List of banks with hard vs soft searches for current accounts

pecunianonolet

Thanks all for your contributions!

 twadds123 said:

pecunianonolet said:

twadds123 said:

RBS was no hard search for a 2nd account as an existing current account holder

Thanks, made the note on p1

@pecunianonolet just double checked as advised by another poster.  RBS did do a hard search for a 2nd account, please accept my apologies for the incorrect information, i had missed checking equifax report

RBS details updated.

theonenonly

Can you open a starling account if you had one opened a year ago to make a switch?

pecunianonolet

theonenonly said:

Can you open a starling account if you had one opened a year ago to make a switch?

I think Starling is blocking you for some time before you can apply for an account again after a switch but not sure for how long.

Zaul22

The ones that say they will only run a hard search for the first account... If I have already closed all my accounts with them and reopen a new one I assume that will count as the first one again, or could they remember who I am?

pecunianonolet

Zaul22 said:

The ones that say they will only run a hard search for the first account... If I have already closed all my accounts with them and reopen a new one I assume that will count as the first one again, or could they remember who I am?

Would assume it counts as new account and therefore better to think worst case and expect a hard search.

flaneurs_lobster

Managed to earn myself an unnecessary hard search by doing an exploratory current account application with Ulster Bank.

Was curious to know if I could open an account while in GB (rather than NI). Not able to proceed while physically located in GB but got as far as Id checks if VPNing from Paris. Didn't proceed with application. 

pecunianonolet

flaneurs_lobster said:

Managed to earn myself an unnecessary hard search by doing an exploratory current account application with Ulster Bank.

Was curious to know if I could open an account while in GB (rather than NI). Not able to proceed while physically located in GB but got as far as Id checks if VPNing from Paris. Didn't proceed with application. 

You could as well have taken the account ad switch it away at some point. Added it to the list on p1

Zanderman

flaneurs_lobster said:

Managed to earn myself an unnecessary hard search by doing an exploratory current account application with Ulster Bank.

Was curious to know if I could open an account while in GB (rather than NI). Not able to proceed while physically located in GB but got as far as Id checks if VPNing from Paris. Didn't proceed with application. 

I opened an account with Ulster in November last year and I'm in GB not NI.  From memory many others have done so too.

flaneurs_lobster

pecunianonolet said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

Managed to earn myself an unnecessary hard search by doing an exploratory current account application with Ulster Bank.

Was curious to know if I could open an account while in GB (rather than NI). Not able to proceed while physically located in GB but got as far as Id checks if VPNing from Paris. Didn't proceed with application. 

You could as well have taken the account ad switch it away at some point. Added it to the list on p1

Could find nothing in the T&C about physical location/home address restrictions on account opening requirements but they were making it so tricky that I figured it might be restricted at a later stage of the application. 

Just a bit cautious around NatWest Group bank accounts for switching, my main account has been with them for > 35 years and I've been staying away from using them for burners.

WillPS

Zanderman said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

Managed to earn myself an unnecessary hard search by doing an exploratory current account application with Ulster Bank.

Was curious to know if I could open an account while in GB (rather than NI). Not able to proceed while physically located in GB but got as far as Id checks if VPNing from Paris. Didn't proceed with application. 

I opened an account with Ulster in November last year and I'm in GB not NI.  From memory many others have done so too.

Same. When I got the 'introductory' call from the nice lady in Belfast she was trying to set up an appointment for me at Natwest in Nottingham, so clearly a process their scripts accommodate.

Might be worth ringing to see if the application can still be completed so you at least get an account out of it.