Suitable Basic bank accounts for homeless

Mary444

I have a friend who is currently in a temporary homeless accommodation, he has lost pretty much everything after a car accident left him unable to work, he has huge mental health problems, lost mobility and some form of brain injury making it very difficult to use online.

He has has massive struggles in during the pandemic which have made his mental health issues critical, he is suicidal most days and all I can do is try to help with small things that are huge for him
.
His bank recently decided that they did not want to have him as a customer anymore after he asked to take a complaint to the financial conduct authority (he has been a customer for over 35 years) .

He was left with a some debts he can't service so he is not going to be able to get any credit and a Basic Bank Account has been recommended.

The problem is that he has very little in the way of identity that he can use to open an account, his passport has expired and he does not have money to renew, he does not have any bills to confirm his address and the only thing he has that shows his address is bank account (the statements are electronic).  He has asked for paper ones but still waiting

He does not have energy bills, water or council tax bills, so I am trying to find him a bank who will allow him to open an account with his expired passport and his previous bank statement, he might have a mobile phone statement too but that too is electronic. Which means trying to find a way to print the electronic versions out (normally a simple thing but he has no printer and very limited wifi from hotspots).  However, from what I have read (for example on Metro Bank) they do not accept printouts anyway and they want a valid passport.

Can anyone recommend a bank that will help homeless people get a Basic bank account in this situation? 

Minkym00

There are few accounts where you can just open one via your mobile phone. These off the top of my head...

https://www.revolut.com/a-radically-better-account

https://www.starlingbank.com/open-bank-account-online/

JonVarnas

Has he got a driving license? You could give Monzo a try

Mary444

JonVarnas said:

Has he got a driving license? You could give Monzo a try

No he does not

normanna

His bank would not ask him to leave just because he pursued a complaint so there may be more to this story than he told you.  If, for example, he allowed his account to be used fraudulently then there could be CIFAS markers that would make it very difficult or impossible to open an account elsewhere.  Alternatively there could be a mix up with the bank and worth pursuing so he did not have to open a new bank account.

Willing2Learn

I am pretty sure that HSBC have a product specifically designed to provide a banking service for individuals who are homeless. Their Basic account can be opened without the need for photo ID or proof of address.  This scheme is in partnership with Shelter and Crisis

Fighter1986

Willing2Learn said:

I am pretty sure that HSBC have a product specifically designed to provide a banking service for individuals who are homeless. Their Basic account can be opened without the need for photo ID or proof of address.  This scheme is in partnership with Shelter and Crisis

https://england.shelter.org.uk/what_we_do/corporate_partners/companies/hsbc

Mary444

Thanks I always thought of Revolut as a travel money service and Monzo the same.  
I thought Starling was a business bank,
I am not sure how he will cope with making a video selfie and whether they will accept his now expired passport.
Will it harm him to try all three?
His only income is from the DWP and that seems to be why he has so much anxiety.
It is a shame none of the main banks can help someone in his position.

  

Minkym00 said:

There are few accounts where you can just open one via your mobile phone. These off the top of my head...

Mary444 said:

JonVarnas said:You could give Monzo a try

Fighter1986

Mary444 said:

Thanks I always thought of Revolut as a travel money service and Monzo the same.  
I thought Starling was a business bank,
I am not sure how he will cope with making a video selfie and whether they will accept his now expired passport.
Will it harm him to try all three?
His only income is from the DWP and that seems to be why he has so much anxiety.
It is a shame none of the main banks can help someone in his position.

  

Minkym00 said:

There are few accounts where you can just open one via your mobile phone. These off the top of my head...

Mary444 said:

JonVarnas said:You could give Monzo a try

This is why Willing2Learn pointed out the HSBC scheme; have a look at the link I posted. 

Willing2Learn

Mary444 said:

It is a shame none of the main banks can help someone in his position.

Check out HSBC, as per my previous post.