Using UK Banking Apps Abroad Using a Local Foreign SIM / Tel Number

scoot65

Shortly I will be going to SE Asia for several months. In the UK I currently use Starling, Chase and Virgin Money banking apps. My UK mobile phone number is an old PAYG top up arrangement and will not work in SE Asia so can't do two factor authentification.  

I've never used banking apps outside of the UK before and I'm wondering if it is as simple as just putting in a local foreign SIM and the app will work. I'll be using the same mobile phone as I use in the UK, just the SIM / tel number will change.   

I have messaged Starling via their app who replied back stating that if I tell them the foreign SIM / tel number they will will be able to tell me if it is supported. Obviously I can't do that as I'm not at my destination yet and have not bought a local SIM.

Eager to hear other people's experiences / advice regarding buying a local foreign SIM and using the the same devise to access their UK banking apps.   

eDicky

Smartphone apps function independently of whatever SIM is in the handset, after initial setup, so you should have no problem. I never have, using multiple banking apps and SIMs during years of frequent travel including SE Asia.

You should be able to use a UK PAYG number when roaming, which you may need to enable. To receive a banking passcode by SMS will always be free, but any other use would be expensive of course.

For traveling it's always useful to have a dual-SIM phone, if you're thinking of replacing yours before going or while there.

scoot65

eDicky, many thanks for your reply. Much appreciated! 

It's not really been too long since I started using banking apps as opposed to web based online banking, so I've still got things to learn. Your post has given me confidence that I should be good to go once I've got a local SIM activated and in my phone. Thanks again.

 

km1500

Using a banking app has nothing to do with the telephone number really as it uses data i.e. It will use Mobile data or if you connect to Wi-Fi abroad it will use Wi-Fi

The banking app would if it wished be able to tell what country you are in by the ip address to which your phone is connected

DullGreyGuy

scoot65 said:

eDicky, many thanks for your reply. Much appreciated! 

It's not really been too long since I started using banking apps as opposed to web based online banking, so I've still got things to learn. Your post has given me confidence that I should be good to go once I've got a local SIM activated and in my phone. Thanks again.

 

You dont even need a local sim activated, they'd work perfectly fine on most phones without a sim as long as you are connected to wifi.

The issue will be if any of the apps require 2 form factor authentication based on texts to your UK mobile. If any do then clearly you have a problem with not having the sim.

Personally have switched my uk sim to an esim so its always there and I am then free to pop in a local sim when travelling. 

scoot65

Thanks for the input km1500 and DGG. Good points to consider.

I have been asked for 2FFA at times, but can't remember what I was doing at the time.

I've aleady set up my payees between all the apps etc. My thinking was if the payees are already set up at least that's something less that my require 2FFA to set up when I'm abroad.

I think what I'll do prior to departure is load up each card with ££'s so that I can at least use the cards without the apps..... just in case there's problems

Chase have got back to me (in chat) and stated that "if the tel number is changing, I won't be able to use the app as I need a UK mobile number. I can use the physical card, but the app itself won't work". 

400ixl

Does your phone have dual sim capability. Maybe have your UK sim in the main slot with data roaming disabled so that if an app needs to read the sim it can do and you can receive an SMS if required.

Then put a local sim in slot 2 (or maybe e-sim depending on the phone) that you have data on and the banking apps can use that for their data connection.

Maybe a work around if needed. 

eDicky

scoot65 said

Chase have got back to me (in chat) and stated that "if the tel number is changing, I won't be able to use the app as I need a UK mobile number. I can use the physical card, but the app itself won't work". 

Please let us know if this turns out to be true, but from my experience I don't believe it. That is, unless you have to set up and sign in to the Chase app on a new handset, which would require the UK SIM inserted. Or unless the Chase app functions uniquely in some way (I don't have the Chase UK account), which I doubt.

scoot65

400ixl, my phone (iPhone 6s) doesn't have dual SIM capability unfortunately.

eDicky, I'll be using my usual handset not a different one so hopefully the Chase chat person was wrong about that.

As DGG posted above, about a phone not even requiring a SIM installed to access apps, using only wifi (no SIM in phone) I was able to do a couple of test transfers without any problem. So that's something new I've learned!

Thanks again for the replies.

Shanwick

I have used the Chase UK app while abroad with non-UK SIMs in the device and had no issues.

The_Fat_Controller

First, find out how you can change the number associated with the accounts you need to use.

You may need to call them and pass security in order to do so.

A UK PAYG SIM should be able to be activated for roaming and receiving 2FA SMS are free.

I am currently in Thailand and all my banking apps are working fine over local data and WiFi.

These are Al Rayan, Nationwide, Santander, Marcus, Chase and the Hargreaves Lansdown investment app.