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In the UK it is a good idea to open a bank account for your own safety and the protection of your money. There are many high-street banks with whom you can open an account. It is best to ask friends or colleagues about the bank that they use and what you can expect. You can also walk along the high street in any town and check what they can offer you. You are able to open a free current account with most banks, which enables you to have your wages and/or savings paid into it. With a bank account you can set up a standing order to pay your rent monthly and use direct debits for regular bills such as Council Tax, water, gas, electricity, telephone, etc. The bank will also issue you with a Debit card, chequebook and paying-in book. |
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UK banks are required by law to know the identities of their customers. You must provide documents to establish and confirm your identity.
The accepted documents are:
- Passport
- National identity card
- Residence permit issued by the Home Office to EU nationals
- National driving licence
You will also need to prove your address. This will be more difficult if you have just arrived in the UK. Each bank will have a different policy and you should check what they require - here are some examples:
- Tenancy agreement
- A letter from your employer in the UK confirming your address (if you have pay slips from your employer it may helpful to bring these with you.)
- The bank may also want to see proof of your previous or permanent address in the country that you come from.
Please note that bank requirements vary; it is not possible to be definitive about which documents they will accept.
The best advice is to take as many of the above original documents as possible. Photocopies will not be accepted.
N.B. Banks will ask to take your documents for a few moments to photocopy them for their records.
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Money 
