It’s about time!
If you have ever been to the UK and tried to open a bank account you will know that the process is about as stimulating as having wisdom teeth pulled and about as successful as a bloke falling pregnant. What you need:
- Passport OR EU National identity card (Good luck if it’s not British or EU)
- Residence permit issued by the Home Office to EU nationals (2 year Visa?)
- National driving licence (Good luck if it’s not British or EU)
- Proof of your address in the UK (This gets interesting)
- Utility bills (You name isn’t on any bills if you’re “fresh off the boat”!)
- Tenancy agreement (What if you are staying with a friend?)
- A letter from your employer in the UK confirming your UK address (A lot of employers wont hire until they can pay you into an account)
- Previous or permanent address in the country that you come from (How long does that take to arrange?)
But now it seems, years down the line, HSBC has hopefully come up with a way to secure an account easily and quickly. With that, unfortunately, comes a cost though but at least there is finally a solution. I have no way of testing this so I would appreciate any feedback regarding this. Does it work?
Check out the HSBC Passport. – “It’s a lot more than just a UK bank account”.
It will cost £60 for 1 year or £6 per month but along with the ease of getting a bank account set up you also get the following (personally I think people would just be happy with the bank account):
Key features and benefits
International Debit Card
- Shop online, over the phone and on the High Street in the UK and abroad Worldwide ATM cash withdrawals
- Cash withdrawals from over 59,000 Link ATM’s in the UK and access to over 900,000 Cirrus/Maestro ATM’s worldwide, free of any fees from HSBC when using your HSBC international debit card.
Exclusive UK relocation service from red24
- Be informed and feel secure with multi-lingual relocation advice. Online at www.red24.info/relocate and over the phone, in 6 languages
International Money Transfer
- Send low cost sterling and foreign currency money transfers
UK SIM card with cheap international calls
- £10 free credit plus international calls from 5p per minute.
Flexible savings account
- Instant access to your savings and an attractive interest rate.
24/7 Internet and Telephone banking service
yellerKat
May 29, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Another Great British Rip-Off.
HooX
May 29, 2007 at 3:55 pm
YK – I agree implicitly which is why I said “With that, unfortunately, comes a cost” but I know people who would have paid 5x that out of sheer frustration or desperation. I have pulled my hair out trying to help people offering to sign surety on their behalf and even threatening to leave the bank if they didn’t oblige. We got nowhere!
It may be extortion but it is a small price to pay for the convenience of a bank account and sadly a necessity.
Blither
May 29, 2007 at 9:58 pm
Umm.. So if I go to the UK my mastercard won’t work?? I’m so confused.
Louisa
May 29, 2007 at 10:18 pm
It sounds like a massive process to get a bank account set up? I think i’d be willing to pay to make the fuss go away. Think about all the time you’d save – that alone must be worth it?!
Willie G
May 30, 2007 at 7:38 am
Interesting one Chris.
I set up my HSBC account in Cairo in about a day. All it took was a letter from my employers explaining who I was, what I did and confirming that had a valid work permit. Armed with this and a copy of my passport, I was off and running.
Getting logged into their online banking was a different story altogether. It took weeks and many visits to the branch (to collect my new internet PIN number). My first experience of Egyptian bureaucracy and one that has made me a much better and more forgiving person.
Unfortunately, I’m still waiting for them to deliver my CC, but I’m happy enough to live without that just now. I havn’t tried the debit card abroad yet, but I’ll take my trusty RBoS cards withme as backup.
HooX
May 30, 2007 at 8:50 am
Blither – Of course your card will work. The US$ is very welcome! All I’m saying is that it is an almost impossible and very painful process to try and open a UK bank account when you first arrive in the UK (if you plan to stay longterm). I think the Poms would be happier if they could insist on DNA samples and for you to sign in your own blood.
Lou – Its hectic. That’s why I say its unfortunate that you may have to pay £60 but in the long run it may prove to be a necessary evil. The Poms are saying it’s because of 9/11 and the “War on Terror” but I can assure you it was just as difficult before but without a great excuse.
