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Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

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Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Living overseas

Bank admin when overseas

32 replies

curcur · 12/10/2017 22:31

Probably a simple answer but I can’t think of it....if you need to keep a UK bank account when moving overseas, where do you get the mail posted to? Presume that the banks don’t send to a non UK address and that relocating mail is a temporary arrangement. Thanks

OP posts:

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amyboo · 13/10/2017 10:28

I've had an account with Natwest since I was a teenager, and it was no problem to switch the address to another EU country when I moved. 15 years later and I still have the account, registered to my non-UK account.

Orangebird69 · 13/10/2017 10:29

Mines all addressed to my dms house. Is that an option for you?

ShanghaiDiva · 13/10/2017 11:20

I have lived overseas for over 20 years and have always had statements sent to country of residence. Am now in China.

amyboo · 13/10/2017 11:26

Sorry I meant "registered to my non-UK address". FWIW - 2 family members also live in another EU country and their banks are fine to sent their statements to them...

Allthebestnamesareused · 13/10/2017 11:44

They will send mail abroad but most accounts are paperless nowadays anyway.

SandLand · 13/10/2017 11:53

Paperless account, and mail diverted to my Mother. On year 3 of diversion atm, but you can just change the address to a friend if family member who will deal with the odd bits that arrive.

scaryteacher · 13/10/2017 12:11

Ours has been posted abroad for years, no problem..

curcur · 13/10/2017 22:50

Ok thanks everyone. It’s not really an option to use family/friends address but sounds like banks will post abroad.

OP posts:

scaryteacher · 15/10/2017 14:01

They've been posting abroad to us since 2006.

PerfumeIsAMessage · 23/10/2017 07:11

Posting to me no probs since 1994. I have paperless but obviously there are new cards and stuff.
You may find they ask you a few things-I was surprised that a fellow expat colleague had her UK account closed on her against her will and was told she couldn't have a UK bank account any more. Can't remember who she was with but it wasn't mine. (HSBC)

MardAsSnails · 23/10/2017 07:20

RBS won't change our address to overseas. They cancelled the overdraft once they realized we weren't coming back, which is understandable but annoying in case of any unexpected bills going out (hasn't happened, but makes me nervous), and cancelled the associated credit card.

They also wanted to charge us £200 a year for a non resident account.

fizzytonicplease · 23/10/2017 07:21

When I worked for nationwide they wouldn't send card or pins to overseas address, they would send you a letter notifying you the card is in branch and giving you and time to collect. Not sure if that is still the case, but yes statements will be sent to an overseas address.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 23/10/2017 07:32

HSBC let me keep my account, and send me paperwork overseas. They wouldn't let me have a new credit card on it though when mine lapsed. They don't charge me for having it either.

It is however a still fully functional current account, with the rent from my house going in every month - maybe that makes a difference, I don't know (and the associated savings account is still going to).

PurplePillowCase · 23/10/2017 07:45

banking regulations tightened a couple of years ago.
it's fine to have an offshore account, but usually the conditions are different. i.e. no overdraft, a monthly or yearly fee, large fees for international transfers...

PurplePillowCase · 23/10/2017 07:46

and yes, banks do close/freeze accounts if they get wind of the accountholder residing abroad.

PerfumeIsAMessage · 23/10/2017 08:27

I have a free overdraft, no fees and a credit card with mine.
They've known I've been abroad since I moved here in 1994, I often ring them from here. They did send me a "drop this questionnaire into your branch" thing a couple of years ago, and I rang them to say I couldn't and they were fine. It was about residency.
It looks like the HSBC are maybe more lenient than other banks. My branch is still the university one where I joined them.

BeALert · 30/10/2017 01:59

I have a free overdraft, no fees and a credit card with mine.

Me too - I'm with First Direct, part of HSBC. They post our statements here too.

They did do an identity checking exercise last year I think it was, where we had to jump through various hoops to prove we are who we say we are.

Other than that they just treat us as if we lived in the UK, except that we have a customer ID number that we give instead of a postcode when we phone them.

bigbadbarry · 08/11/2017 11:27

MardAsSnails RBS sent me a snotty letter when I gave them my new mobile number, telling me it was now my responsibility to prove to them that I wasn't liable for tax in China. I am slightly unimpressed that the telephone number quoted on the letter just rings out unanswered.
(To answer the OP: our post all goes to my mum and dad's to be dealt with. Sorry. There is very little actual paper post from the bank these days though.) (Just unnecessary snotty letters.)

bigbadbarry · 08/11/2017 11:27

MardAsSnails RBS sent me a snotty letter when I gave them my new mobile number, telling me it was now my responsibility to prove to them that I wasn't liable for tax in China. I am slightly unimpressed that the telephone number quoted on the letter just rings out unanswered.
(To answer the OP: our post all goes to my mum and dad's to be dealt with. Sorry. There is very little actual paper post from the bank these days though.) (Just unnecessary snotty letters.)

Viviene · 08/11/2017 23:07

I have an account with Natwest registered to my EU address, I have an overdraft and a credit card with it as well. Post comes here fine albeit with some delay.
I tried to do it all paperless but they are quite persistent with sending stuff to me.

IamSerena · 09/11/2017 04:57

We're abroad and the bank statements arrive here no problem...4 months later than usual though

thetoothfairywhoforgot · 09/11/2017 05:52

I have a Barclays account and get post no problems. I am a bit worried that they are changing something to do with ringfencing and want me to provide info about tax residency. I'm putting it off till the last minute in case they decide to take my bank account away from me.

Is anyone else with them?

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mumisnotmyname · 09/11/2017 18:47

We have our accounts with HSBC, they will post abroad but most letters are visible online, I still have an overdraft and valid cards. We do have a mortgage and regular incoming and outgoing costs linked to our UK house though. If you have an HSBC account in the country you are living in you can toggle between accounts online without too much hassle to manage your money.

Viviene · 12/11/2017 13:33

I got one of the tax residency letters too not that long ago. Arrived on day 29 of the 30 day deadline they give you...

BeALert · 12/11/2017 19:35

I have a Barclays account and get post no problems. I am a bit worried that they are changing something to do with ringfencing and want me to provide info about tax residency. I'm putting it off till the last minute in case they decide to take my bank account away from me.

I've no idea what ringfencing is, but I had to provide info about tax residency to First Direct a year or two ago.

You're more likely to have your bank account taken away from you if you don't provide the info than if you do.

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