UK accounts when moving abroad (what am I allowed and not allowed to do?)

Walesnum1

I moved to Bahrain near the end of last year for work. Please can I check what I'm allowed and not allowed to do from the following list:

1) keep my UK bank accounts open (Halifax and NatWest)
2) continue transferring money between one UK account to another UK account (Halifax -> NatWest & vice versa)

3) use my UK account/bank card to pay for things abroad while I live here

4) continue paying money into a UK ISA

5) transfer money from my Bahrain account to my UK account & vice versa

[Deleted User]

4. Yes but only until 5 April 2021 and then no
And depending on your provider you may only be allowed to sell holdings and not buy new ones. (certainly Vanguard and iWeb will not allow you to buy, however HL and ii do) - so in effect if you are on those restricted platforms then you can only put cash into the ISA and not buy anything. (if they let you put cash in at all)

Walesnum1

Deleted_User

Thank you. This one I had read about on the government website but just wanted to double check. Would my bank have warned me about this as I've already told them I've moved abroad, or do they expect you to have done your own research?

Also, Do you by any chance have any knowledge about the other 4 point? I obviously don't want to accidently get myself into trouble by doing any of them without knowing the repercussions.

[Deleted User]

I would have thought as you are outside the EU then you wouldn't be able to have a normal UK bank account (even some countries in the EU - some banks will close your account)