Banking in the UK is pretty straightforward. Most banks offer similar quality services and all the major banks offer online banking as standard to make life easier for customers. As always, shop around for the best deal or ask people to recommend a bank to you.
You simply cannot get around in Britain without a bank account. Most importantly, you will probably need one in order to receive your salary. You will also probably need to open a bank account in order to rent or buy accommodation, pay for gas and electricity, getting a phone line, and many other necessities.
It can be difficult for a foreigner to get a bank account in the United Kingdom. In addition, even when you get an account you may find it difficult to get a debit or credit card immediately and have to wait a few months until you have built up an account history. If you do not already have a credit history in the UK, banks are often cautious when opening accounts. If you have a job, you will probably find this easier than if you are a student. In whatever case, you will need to demonstrate that you are resident and prove your address. For this you will need utility bills (gas, telephone, electricity, etc) or a rental contract. If you have a job, ask your employer for a letter of recommendation for the bank. In addition, you may find it very useful if you can get a letter of recommendation from your current bank (in English) which states how long you have held an account with them, your current balance and the average balance during the previous year.
Another option that can sometimes be a lot easier is to open an account with a bank in your country which has branches in the UK. In this case, the process is usually a lot easier, especially if you then get a letter of recommendation.
The biggest retail (‘high street’) banks in the UK include HSBC, Barclays, Halifax, Abbey, Lloyds TSB, and NatWest. These banks have branches in most towns throughout the UK.
To find your nearest local branches, check out the websites of each bank:
HSBC 0800 032 4738 www.hsbc.co.uk
Barclays 0800 400 100 www.barclays.co.uk
Halifax 08457 20 30 40 www.halifax.co.uk
Abbey 0800 587 2758 www.abbey.com
Lloyds TSB 0845 3000 000 www.lloydstsb.com
Natwest 0800 200 400 www.natwest.com
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