How to Open a UK Bank Account

If you are new to the UK, whether you are working or studying, one of your first courses of action will be to open a bank account. This is fortunately very easy, and you need to try and look past all those superficial benefits you will be offered and carefully select the account that will be best for you in the long term.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Passport
• Proof of UK residence
• Proof of address in your own country
• Confirmation letter from your educational establishment
• Proof of income for example an employers contract
• Proof of UK address

How to Open a Student Bank Account

1. Firstly you need to be aware of your own financial needs. Do you want an overdraft? Do you want a credit card? If so, which account offers the best interest rates. How big of an overdraft will they allow?

2. Go to all the banks in the high street asking these questions. Sometimes it is best to just pick up the leaflets and read the information at home, bypassing all the sales spiel that you get from the account managers.

3. Make a decision of which bank is for you, and ask them what they will need to open an account. Banks in the UK require basically the same information to open an account, though some do differ slightly.

4. Go to the student section of the bank equipped with what you need to open the account and wait for an adviser.

How to Open a Current or Basic Account

1. Do your research and decide which bank account is the best for you. If you can't prove you are working, you can only open a basic account which entitles you to a cheque and cash card. If you can prove you have a job in the UK, you will be allowed a current account which can provide you with an overdraft facility and debit card.

2. Go to the bank with all the required information needed to open the account.

Tips & Warnings

• You have to be in the UK to open a UK account.

• If you want to apply for a credit card, ask the student advisor and they will give you the appropriate forms which you will then need to send off yourself.

• Banks offer many superficial benefits when you open a student account. For example a free travel card. It is best to look beyond that and open an account that will benefit you in the long term.