Just so you can compare to the way it was about in 1989:

I decided I wanted a UK bank account about 20 years ago. I saw an advertisement in a British financial publication from NatWest. At that time, they had an expatriate service office East of London. I mailed them a letter, indicating I was interested in a current account and credit card. A short time later I got a package in the mail with forms and information they wanted. From what I recall, they wanted a bank reference letter from my bank (I had my local bank write me up one that indicated I was a dependable customer for many years), a signature guarantee on my application (got that from my bank too), and photocopies of identification (I sent them copies of my U.S. passport and drivers license). Since I was also applying for a credit card, I sent them a recent copy of my credit report (I forgot which credit bureau, but they all indicated I have excellent credit). I sent that all back to them.

A short time later (I forgot how long, but it couldn't have been more than two or three weeks), they sent me a letter that everything was in order, with instructions to send them an opening deposit. I sent them a personal check in U.S. Dollars from a bank here (I forgot the amount). They then opened my current account with a branch in London, negotiating my U.S. check and depositing it into my pound sterling account. A short time later, I got a Mastercard from them (1,000 pound credit limit), also an ATM card. A few years later I decided to open a small savings account with them too, and I eventually created an online banking logon when that became available.

I've never kept a very large amount of money with them (it's about a couple of thousand pounds), and any transactions I do (like savings account transactions or Mastercard purchases) aren't very large, but I do them regularly so I keep my accounts active. I figure after 20 years that they're very comfortable with me as a non-resident customer who they never have a problem with. I never plan on closing these accounts, being that I have no reason to, and also if I did, the process of opening (or reopening) accounts like this is much more difficult, if not impossible. But even back then, I certainly had to prove who I am and where I live, but not through all the hoops they make customers go through now.

I've been to the UK only twice since opening the accounts. One thing I need to remember if I bring my Natwest Mastercard with me to use there, is to also remember the PIN that goes with it. Credit transactions using UK issued cards in the UK require a PIN.