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Easiest to open UK bank account?
 

I do not have any troubles with ebay/paypal, but still want an bank account+ visa card to withdraw funds from my paypal as My visa card from my home country has now expired and I don't want to go back to renew :(

The problem is.. I don't have any ''proof of address'' as I don't pay any bills in my name, I don't mind going to the branch to open up an account but wanted to know which one is the easiest to get approved at? I just need a debit card/bank account and heard that it's hard to get an bank account at this country for some reason :suspicious:

Thanks.

Re: Easiest to open UK bank account?
 

Typically you will need to show them your passport/driving license and then some sort of bill to prove you live at your address.

All banks will require the same information. You can call them to explain your situation.

I have just Googled 'barclays bank, documents needed for UK bank account'. it shows a list of documents you can provide. At the bottom of the list is a number to call if you can't provide those documents. Give them a call and see what they say.

Do the same for each bank until you are happy with one.

Re: Easiest to open UK bank account?
 

Always consider speaking to a bank in person.

You mentioned your other cards are expired. Is there a bank from your country in the UK?

If your papers are in order, then you should have no problems.
:peace:

Re: Easiest to open UK bank account?
 

Surely you MUST have something in your own name?

Tenancy agreement?

Do you work? If so you will have some kind of documents with a tax reference on it. If you don't you will still have similar info if you receive benefits?

Re: Easiest to open UK bank account?
 

As mentioned by realdeals Tax Coding letter from HMRC can be accepted as ID.

You may run into problems in banks as you are not going to be able to fulfill any of the "standard" ID requirements. So long as you have something from HMRC with your address and photo ID you can open a basic account. Be firm if you are refused or told to apply online. A lot of branches don't want to deal with those requesting basic banking facilities simply because they know they wont be able to sell you any credit cards/ loans.

Also if you have yet to be sure to get yourself on the voters roll.

Re: Easiest to open UK bank account?
 

I guess depending on how old you are, you can ask your parents to add your name to their electric bill or get a mobile phone contract.

If you are under 18 you can always get a parent or guardian to take you to open an account.

Re: Easiest to open UK bank account?
 

go to post office with a photo and some id , for £12.50 , you will have id you can use at the bank or anywhere else.

Re: Easiest to open UK bank account?
 

Which banks can you open online easily? Im in the uk

Re: Easiest to open UK bank account?
 

You can open loads, Ive opened natwest, hsbc online then once you have a current account open a couple of savings accounts. Just stay away from lloyds, loads of people will tell you this. They don't like mismatch names

Re: Easiest to open UK bank account?
 

Coventry Building Society money manager online (credit to another user for that info) was the easiest I've opened.... or a Post Offfice savings account online

Re: Easiest to open UK bank account?
 

Be quick with the Post Office. They ARE currently accepting applications from new customers to open online savers, but that is not always the case. Before Christmas they stopped for a while. Even though they say only one account per customer, once you have opened one up, they will offer you more. I have five now. Only real pain can be the time delay withdrawing to your nominated account. If you take cash out after 4 p.m on a Friday do not expect to see it until the following Monday morning.

Re: Easiest to open UK bank account?
 

Let me tell you the banking system in UK SUUUCKS ASS!!
Drove today 30mins to another city where nationwide and santander banks are, asked to open basic bank account, and guess what , you must book an appointment to open an account :D :D LOOOL? that stuff takes less than 5mins and you must schedule an appointment a week ahead,, wtf?

Now I want to open an basic bank account at Nationwide online, started filling out the form where they also asked if I have financial problems to which I said no, and guess what- I can't open just basic bank account than If I don't have any problems...and that i must open a creditcard than.. WTF.. I don't want to open a creditcard Just want a debitcard.

Re: Easiest to open UK bank account?
 

Yes, a lot of banks will only offer you their most basic account if you do not pass the credit scoring for a higher status account.

Re: Easiest to open UK bank account?
 

I always tell them I want to pay my benefits into them.

Barclays are a real pain though. Wanted me to have a 1 hour financial consultation to open a basic account. I asked why and the girl went away to ask the manager if they really needed to and she came back and said it was the law!

coop cash minder was easy for me

lloyds tsb was a no no

Halifax is hit or miss

think money was no credit check but they charge £15.00 a month

Re: Easiest to open UK bank account?
 

Talking rubbish as usual. No problem with Halifax. Only reason stevebills had issues was because he was committing fraud and money laundering by putting paypal money through a childs account.:suspicious:

Re: Easiest to open UK bank account?
 

If halifax closes your account it stands to reason you wont be able to use lloyds either [emoji53]

Re: Easiest to open UK bank account?
 

Hi, the account I use to pay money in from paypal is the icount APS pre paid Master card current account and it is the easiest account you can get, and with no credit checks and takes about 10 mins to open online. It is a prepaid MasterCard account and is online only. I have this account. Anyone can get one. I pay PayPal money onto it all the time sometimes 4-5 times a week. You can go online and pay companies and people and bills instantly whenever you want.

The only thing is it has a min limit you have to pay in each month of £1000 + and you can't pay more than £5500 in a month in to it which is the same for about 90% of all current accounts now days. You can pay cash in via post office or employers can pay in via bacs direct to your account. The fee is £9.99 a month and it has a credit builder and overdraft and loan facility plus they make sure that your D Debits are always paid even when you don't have enough money to pay them by lending you up to £50 that you can pay back when you want with about 50 uk pence interest.

The £9.99 fee helps you build up your credit score and all the management benefits you get like paying d debits when you don't have enough in your account to pay them, and they email you when direct debits are due to come out etc etc. They do a Business account as well, but I recommend the basic account as it is much simpler and more beneficial. Some direct debits like council tax you cant do as a direct debit as the council can't take direct debits via master card accounts you need to pay by cash at post office, but this is no problem as you can pay it when you have the cash.

This account took my credit score from 150-282 in a year as I am blacklisted and paying off several debts at £1.00 a month.

Free credit check with clear score online. Clear score helps you up your credit score with a few simple tasks and finds you credit cards, loans, finance of all kinds without compromising your credit score. This company works via Experian, been t uses its own web site and software.
Thanks.

Re: Easiest to open UK bank account?
 

You can use many online banks which allow you to open accounts in minutes u account revlout etc

Re: Easiest to open UK bank account?
 

Indeed, like e2free said above, there are others too like 'U Account' similar to the iCount account and even 'Cashplus Freedom Current Account' which you can open with no credit check and also has DDs & Standing Order facility etc is even cheaper to run as no monthly fee, plus even free to take money out from an ATM, also you receive £10 FREE upon first load of £50 into the account after opening (that is - if you open the Cashplus - Freedom Current Account with a moneysupermarket link) :)

Re: Easiest to open UK bank account?
 

Really? What is the name of this service? Do they give you photo ID?

Re: Easiest to open UK bank account?
 

HSBC is very easy but causes too much security issue. They are watched strictly.