly envisage holders of current accounts residing elsewhere in the UK, such as clause 7:

Your agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with Northern Irish law if you are ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland, by Scottish law if you are ordinarily resident in Scotland or English law if you are resident anywhere else.

margaretx9

BoI NI don't generally offer current accounts to GB residents - its intended to be a bank for NI residents.

Until you move there and have an NI address they probably won't open one without a good reason. Given UK accounts work perfectly well in NI why do you need one - unless you pay cash in at branches regularly?

A better option might be to try opening an account with RBS/Natwest as their Ulster bank subsidiary operates in NI as they have common systems? The Nationwide BS also has lots of branches in NI and HSBC and Santander have a few too. TSB don't have any branches there sadly.

antrobus

Bank of Ireland UK is a trading name of Bank of Ireland (UK) plc which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 512956. You can confirm our registration on the FCA's website. Registered in England & Wales (No. 7022885), Bow Bells House, 1 Bread Street, London, EC4M 9BE.
https://www.bankofirelanduk.com/personal/switch-to-bank-of-ireland-uk/current-account/

Seems a perfectly normal UK bank to me. They have a Bank of Ireland UK Clear Current Account amongst others. The switch guarantee applies.

I have a Post Office branded credit card with them.

MyUsername

margaretx9 wrote: »

BoI NI don't generally offer current accounts to GB residents - its intended to be a bank for NI residents.

Until you move there and have an NI address they probably won't open one without a good reason. Given UK accounts work perfectly well in NI why do you need one - unless you pay cash in at branches regularly?

A better option might be to try opening an account with RBS/Natwest as their Ulster bank subsidiary operates in NI as they have common systems? The Nationwide BS also has lots of branches in NI and HSBC and Santander have a few too. TSB don't have any branches there sadly.

I get a lot of cheques from people, yes I know they are old fashoned.

Thrugelmir

MyUsername wrote: »

Are they allow to reject me based on the fact that I am not a resident of Northern Ireland currently?

Yes. If their policy is not to off BOI current accounts to mainland residents. BOI operates in England through a joint venture with the Post Office.

MyUsername

I made a complaint and it turns out the person on the phone was wrong I am able to hold an account with Bank of Ireland UK, they just want some ID at one of their branches.

gt94sss2

MyUsername wrote: »

I get a lot of cheques from people, yes I know they are old fashoned.

Many banks now let you pay in cheques via app, so no need to visit a branch just to pay them in.

suki1964

I wouldn't be going with the BOI tbh

I personally will hold off opening a bank account here until you know which bank has branches where you will be living

We kept out santandar and Halifax accounts as our nearest town have both of those. I also now have a Danske Bank account as they are the closest to where I live