Basic accounts approval?

rubymint_2

Hello
Hoping you can give some advice...
My brother has been living in the US for the past 5yrs and has come back to the UK. He has got a job, but is having an nightmare trying to get a basic bank account. We've tried RBS, Barclays & Co-Op.
The main issue appears to be his lack of address proof. He has his passport, US driving licence, a letter from Inland Revenue confirming his home address.
He wouldn't be able to try Citibank as he doesn't can't write a cheque for the £1.
Any suggestions on where to try next?

iwanttoberich

When I first moved to this country five years ago I had the same problem. I was cheeky and asked a bank clerk if they expected me to keep my money under a mattress for three years till I had address proof.

A lady I stayed with wrote me a reference letter and asked her building society to give me an account. They did, then I faced the probelm of not being able to set up direct debits (it was Birmingham Midshire). I eventually wrote to Alliance & Leicester and explained to them that all I wanted was to be able to pay my TV licence as I didn't want to be fined etc.

They wrote me back and set up a basic account for me. I don't understand why overseas students are free to open accounts, yet other foreigners who are working and earning a regular income, can't. Strange things, these banks.

Maybe you can write a letter to your bank and ask them to open an account for your brother.

PBA

Abbey will open a basic bank account with just the passport as ID. If he's been offered a job over here then they might be able to approve a full account for him, I've seen it happen but not guaranteed.

gt94sss2

rubymint wrote: »

Hello
Hoping you can give some advice...
My brother has been living in the US for the past 5yrs and has come back to the UK. He has got a job, but is having an nightmare trying to get a basic bank account. We've tried RBS, Barclays & Co-Op.
The main issue appears to be his lack of address proof. He has his passport, US driving licence, a letter from Inland Revenue confirming his home address.
He wouldn't be able to try Citibank as he doesn't can't write a cheque for the £1.
Any suggestions on where to try next?

A few options to consider:

1) depending on who your brother banks with in the USA, they may be able to help him open an account in the UK - for instance HSBC USA can help/arrange for a HSBC account here

2) Some banks may let her open a normal 'current' account with just his passport - you would have to see.. (tbh I would have thought a letter from Inland Revenue would be considered proof of address - especially if its a Notice of Coding)

Otherwise:

3) open a basic bank account (a list of providers is included in this leaflet) or

4 ) open a HSBC Passport account which is designed for people moving to the UK though it does has an annual fee in the first year.

Also, get him added to the electoral roll if he qualifies..

Regards
Sunil