Ask newcomers about their first month in Britain, and the bank account comes up fast. Not because it is impossible: nearly everyone gets one. But the circle is annoying: banks want proof of address, and landlords want a British bank account.
Good news: the system has a fallback, the basic bank account, and the rules tell you how to reach it. Here is how a bank account in the UK works for expats and other newcomers.
Which documents does a bank account in the UK require?
Anti-money-laundering rules require banks to verify your name, your photo on an official document, your address and your date of birth. A passport and a recent bill or statement are the classic pair. Each bank decides which documents it accepts, so ask before the appointment or check its website.
For proof of address, a tenancy agreement, a utility bill or an official letter usually works. If you have none, MoneyHelper lists alternatives such as letters from official bodies (DWP, HMRC, Jobcentre, local council, GP, employer, school or university). Some banks have lists for international students and migrant workers. Registering on the electoral roll can help, since banks check the roll and credit agencies, where a newcomer is often invisible.
You will also have to prove your right to be in the UK: eVisa and share code for Europeans arriving since 2021. Banks must not open accounts for people in an irregular situation under the Immigration Act 2014. Online banks usually want a photo of your ID and a selfie. See moving to the UK for the right order of tasks.
What is the UK basic bank account?
The basic account is a safety net. If you live legally in the UK and do not already have an equivalent current account, nine designated banks must offer one: Barclays UK, The Co-operative Bank, HSBC UK, Lloyds Banking Group (with Halifax and Bank of Scotland), Nationwide (with Virgin Money), NatWest Group (with RBS and Ulster Bank), Santander UK and TSB. You usually ask for a standard account first, and if you are refused, the bank must tell you if you qualify for a basic one.
It is free to open and covers everyday needs: salary, benefits, pension, a debit card, transfers, direct debits and online banking. There is no overdraft and no cheque book, and no charges for the core services in sterling. The bank must open the account or refuse in writing, free, within 10 working days of a complete application, giving its reasons unless fraud or money laundering concerns prevent it, and tell you how to complain. It makes only a "soft" credit check to confirm your identity, so a thin credit file is no obstacle.
Stuck in the proof-of-address loop, or unsure which document to bring? Moovy can suggest the documents to take for your situation, draft a polite request to a bank, and explain what a basic account is to the person at the counter. Moovy cannot open the account or see your bank's decision, which stays with the bank.
Can you open a bank account in the UK before you arrive?
The basic account right applies to people who live legally in the UK, so it does not help you before you move. Some banks and online providers accept applications from abroad or from a new arrival, others require a visit with documents, and the rules change quickly, so ask the bank directly. Until you have a bank account in the UK, keep using your home account, and ask your employer whether it can pay a foreign account for the first month. Many employers prefer a UK account, so open one in your first week, once you have an address.
A useful sequence: sign the lease, take the contract to the branch, apply, and give your sort code and account number to payroll. If the bank cannot open the account quickly, ask for a letter confirming your application, since it can reassure an employer.
How do you choose a bank?
You have three families. High street banks have branches and a long track record. Building societies are member-owned and strong on savings. Online banks open fast and have good apps, but check that they are authorised by the PRA or FCA and show "FSCS Protected". Some apps are payment institutions, not banks, and the FSCS does not cover money held by them; they must keep your funds safeguarded, but in a failure it can take time to get your money back.
If your home country is outside the euro area, compare exchange margins; see cost of living in the UK. Give your employer your account number and six-digit sort code. For international transfers, you need an IBAN.
How is your money protected?
The FSCS covers up to £120,000 per person per authorised bank for failures after 30 November 2025, up from £85,000. Banks of one group that share a licence count as one. Temporary high balances, for instance from the sale of a home or an inheritance, are protected up to £1.4 million for six months. If you hold more than £120,000, spread it between banks with different licences.
For scams, the rules have improved. For authorised push payment fraud, payments made since 7 October 2024 over Faster Payments or CHAPS are reimbursed up to £85,000, in principle within five working days, or 35 if the bank investigates. Report within 13 months. Banks can apply a £100 excess and refuse if you were complicit or grossly negligent. If you receive a call urging you to move money to a "safe account", hang up and call your bank on the number on your card.
What does everyday banking look like?
Most payments are made by contactless card or phone. Salaries arrive by bank transfer, rent often goes by standing order and utilities by direct debit. Transfers between UK accounts usually arrive within seconds through Faster Payments. Your statement will show every transaction, which also helps later as proof of address or of income.
When your account is in place, check its FSCS protection badge, set up the app and enable security features. Keep your debit card and PIN private, and never share one-time codes with anyone who calls you. The account is also the base for the rest of your admin: see renting in the UK for rent payments and the deposit.
What if the bank says no?
Ask for the reason in writing. If you are refused a standard account, ask for a basic one; if you are refused a basic one, the bank must say why and how to complain, including to the Financial Ombudsman Service. The bank has 15 days for a final answer on complaints about a payment, and eight weeks otherwise, after which you have six months to take it to the ombudsman free of charge. Other options include a credit union account or a prepaid card.
What about euro transfers and your home account?
The UK belongs to SEPA, but the EU rule that gives euro transfers the same price as domestic ones does not apply to the UK. Compare fees and exchange margins before you send a salary home. Keep your home account for a while: it is useful for bills at home. Interest and income on it are generally declared in the UK once you are tax resident, so ask HMRC or a tax adviser how it applies to you.
Which traps should you avoid?
- Leaving the UK with a basic account. The bank can close it with at least two months' notice if you move abroad.
- Treating a refusal as final. Ask for written reasons and try another route.
- Believing every app is a bank. Check the FCA register.
- Putting too much in one bank. Mind the £120,000 limit.
- Skipping the fraud warning. Verify a payee by phone before transferring money for a deposit.