Have you heard stories about opening a bank account in the UK is a nightmare? They’re probably ancient history or discrete experiences because it’s not that hard anymore. Thanks to developing technologies and vanguard fintech companies, the process for opening a bank account in the UK is much easier.
You might be a fresh employee or someone who just moved to the UK, a bank account is fundamental for living and working in the country.
What Are The Required Documents To Open A Bank Account In The UK?
You need two simple documents to open a bank account in the UK:
- proof of your ID
- proof of your address.
You can use any official document such as passport, driving license, or identity card to prove your identity if you’re a British or EU citizen.
Each bank might ask you to gather a different set of documents as your proof of address. You should check carefully for exactly which documents your bank requests. In case you’re new to the UK and don’t have a residential address yet, the process becomes a little more complicated. We will get to that in a moment. The most common types of documents required by banks are;
- tenancy agreements
- rental contracts
- utility bills
- council tax bills
- bank or credit card statements that are sent to your address (no photocopies, or internet banking statements)
All of the listed documents above should be issued within the last three months.
Can You Open A Bank Account In The UK If You Don’t Have Citizenship?
You can open a bank account even if you’re not a British or EU citizen, and you still need to prove your ID and address. Your passport is usually adequate for the proof of your ID. Sometimes banks accept non-UK residential addresses; sometimes they don’t even ask if they know you’re new to the country or they ask for the address of your temporary residence (hostel, hotel, Airbnb house, etc.) as your ℅ (care of) address.
You can have a letter or a payslip that confirms your UK address from your employer in the UK if you’re not a citizen but already settled and have a job.
