What to do with UK bank accounts and credit cards if migrating

Options
2»

Comments

  • JuicyJesus
    Options
    A friend of ours opened an account with Nationwide for a year while she's here, and she was expressly told that after the account was opened she was welcome to keep it open for whatever reason even after she'd left the UK, so long as she kept her address up to date.

    Honestly I'd say that there's no real harm in keeping the account open so long as your address is kept up to date and you keep tabs on the account - this may also help if, say, you need to receive some money from the UK - Faster Payment then withdrawing in cash or spending on card overseas may well work out cheaper than a foreign transfer fee. Obviously this depends on the individual bank's policies.
    urs sinserly,
    ~~joosy jeezus~~
  • Joe_Bloggs
    Joe_Bloggs Posts: 4,535 Forumite
    edited 13 September 2017 at 11:40AM
    Options
    If the OP is worried about a transparent credit history/identity maintained across all borders then the recent hacking of Equifax in the US/(UK ?) could be a solution.


    J_B.
  • Mackle
    Mackle Posts: 72 Forumite
    edited 13 September 2017 at 5:55PM
    Options
    Joe_Bloggs wrote: »
    If the OP is worried about a transparent credit history/identity maintained across all borders then the recent hacking of Equifax in the US/(UK ?) could be a solution.

    What I'm worried about, is I move abroad, close all my UK accounts off and come back home again, I'd be starting off with no history and I'd like avoid that my keeping my record open.

    Also, thinking about it, it would be useful to have a UK account that I can use whilst I'm visiting the UK as well since I'd be periodically coming back to visit family, so presumably I could transfer from my DE account to my UK account, and what I don't use transfer back again after my visit.
  • Wellard_Mann
    Options
    Mackle wrote: »
    What I'm worried about, is I move abroad, close all my UK accounts off and come back home again, I'd be starting off with no history and I'd like avoid that my keeping my record open.

    Also, thinking about it, it would be useful to have a UK account that I can use whilst I'm visiting the UK as well since I'd be periodically coming back to visit family, so presumably I could transfer from my DE account to my UK account, and what I don't use transfer back again after my visit.

    I'd endorse this. I worked abroad for a number of years and kept a UK bank account and a credit card open for just these reasons. I used them a couple of times a year when visiting family and friends. I also knew I was very unlikely to leave the UK permanently and would most likely return. In the event when I did I could pick up my financial life seamlessly. Good luck with your new position.
  • Anthorn
    Anthorn Posts: 4,362 Forumite
    First Post First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Options
    I'm not going to cite every U.K. bank but the main problem with a U.K. bank account if you relocate overseas is if you have an overdraft. Barclays Bank for example provides services for customers who are relocating overseas. But due to its lending policy it will not agree further credit.
    http://www.barclays.co.uk/help/international/accounts/moving-abroad/

    In theory a citizen of any E.U. country is entitled to a basic bank account in any E.U. country. In practise though that doesn't always apply to U.K. banks.
    http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/financial-products-and-services/bank-accounts-eu/index_en.htm

    But of course we are leaving the E.U. although E.U. laws are to be moved to U.K. law.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 343.2K Banking & Borrowing
  • 250.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 449.7K Spending & Discounts
  • 235.3K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 608K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 173.1K Life & Family
  • 247.9K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 15.9K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards