USA Citizen wanting to open UK Bank Account

sweetcarer

Hi All

Don't know if this is the right forum for this - first timer.

My husband is American and moved over to the UK last year (June). He is on a married persons visa. Also he was awarded a place at the local college.

He is now nearing the end of term and looking to open a bank account. He has no UK identification except his registration card for the doctors. I have been paying the bills (I am a UK citizen by the way). He has recently been given a cheque (in UK pounds) in his name and wonders how he can pay it in to an account to give me some money.

I have phone a couple of places and they say they need UK passport, driving lience or utility bill or even bank statements (how can he when he has no account).

Can anyone help or recommend some bank that can. He is prepared to open a savings account as well as a bank account if this helps.

He won't have any regular income till July and he has finished college and hopefully finds a job.

Thank you in anticipation.

Sweetcarer

ukdutypaid

Citibank... I think they even operate a dual currency account.... Branch access is hopeless of course....

Megalomaniac

My girlfriend was in the exact same situation except she is a British citizen but was 14 when she moved stateside, therefore didn't have any bank accounts except an instant saver with the Abbey National, but that was closed years ago. Only thing that could be done was to pay £60 to HSBC and open a passport account.

http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/personal/current-accounts/passport

It charges a fee, but with it you have the fully operating bank account with a debit card. They also offer you a savings account (crap interest but its a start) when you open the current account. The best thing, when you open your account, you can open it with a cheque and its in within a few days.

After the year, HSBC will discuss upgrading the current account to a regular one etc... but by then you should have enough ID (quarterly bank statement for the account) to go to another bank and open a better account that matches your circumstances. Also, consider applying for a high interest credit card if you want to start becoming someone in the UK and having a credit file.

Hope this helps!

skyrider007

I recommend CITIBANK since it is an American bank that has products that are suited for American customers.

If you're well off, I also recommend an offshore account from one of the leading banks (UBS/Chase/Citigroup/JPMorgan etc).

jonesMUFCforever

I don't know which banks told you it has to be a UK passport but IMO this is totally wrong.
It has to be in date.Banks may make more stringent checks if not UK/EU but a US passport is certainly valid as ID to open an account.

If he is not on Electoral roll then he will need to confirm his address.
This can be done quite easily - does he have a tenancy agreement?
Does he have an UK tax code -if so he can ask for a Tax allowance letter from HMRC?
Some banks will also accept an introduction from an existing customer - so the problems you have encountered so far can be easily surpassed.

sweetcarer

Hi All

Thank you for all your help - you have been very kind in helping with this minefield. Will check out this passport account.

Kind wishes

sweetcarer

skyrider007

sweetcarer wrote: »

Hi All

Thank you for all your help - you have been very kind in helping with this minefield. Will check out this passport account.

Kind wishes

sweetcarer

You're very welcome.

Please bare in mind that HSBC Passport Account requires you to sign a contract for one year (and have a monthly fee).

d130

BTW, this isn't really related to banking, but to immigration. I'm not sure if he's on the initial 2-year visa (FLR) or ILR, but if he's on the 2-year visa, you need to make sure that he has his name on bills like council tax, BT, Sky, Electric, Water and Gas wherever possible because you'll need to provide proof of cohabitation when he goes to apply for ILR.

I opened a Classic account at Lloyds with a my name on a British Gas bill and a non EU passport, it was the 2-1 card, so a Visa debit, but not a cheque guarantee card. I upgraded after a few months on that to the 3-1, but they had no problems with that.