Suitable UK bank account for expat?

Microbe65

A British expat, living in Australia for over 30 years, needs to setup a UK bank account for her mother using a registered PoA.

The mother is in the process of moving into a nursing home (in the UK). The daughter (expat) will be in the UK for the next 3 weeks to begin the process of selling the mothers house. She has a Power of Attorney.

I am aware that it can be problematic for expats to set up UK bank accounts. And with the PoA another potential complication, does anyone have any suggestions or experience of UK banks that have been used for this or similar situations?

wmb194

Microbe65 said:

A British expat, living in Australia for over 30 years, needs to setup a UK bank account for her mother using a registered PoA.

The mother is in the process of moving into a nursing home (in the UK). The daughter (expat) will be in the UK for the next 3 weeks to begin the process of selling the mothers house. She has a Power of Attorney.

I am aware that it can be problematic for expats to set up UK bank accounts. And with the PoA another potential complication, does anyone have any suggestions or experience of UK banks that have been used for this or similar situations?

Why can’t they use their mother’s existing account (s)? I don’t know how much of a problem their foreign domicile will cause but adding the PoA to this should be easier than opening a new account.

xylophone

Does her mother have an existing bank account/accounts?

If so, the daughter will need to contact those organisations concerning the registration of the PoA.


I note from this

https://www.barclays.co.uk/important-information/living-outside-the-uk/

that Barclays will permit a non UK address to be recorded  on a UK resident's account if the person living outside the UK holds PoA for that account holder.

Microbe65

xylophone said:

Does her mother have an existing bank account/accounts?

If so, the daughter will need to contact those organisations concerning the registration of the PoA.


I note from this

https://www.barclays.co.uk/important-information/living-outside-the-uk/

that Barclays will permit a non UK address to be recorded  on a UK resident's account if the person living outside the UK holds PoA for that account holder.

The mother does have an existing account (TSB), but they haven't (so far) been particularly helpful with registering the PoA.
I agree that if the PoA can be setup with TSB that would probably be the easier option, but thank you for the info about Barclays as this could certainly be a backup option.

friolento

Have you seen this: https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/revealed-the-banks-that-now-allow-online-power-of-attorney-registrations-ajqZL6Z2CXYm

gt94sss2

You could use the bank accounts that the mother already has.

If the daughter wants to open a UK account, she can try HSBC.

See https://www.hsbc.co.uk/international/apply-for-a-uk-account/

Might be even easier if she banks with HSBC Australia.

eskbanker

friolento said:

Have you seen this: https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/revealed-the-banks-that-now-allow-online-power-of-attorney-registrations-ajqZL6Z2CXYm

The 'now' being June 2020, so there'll be more over three years further on (Halifax for one), although Tesco seemed to be suggesting that they'd reverse their acceptance post-Covid....

[Deleted User]

Microbe65 said:

xylophone said:

Does her mother have an existing bank account/accounts?

If so, the daughter will need to contact those organisations concerning the registration of the PoA.


I note from this

https://www.barclays.co.uk/important-information/living-outside-the-uk/

that Barclays will permit a non UK address to be recorded  on a UK resident's account if the person living outside the UK holds PoA for that account holder.

The mother does have an existing account (TSB), but they haven't (so far) been particularly helpful with registering the PoA.
I agree that if the PoA can be setup with TSB that would probably be the easier option, but thank you for the info about Barclays as this could certainly be a backup option.

None of the retail banks are going to massively enthusiastic about a new POA account as they make them little money and come with lots of hassle. Added to the fact that POA holder is non-resident emigrant just adds to the complications for very little gain.

I would personally persevere with TSB if there a branch available to make a Face to Face appointment and take all the documents to allow them to copy & certify them.

jbuchanangb

I agree to persist with getting access to the mother's bank account. I operated my father's TSB account using POA a few years ago. The main issue is likely to be the identification checks for the Attorney. Passport for identity, and some proof of address. 

financies

As an expat from the EU i am really happy with Revolut. Monthly free exchanges up to 1000Gbp for a reasonable rate. For larger exchanges Atlantic Money (not a bank account, just a financial service) is the best option. HSBC is no longer offering acceptable rates due to their "risk appetite" and they don't give interest on their global money account.

Olenna

financies said:

As an expat from the EU i am really happy with Revolut. Monthly free exchanges up to 1000Gbp for a reasonable rate. For larger exchanges Atlantic Money (not a bank account, just a financial service) is the best option. HSBC is no longer offering acceptable rates due to their "risk appetite" and they don't give interest on their global money account.

I wouldn't even recommend Revolut to my worse enemy.