Opening a Bank Account in UK Q&A

• Why can’t I open a UK bank account on my own?

  Opening a bank account in the UK when you have no credit history in the country is impossible. Most banks will ask you for three months worth of recent utility bills and a lease agreement before they will open an account for you.

• I have a friend living in London and they said they would write me a letter to say that I have lived with them for three months, will this work instead?

  Putting aside the fact that you are trying to open an account using fraudulent documents, the bank will not open an account for you unless you have documents from a certifiable source regarding your length of stay in the UK.

• But I can open a UK bank account from here in Australia or New Zealand before I leave, can’t I?

  Correct, you can do this but these accounts will cost you at least $200 to open and they are usually quite limited accounts with very high fees and sometimes with debit cards that can’t be used online. We also give you the option to open a fully functioning international account before you leave home but at a fraction of the cost.

• If you offer an account pre-departure, why would I open one on arrival?

  We understand that we have many different clients with different banking needs. Our international account option is an excellent option for those people wanting to travel to the UK in more than two months time who want to transfer their money now. This account can be opened in euro and sterling so it is very affordable to travel throughout Europe and you receive your cards in Australia or New Zealand before you get on the plane. On the other hand, this account asks for a minimum income requirement and has a monthly fee so is not suitable for everyone. The account opened on arrival will be opened on the day that you visit with the bank in London, allows you the choice of three banks, you can choose an account with no monthly fees and there is no minimum deposit.

• So why can you open an account for me? 

  We have relationships formed over many years with the leading UK banks. We introduce you to the bank and book a bank meeting for you at our local branch. It’s because of this introduction and our long relationship with the bank that the three months credit history is waived and you are able to open an account on the spot.

• I have a British passport; surely this means the bank will open an account for me? 

  Unfortunately not. Regardless of your citizenship, if you have not been resident in the country for three months, you will have to provide exactly the same documents as everybody else.

• I’m not going to be in London to attend a bank meeting can you still open an account for me?

  Yes, we have an international account we can open for you before you leave or we have a UK postal option

• My friend told me it’s too difficult to open a bank account in London and that I must do it before I leave home, so how is your service going to help me if the account is only opened on arrival?

  True, opening a bank account in UK independently is near impossible and very frustrating. However, with our Kickstart Package we are introducing you to the bank and guaranteeing you the bank account. It is not as if you are walking into the branch blind, we arrange the bank meeting for you and effectively introduce you to the bank as a 1st Contact client its because of this that you are not required to have the proof of documents that you usually would if you tried to open it on your own.

UK Bank Account Quick and easy best of all no need for proof of address in the UK UK Mobile Phone Sim Card Cheap international and UK calls. Get your new UK mobile phone number now before you leave home Accommodation Assistance Get settled into the UK with ease with one of our Accommodation providers Umbrella Company Contracting in the UK? Set up with our Umbrella company and claim back thousands of pounds in relocation costs as well as ongoing expenses Gym Membership Kickstart a healthy lifestyle with 5 days free membership .

National Insurance Number Assistance It’s your personal UK tax number, everyone needs one so they don’t pay too much tax CV and Job Assistance Get ahead of the game and start earning. We work with over 100 of the UK’s premier recruitment agencies and they can help to find you a job Free International Money Transfer Transfer your money easily and securely before you leave home and get a better exchange rate at a fraction of the bank’s costs    UK Information Guide Everything you need to know about living and working in London Discounts Save hundreds of pounds through 1st Contact’s trusted partners.

		National Insurance Number Service (Easy-NINO) We take all the hassle out of getting an NI number and help you every step of the way.		£30		£12.50
		London A-Z Guide The London street map book.		£8		£3
		Pre Departure Bank account Ready for when you arrive.		£30		£20.00
		Please note: You will be able to choose a standalone product or which options you want in your package when you begin the purchase process.