Applying for new Santander current account

ggearbox162

Hello.

I have got an appointment at my local Santander branch to attempt to open an everyday current account. This just so happens to be the first bank account that I would be properly applying, although I have a unique Santander savings account - or had - when I was a kid. I have no credit history and the bank has advised me to go for the everyday current account despite this. I would have applied on the website for said account yesterday and I tried to, but I have to go to the branch despite being a British citizen, as I was born in the United States, I need to have a tax identifiable number, which I don't have on me since I left the US when I was a baby, therefore the only way this can be 'bypassed' is if I go to my local branch from what the agent there told me.

Was the agent correct to tell me to go for the everyday account as Santander called it or should they have advised me to apply for a basic one as someone with no credit score?


UPDATE: I got accepted for the everyday current account.

PRAISETHESUN

I had a similar experience with Santander as they were my first UK account I opened. Basically it's a "computer says no" issue on their website whenever you have foreign tax responsibilities, and the staff can override it when they process your application in branch.

You should be able to specifically request a basic account, but the standard process is usually to apply for an Everyday account, and they then offer you a basic one when the application inevitably gets declined. Doesn't really matter much in the scheme of things which way they do it, except you might luck out and get a standard account rather than a basic one.

WillPS

PRAISETHESUN said:
You should be able to specifically request a basic account, but the standard process is usually to apply for an Everyday account, and they then offer you a basic one when the application inevitably gets declined. Doesn't really matter much in the scheme of things which way they do it, except you might luck out and get a standard account rather than a basic one.

Although Santander are one of the few to actually allow applications for their basic account directly - the other two are The Co-operative Bank and TSB. The only advantage of doing so with Santander is that you avoid a hard credit search.

ggearbox162

PRAISETHESUN said:

I had a similar experience with Santander as they were my first UK account I opened. Basically it's a "computer says no" issue on their website whenever you have foreign tax responsibilities, and the staff can override it when they process your application in branch.

You should be able to specifically request a basic account, but the standard process is usually to apply for an Everyday account, and they then offer you a basic one when the application inevitably gets declined. Doesn't really matter much in the scheme of things which way they do it, except you might luck out and get a standard account rather than a basic one.

I mean, I didn't get to the 2nd page as I had no clue what my tax identifiable number is. At least there they can set me up for a basic account when I inevitably fail and can override the TIN there. Hopefully I luck out but I am going into this with a mindset of 'I will be rejected' so that if it does happen, which I think it will, at least I won't be disappointed.

I am 20 and with severe ASD so ideally somebody should have been on the ball a lot quicker than they were.

ggearbox162

ggearbox162 said:

PRAISETHESUN said:

I had a similar experience with Santander as they were my first UK account I opened. Basically it's a "computer says no" issue on their website whenever you have foreign tax responsibilities, and the staff can override it when they process your application in branch.

You should be able to specifically request a basic account, but the standard process is usually to apply for an Everyday account, and they then offer you a basic one when the application inevitably gets declined. Doesn't really matter much in the scheme of things which way they do it, except you might luck out and get a standard account rather than a basic one.

I mean, I didn't get to the 2nd page as I had no clue what my tax identifiable number is. At least there they can set me up for a basic account when I inevitably fail and can override the TIN there. Hopefully I luck out but I am going into this with a mindset of 'I will be rejected' so that if it does happen, which I think it will, at least I won't be disappointed.

I am 20 and with severe ASD so ideally somebody should have been on the ball a lot quicker than they were.

I just prefer doing things online sometimes. It is a lot easier for me to deal with things sometimes, and I do not exactly blame the person who said I should apply for the standard one off the bat, he was probably directed to do that, but still, it does seem like they gave incorrect advice, but I think that is more on Santander's end than anything to do with that agent.

I might have been able to continue with that application if I could find my TIN. But hey, if the weather is good and there aren't any delays to the bus, I should be fine.

xylophone

Do you have a National Insurance Number?

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/international-exchange-of-information/ieim402040

United Kingdom

For most individuals in the UK the TIN will be their National Insurance Number.

FATCA

The TIN to be reported for FATCA purposes is the US Federal Taxpayer Identification Number.

Have you waived US citizenship?

ggearbox162

xylophone said:

Do you have a National Insurance Number?

United Kingdom

For most individuals in the UK the TIN will be their National Insurance Number.

FATCA

The TIN to be reported for FATCA purposes is the US Federal Taxpayer Identification Number.

Have you waived US citizenship?

Yes, I do have a National Insurance Number, and as far as I am aware, I haven't waived the US citizenship.

Sorry, I didnt see this, as I havent gotten an email to suggest you replied to me.

ggearbox162

PRAISETHESUN said:

I had a similar experience with Santander as they were my first UK account I opened. Basically it's a "computer says no" issue on their website whenever you have foreign tax responsibilities, and the staff can override it when they process your application in branch.

You should be able to specifically request a basic account, but the standard process is usually to apply for an Everyday account, and they then offer you a basic one when the application inevitably gets declined. Doesn't really matter much in the scheme of things which way they do it, except you might luck out and get a standard account rather than a basic one.

Thanks for the advice.

Santander actually offers a bank account. Turns out they couldn't override too much, but I did surprisingly get accepted for the standard (everyday as they call it) current account. I'm surprised they didn't deny me as someone without a credit score.