WG – The first day I ever arrived in America (Atlanta) as a non-American, I walked onto a Bank of America and handed over $8000 and asked if I could open an account. In 10 minutes I had a cash card and my debit card was being posted to an address of my choice. In England as a British Citizen you have to hand over your first born. Good luck getting your other shit sorted out mate!
Misplacedpom
May 30, 2007 at 5:27 pm
I had a similar problem trying to get a credit card in the states. In the end I caved, sent off a cheque for a thousand (eeeeep!!) dollars and will be charged interest if I don’t pay back what is essentially my money in the first place. Having a permanent address, a job, three years of work history and a current bank account makes no difference. No pretty blue passport, no credit. BAH.
HooX
May 30, 2007 at 5:41 pm
MPP – That’s completely and utterly crazy. It’s the complete opposite then. In the UK (as I’m sure you will know being a MMP), once you have a bank account at any establishment they will try and load you with debt. You can get cards without applying almost. Mind you the APR is about 25%. The price of plastic! When do you qualify for a pretty blue PP?
Andy
August 29, 2007 at 12:09 pm
So… I received a two year HSMP entry clearance and plan on being in UK for some time in the next couple of months. I have already received an approval letter from HSBC UK saying my application for the Passport account has been approved, and that I need to go to any HSBC branch in UK along with my credentials (int’l driver’s licence, passport etc.) to have my account activated.
Do I still need to provide them w/a proof of address in UK?? I thought that was the purpose of this account, that they don’t expect “fresh off the boat” applicants to have UK credentials, and hence charging the 60 GBP?? Can anyone pls clarify?
HooX
August 29, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Andy – I have just called HSBC on your behalf to clarify and they said it is very simple. Go in with your passport or other national ID and drivers license if you have it. You will also need confirmation of your residence in the UK. They don’t need bills or lease agreements but simply a letter from a friend that they can contact stating you will be staying at a particular address or even a letter from a hotel or hostel or any other boarding facility. They just need it to create an address on your account even if it’s for 2 weeks or so. You can then change the address at any time after that.
I hope this helps. Let us know how you get on with this.
Andy
August 29, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Hoox – I really appreciate your efforts in finding this out for me – really impressive and am certainly greatful to you. I plan to be in UK in October, and will certainly report back. Thanks again – much appreciated.
HooX
August 29, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Andy – You are very welcome mate. If you need anything else just shout. I have helped many a poor soul trying to get settled in the UK. I myself never had the problem but I held many people’s hand through the process. It sux which is why I put the HSBC Passport post up in the first place as a sign of good news.
Another great company you can look up before you get there (or after) if you haven’t done so already is 1st Contact. http://www.1stcontact.com/live/index.php
They can help with job searches, accommodation, other visas, tax, travel etc etc. A good one stop shop for all your travelling needs. Tell them I sent you and tell them I am going to demand a finders fee! Just kiddin. I hope you get sorted out.
Travellers rock!
Andy
August 29, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Thanks again – did not know that website.
HooX
August 30, 2007 at 7:14 am
Again you are welcome. Oh and I forgot. 1st Contact also does Limited Companies if you want to do contracting work. It’s the best way and great for paying minimal tax. Have a word with them. I used them for my Limited Company for 2 years. Brilliant and easy.
Andy
December 12, 2007 at 1:45 am
I’d inquired abt HSBC Passport accnt on this website few months back and wanted to post my personal experience FWIW:
I was able to open a Halifax “Easy Cash” accnt for free w/out having to prove proof of residence. I was not asked for any proof of address in UK – I just had to write the UK address in the application form and that was it. I didn’t have job offer as well. Just filled in the basic application online, went in to a physical branch in UK w/the application approval letter. In the branch the guy took a copy of my passport data page and HSMP visa, and in a few days they sent me my account number, sort code, visa debit card and pin number. I guess it has everything but the ability to write checks (cheques!).
