UK Bank account for Polish nanny/au pair

[eleusis]

Who has a Polish nanny (live-in) or au pair and has helped them get a bank account? I need some advise. I am on the verge of offering the job to a Polish girl and as I will be paying her in pounds she needs a UK bank account. She asked me to give her some guidance on setting one up. So, of course, in my lack of wisdon I turn to the collective Mumsnet expertise...

I helped my German aupair open a bank account. Told her to use HSBC because of its international network and it had a branch near us.

She rocked up there one day. They just asked her to get me to furnish a copy of our council tax bill and a letter from me saying she was living with us as an aupair. And that was it.

So much easier for me to pay her by standing order!

I rang my own bank (Lloyds) and asked to speak to the branch. They said if she went in with her passport and tenancy agreement (she was live-out), and a signed letter from me, then they'd open a basic account for her. They told me that my letter needed to state that I had known her for two years. When I started to say that I hadn't, the guy just said, "as long as the letter says it." It's to fulfil the money laundering regulation I think.

With live-in, I'm sure they'd take your proof of address, as blueshoes says. I would start with your own branch as they "know" you there.

Anyone ever tried it at Abbey? I seem to recall my Canadian and my Estonian nannies have to jump through numerous hoops to get an account. One was at Nationwide... and the other one I can't remember.... I think the Canadian ended up at HSBC actually.

Oh I hate all the legwork that comes with hiring new nannies!!!

I don't know how recent these experiences were, but my Slovakian nanny had a lot of trouble opening an account in 2004; she had a letter from her own Slovakian bank but that wasn't acceptable; she was living in, but the bank kept questioning all the proofs of residence. She tried HSBC first, because I have an account there and thought this would help, but they were very difficult. Managed it in the end at Lloyds TSB.

she would be entitled to an National Insurance number, I guess, so maybe if she obtains this first it would help?

HSBC were difficult here too. AP got an account at Lloyds in Oct no problem, just took, passport, contract, money and signed on the dotted line.

I've just had problems with a German au pair and Natwest. They need proof of her being at this address - utility bill or electoral roll. Obviously she has neither. They have refused to open it. Refused to accept contract. So I pay her in cash, not ideal. Maybe I need to shop around as it sounds like it depends on the individual bank manager.

Alternatively, if you can wait, ask the aupair to check with her aupair friends in the area which bank is best. Once she starts her English lessons, she should have no problems meeting up with other aupairs or newly arrived immigrants.

She has been an au pair in London previously so already has a group of friends. I guess they must have paid her in cash????

It would just be nice to get the ball rolling before she comes over so we don't have to wait a month or two before I can pay her.

What bank does she use in Poland? It may well be part of a group that has a bank (or two!) here. I think she might struggle without proof of address, though.

IF your AP is going to be a student then a letter from her college saying she is an international student etc will help her open a student bank account. They will accept tenancy agreement/contract + letter from employer as proof of address, couple with passport and bank details from her own country.

Okay, nanny arrives on Saturday and I'm resurecting this in a panic because like and idiot I forgot to sort the bank account before she arrives.

What I need to know is what my (her) options are for acceptable forms of proof of address.

She is Polish.

Lloyds also have special accounts aimed at EU immigrants; as do, I believe, Barclays (saw a sign up in the Barclays branch the other day). Probably best to give them a quick call.

googled the Lloyds one:

details

proof of identity - looks quite simple.

But doesn't it say you only need those if you can't produce an EU passport? Did I read that wrong?

when I did it once 2 years ago I went along with the nanny to the Bank (Barclays) and they photocopied a copy of our contract and MY proof of address and then were happy with just her passport (and I think a bank statement from her bank back home).

Perhaps a temporary account can just ask for identity. I have no idea really, but did notice that after 12 months they help you set up some other kind of account.

jura - agree, I thought the lack of proof of address requirement was a bit odd (would never get through our risk team!). Same thing seems to apply at Abbey though:

Abbey requirements

just realised that 2006 JMLSG guidelines are on my desk.

strangely they say that the firm should obtain the full name, residential address and date of birth of a new residential customer, but then go on to say that for face-to-face verification, production of a valid passport or photocard driving licence should allow most individuals to meet the identification requirement for AML purposes.

and have now printed out the dec 2007 guidelines

"If identity is to be verified from documents, this should be based on:
Either a government-issued document which incorporates:
the customer?s full name and photograph, and
o either his residential address
o or his date of birth."

I am a saddo.

Thank you geeky ones, what would I do without you?