Opening a bank account in the UK

When you're new to a country, opening a bank account is one of the first things you'll have to do, and can also seem like a bit of a headache. Luckily, it is actually simpler than it seems. Here is our step by step guide to opening a bank account in the UK:

What to take with you:

• Your passport or national identity card or drivers licence (if you're from outside the EU, you should bring two forms of ID)
• Proof of address (x2) - this can be your housing contract, or a formal letter sent to your UK address. It must include your full name and the address.

Before opening the account:

• Make an appointment at the bank - You often need an appointment to open an account, and sometimes you have to wait a week or two before there are any appointments free.
• Double check with the person who makes your appointment for you, that the documents you have are all that their banks requires to open an account.
• Decide what kind of account you want. Usually you will just want a "current account", which isn't for saving, but means you will have access to your money via a debit or cash card, but you may want to open a savings account instead.

TOP TIP - If you're in a hurry to open an account, the bigger banks tend to require more documents and have longer waiting times for making appointments. Try smaller banks and building societies such as Lloyds, the Co-op, Halifax or Nationwide to see if they can open your account the same day.

On the day:

• Make sure you remember all your documents.
• Be on time for your appointment, the banks sometimes have other people waiting to snap up appointments if people aren't there on time.
• Remember that you don't have to pay for an account in the UK, you don't need to take out a complimentary insurance policy and there is no obligation to deposit money on the day.

Still have some questions about opening a bank account in the UK? Tweet us at @CLivingUK

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