Is it possible to open a bank account for an au pair?

[EmmalinaC]

Our new au pair (never had one before!) is Spanish and she's 19. We have been into branches of HSBC, Santander and Nationwide and all have said that due to new rules (relating to money laundering) it isn't possible to open an account without proof of a UK address.

It used to be that a letter from host family was sufficient but this is no longer the case.

Anyone got any ideas on how to deal with this?

Can she apply for a UK drivers licence at our address and use that as proof?

She doesn't want to be paid into her Spanish account so she's building up cash and yet can't even get gym membership because she'd need to pay by direct debit.

Suggestions welcome!

TIA

Have you checked with them to see what would count as "proof of address"? Would an letter from her employer (ie you) addressed to her work?

No, they said that's no longer acceptable. Needs to be something official (utility bill) which she doesn't have.

Lloyds bank are helpful. My au pair had no trouble.

Thanks Grandma - was it recent? And do you know what ID she used?

Lloyds bank are very strange..

I opened up a bank account online with very little information and obviously showing no I.d

Our au pairs have used Barclays who offer a more limited account. It helps to have a letter from their home bank stating that they have had the account for x years. However, one au pair had trouble because they would not accept her German identity card as ID even though border control had!

We opened a bank account for our SA au pair with Barclays. Was a couple of years ago but no bother, just needed to show her passport.

Thanks for replies - just checked Lloyd's website and it looks as if she can open an account fairly easily! Bizarre considering how difficult the other banks make it...

Just to confirm yes all my AP's have opened bank accounts with Lloyds with no difficulties - in fact they needed less formalities than I did!

My Spanish au pair opened an account at HSBC last Saturday. They wanted to see his passport, driving licence and identity card. The account is registered to his home address, using our address as correspondence. Took about 20 minutes!
They did say that if he couldn't prove his Spanish address, a copy of my council tax bill would do.

We have had Spanish and Polish au pairs open accounts at Bank of Scotland with just a letter from me and their passport.