UK/US Banking

[synthia]

John - Nice idea, but in reality we have to function on assumptions. When I go to the supermarket, I assume the clerk will scan my purchases, bag my groceries, and process my credit card or take my money and make proper change. This assumption has worked for me in every supermarket in every country where I've shopped in one. When you move to another country, especially if it is your first experience living abroad, it is hard to identify what you should question. If you have never in your life even heard of a checking account without overdraft protection, it would never occur to you to even wonder. Figuring out what is different is part of the fun of moving to a new coutnry. Unfortunately, some discovery can be difficult. If you have moved abroad and not made any mistakes because things work differently, you have had a very unusual experience.

Everyone else - Do UK checking accounts require references? Employment information?

[Pebble]

Originally Posted by synthia

I'm a bit confused. You can take money out of any participating bank at an atm that supports that network. So if he wanted to take money out of his foreign account, he just had to find an atm that would accept his card. There was no need to open an account at all that I can see.

No need to open an account, yes, you are correct about that and the rest aforementioned to support that with.

[izzysmum04]

Originally Posted by synthia

Everyone else - Do UK checking accounts require references? Employment information?

I can't answer for all banks within the UK, but with Halifax I only filled out a form...didn't need any references or employment info (as I am a stay-at-home-Mom)...and then two forms of ID and a piece of mail to verify my address. It was actually pretty simple.

[Pebble]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Pebble,
It isn't all that much more difficult for a US citizen to open an account in the UK as for anyone to open a bank account in the US. What you do need is the proper i.d - usually your passport, though as a foreigner they may need to see your visa or residence permit.

Or, you could open a foreign account and then convert it to a resident account after you've got the visa and residence permit sorted out. There are a few restrictions (usually) on a non-resident account (probably not so easy to get loans and you may need a bit more cash to open the account in the first place) but it will establish you as a "customer" of the bank.

Thank You for the information. Yes the Visa or residence permit was the bit that I had anticipated needing to open up a residence account with. However, I was unclear about whether I could open a foreign account first, and then being able to convert later to a resident account. Thank you for clarifying that I could do this. Even with a few restrictions, at least it does, as you say, establish me as a "customer" of the bank.