Good enuf to get me started. No need to pay the 60 pounds for HSBC Passport I suppose.
HooX
December 12, 2007 at 7:36 am
Andy – Thank you very much for your feedback. I was not aware of the Halifax solution and I agree, as long as it’s free it’s worth it. I guess a few of the banks now are realising that there is a need for “banking made easy”. I am not a particular supporter of HSBC but it was the only one I saw advertised. The more the merrier.
Thanks again. I will write a post detailing your experience. I will try get it up there today.
Take it easy. I hope everything else goes as well for you as the bank account did! You have no idea how people have struggled in the past. Nice work and thanks again for the update!
Jacq
June 17, 2008 at 11:02 am
this forum has been so helpful!! so much so that im writing this as a thankyou letter! Thanks for all the info! i have heard many horror stories and was getting quite stressed thinking about how i am going to open an account but i think i shall be fine now. I’m going to London early this July and travelling all around Europe so i think the HSBC passport will be great!
thanks!
HooX
June 27, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Jacq – Glad it was of some use to you. It’s a little outdated but Im sure things are still pretty much the same. You may wat to look at what ANdy wrote too: “I was able to open a Halifax “Easy Cash” accnt for free w/out having to prove proof of residence.”
Bon Voyage! London Rocks! You are going to love it!
Matthew
July 22, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Hello,
My sister recently arrived in the UK, tried to open a Halifax Easycash account, and couldn’t because she didn’t have proof of address. So, perhaps they don’t ask everybody for proof of address, but they certainly asked my sister.
They would not accept any of the documentation that she had, and they would not accept my proofs of address even though we are family and staying at the same address.
I would advise people to stick to HSBC’s passport account.
HooX
July 22, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Matthew – Thanks for that very important feedback! Seems a loophole has once again been closed. What a pity that this world is being governed and controlled by fear, fraud and concern of terrorism.
Morten
October 17, 2008 at 10:13 am
HSBC Passport account is VERY easy to obtain!
I travel from Norway to London frequently, and thought it would come handy to have an UK bank account with debit card.
So I went to a HSBC branch with my passport, a Norwegian phonebill + a Norwegian bank statement (with my name and my Norwegian postbox(!!!) address). The guy asked what I needed the account for, and I just said I go to UK often and that I plan to move there some time in the future so it would be practial to have it all set up in forehand. After half an hour it was done and the debit card was sent to my postbox address in Norway as well as the monthly account statements.
Now, one year later, they automatically transfer me to a standard bank account.
Thanks HSBC!
HooX
October 20, 2008 at 11:43 am
Morten – Awesome work pal! Nicely played! Glad it all worked out for you so well!
Steffie
June 4, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Hi guys,
I’m gonna move to the UK in August and I already have a job offer but this account thing is gonna make me insane.
So basically, if i wanna open a HSBC passport account…i can do the first part online from Germany..and when i finally get to the UK i need to go into a branch and activate it? It’d be great if someone could clear that one up for me.
Thanks!
HooX
June 5, 2009 at 9:46 am
Steffie – I believe it’s quite simple. Take along your proof of employment contract, some proof of address in Germany (a bank statement or something else official if you don’t have a utility bill), your passport and any other documentation you have that you feel could be applicable. Just walk into a branch and ask them for a passport account or better. They should get it sorted for you right there and then. Perhaps call HSBC in the UK, +44 1442 421 016 (thats for account opening) to get any further info before you travel.
I hope I could be of assistance! Good luck with all your UK ventures!
Sylvester
July 7, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Hi all,
does anyone know whether the HSBC Passport account has a minimum account balance requirement? I found that Lloyds offers something similar where you can have the account setup from overseas but their rate is 7.5 pounds/month though the first 3 months are free and there’s no 1 year contract.
Many thanks!
Xiaan
September 29, 2009 at 11:05 pm
is it necessary to apply from home country or u can apply after reaching uk as well?