Metro Bank New Account Nightmare. Any Advice?

Band7

Zuzi said:

I would look at accounts with another bank, if I were you. 

I would be very surprised if any UK bank would bypass the checks they no doubt have been asked to carry out for all Russian citizens Not sure why any Russian would expect to be exempted from such checks.

beckstar1975

I have been involved in checking the sanctions list and it's very extensive, I can see why there's a backlog. 

I would speak to another bank before applying as it's likely that the same would happen there, the whole way that sanctions work is targetting an entire group whether complicit or not, that's how it has it's impact.

Walda_Wild

I applied for an account as a British citizen. I have never had a bank account in Russia or ex-USSR. 

Besides, what rigorous checks are you actually on about? A hard credit check would have flagged up any money laundering history. Or Metro bank is really going to be calling Sberbank in this political climate?

Walda_Wild

Beckstar1975, I seem to be unable to post with quotes: thanks for your advice, it has a valid point.