What bank accounts are available in the UK for a UK non-resident?

Brunon

To deal with a late parent's estate (in the UK), I need to be able to be able to save the money in a UK account - but as a non-resident, I am very limited on what accounts I can open in the UK. Any thoughts? I wish to keep the inheritance in the UK.

lr1277

Do you meant current account or savings account? I suspect but don't know that you won't get a UK savings account. You might be able to get a current account if you are in the EU. Whereever you are, nothing stopping you getting an expat account in the likes of Jersey or Guernsey. I don't know if they come with savings accounts.

So if you want more helpful advice, whereabouts in the world are you?

Edit to add information for the other thread you started also related to this thread:

Apparently HSBC international have a bank account and can provide a credit card for those with an 'international' lifestyle.

TheBanker

As a general rule, the major UK banks don't offer services to non-residents. You may find some options with the smaller/newer banks but they are the exception rather than the rule. Even if you can find a savings account, most of them would need you to also hold a UK current account in order to deposit/withdraw your funds. 

Realistically you need to look at 'International' accounts based in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, which cater for non UK Residents. They're held in Sterling and you have access to Faster Payments etc, but they often have high minimum balance requirements, lower interest rates, and fees/charges. They are also not covered by the FCA and don't have FSCS protection. You will be protected by the local regulator, but the limits vary so don't assume you're covered for £85k as you would be in the UK.

Here's an example of what's offered by Lloyds International (not a recommendation, just an example): https://www.lloydsbank.com/international.html

wmb194

It depends on where you live and you need to have a UK account(s) to send and receive money to/from - in another thread the OP states they have a Barclays account - but you could try NS&I. 

https://www.nsandi.com/help/join-nsandi/using-nsandi-outside-uk

TheBanker

wmb194 said:

It depends on where you live and you need to have a UK account(s) to send and receive money to/from - in another thread the OP states they have a Barclays account - but you could try NS&I. 

https://www.nsandi.com/help/join-nsandi/using-nsandi-outside-uk

They say they have a Barclaycard credit card, not an account. And the credit card is being closed because Barclaycard don't allow non UK residents to be customers.

wmb194

TheBanker said:

wmb194 said:

It depends on where you live and you need to have a UK account(s) to send and receive money to/from - in another thread the OP states they have a Barclays account - but you could try NS&I. 

https://www.nsandi.com/help/join-nsandi/using-nsandi-outside-uk

They say they have a Barclaycard credit card, not an account. And the credit card is being closed because Barclaycard don't allow non UK residents to be customers.

Oh, yes. There's another thread from 2020 where the same question was asked and the OP stated they have savings in the UK so, unless it's been closed, they must have at least one account somewhere.

BrittanyBoy

I am having problems finding a replacement for my sterling account with Citibank which they closed (policy decision).

As a non-UK resident (France) and wanting a "regulated" bank, I have found that most won't accept non-UK applications and the "ex-pat" route comes with high minimum balance requirements (50-80K£).

Tried NatWest, but had technical problems (they wanted a "selfie" but their system wouldn't accept mine) and HSBC are proving to be an absolute disaster (2 applications apparently "open", different CIN numbers, 2 complaints at present).

Whilst I consider going to Financial Ombudsman (yes, it has been that bad) - is anyone aware of an alternative.

I am cautious about new "players" in banking and am aware that there are a number of changes occuring - eg HSBC selling off their French operation completely and re-trenching from Canada, USA to "concentrate" on far east.