How to Open a British Bank Account Online

If you are residing in the United.Kingdom and have access to a computer with up-to-date software, you may be eligible to apply for a British bank account online. In most cases, only residents of the United Kingdom, including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, are eligible to open British bank accounts online. Applicants are required to provide information such as their name, address, phone number and e-mail address, along with details of their current bank accounts and employment.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• United Kingdom, including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, residency
• Internet access
• Computer software
• Browser with updated security patches.
• A telephone number (for telephone banking) and a personal email address for correspondence.
• Applicants are required to provide information such as their name, address, phone number, email address, along with details of their current bank accounts and employment.
• Banks are required under the Money Laundering Regulation of 2007 to confirm the identity of applicants to guard against criminals opening bank accounts in which to channel the proceeds of their crime. Therefore, applicants must also be able to provide proof of identity, which can be in the form of utility bills, passports, driving licenses, or statements from other banks or credit card issuers. Some banks can also check names against the Electoral Register, but applicants will also be asked to provide some other kinds of proof. Some banks may also accept other documents and applicants should check with the bank they're applying to for further information.

Applying for an account with Smile.co.uk

1. Smile.co.uk is a full-service bank registered in England and Wales. Smile says it takes 15 minutes to apply for an online account. Customers are asked for their name, address (a previous address if you've moved in the last three years), phone number and email address. Smile also requires details of your existing bank, along with details of your mortgage and employment. Customers must also supply some personal information that Smile can use for identification purposes when customers access their accounts. Smile says it lets applicants know whether their application has been successful a few minutes after the application has been sent. Sometimes it may ask for more information. Smile says it may telephone new customers as part of its requirements under the Money Laundering Regulations.

2. To apply for an account with Smile, go to http://www.smile.co.uk, click on 'bank' in the left navigation bar and click 'apply' to begin the application process.

3. The application page provides customers with three choices. If you are a new customer, you'll click "new to smile' where you will be taken to a page that will ask you a set of questions. The process takes about 10 minutes. If you are an existing customer you can click on 'already a customer?' to set up more accounts. Existing applicants can also go to this page to view the progress of their application.

Applying for an account with First Direct

4. First Direct is a division of HSBC Bank. Customers can bank by phone or Internet. Applicants for a First Direct bank account, named the 1st Account, must be aged 18 years or older and have a private telephone and a U.K. residential address. The bank charges 10GBP a month for a First Direct account, unless customers deposit at least 1,500GBP into their bank account every month.

5. Apply for a First Direct 1st Account bank account by going to http://www.firstdirect.com click on '1st account' in the left navigation bar and click 'apply'.

6. The application page provides customers with two choices. Existing customers can apply for a 1st Account by returning to the browser window to which they have logged on. New customers can apply by choosing either 'sole account' or 'joint account'. Customers can also use that page to request an application form and information pack.

Applying for an account with Egg

7. Egg opened in the U.K. in 1998 as a pure online bank providing borrowing, saving and insurance services. Applicants can apply for an Egg credit card, Egg savings account or an Egg loan. To apply for a savings account, individuals must be aged 16 years or older and are permanently resident in the U.K., excluding the Channel Islands and Isle of Man. Applicants must be able to provide residential addresses for the last two years, a personal email address and have a U.K. bank or building society account. Under the Money Laundering Regulations, Eggs says it may request further documentation from applicants. Acceptable forms of identification include utility bills or bank and credit card statements.

8. Apply for an Egg savings account by going to http://www.egg.co.uk, click on 'Banking' in the banner, and click on the name of the desired banking product to begin the application process. There are six to chose from: Egg Card, Egg Savings, Egg Loans, Egg Rewards, Egg Pay and Egg Money Manager.

9. Choose which product you want to apply for and click on it. You will then be provided with a link to apply for that product.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose a username and password that you can remember but will be difficult for others to guess. Have handy important information such as your address and previous addresses if you're new to the address. You may also be asked to provide information about your employment and other financial details such as mortgages and loans.

References

• Money Laundering Regulations 2007
• Proving your identity - British Bankers' Association