OT: Bank account in the UK
Jan 10, 2008, 3:11 am
#16
Join Date: Nov 2005
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Slightly different but opening an international student account with Barclays was fairly easy, and I still get good service from them even though I am no longer a student. (it helps taht I somehow ended up getting moved to their offshore centre in Jersey).
Jan 10, 2008, 3:43 am
#17
Original Poster
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Thanks gentlemen, for all your suggestions. Since I travel quite a bit the Citibank option sounds good.
I do work and live in London (at least during the week and when not travelling). Getting the documentation for opening an account should be no real problem.
I do work and live in London (at least during the week and when not travelling). Getting the documentation for opening an account should be no real problem.
Citibank is a good choice if you want to transfer money between countries. If you have a citibank account in germany (or any one of about 50 countried) and one in the UK, you can transfer between the accounts instantly (yes, instantly) and for free. Also no fees for using citibank ATMs anywhere in the world. Their most basic account is free and offers 24 hour telephone banking (via India, but thety do know what they are doing) and an excellent website.
Jan 10, 2008, 6:04 am
#18
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Interesting - same experience by me was that HSBC wanted to charge about £25 + a few percent on the mid-exchange rate to transfer some money to my Dutch bank account. So I guess the only thing they should charge is the few percent mark-up + £6? Which is likely still worse than just sending a GBP cheque to my Dutch bank, which only recently started charging something like a 0.25% currency exchange mark-up fee (on top of the 12 euro paying-in-a-cheque fee).
Tom
Jan 10, 2008, 6:11 am
#19
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The reason for asking all the awkard questions when opening a bank account in the UK is all down to government requirements to overcome money laundering. As ever it was implemented in a cack-handed way which inconvenienced genuine customers and which the launderers readily circumvented.
The government realised this, checked up on account openings, found there were some genuine account holders whose accounts had been opened in good faith without all these silly checks, and fined the banks severely. So if you find it a nuisance speak not to your bank but to your MP. On second thoughts, don't bother.
The government realised this, checked up on account openings, found there were some genuine account holders whose accounts had been opened in good faith without all these silly checks, and fined the banks severely. So if you find it a nuisance speak not to your bank but to your MP. On second thoughts, don't bother.
, but you do get a Carte de Sejour (or a national ID card for citizens) that states your address, and that and your Passport is ID all your bank will ever want to see. No fiddling around with gas bills. Tom
Jan 10, 2008, 6:15 am
#20
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Hi All,
My employer asked me to open a bank account in the UK.
Which bank should I go with (HSBC, Barclays, Natwest, etc.?)?
I only want a very simple standard account (to get my salary and pay my rent) (if possible with very low annual costs and low fees for withdrawals in foreign countries).
I guess I should also apply for a BA or BMI credit card once the account is set up.
Thanks a lot for your assistance!
My employer asked me to open a bank account in the UK.
Which bank should I go with (HSBC, Barclays, Natwest, etc.?)?
I only want a very simple standard account (to get my salary and pay my rent) (if possible with very low annual costs and low fees for withdrawals in foreign countries).
I guess I should also apply for a BA or BMI credit card once the account is set up.
Thanks a lot for your assistance!
Otherwise take everyone elses advice.