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Living overseas

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Original poster

UK bank accounts when overseas

29 replies

thelittlestkiwi · 24/08/2023 09:43

Our bank wrote to us a few months ago to tell us we have to close our accounts. We still have a mortgage with the same bank on a property we rent out so need an account to manage that.

We have an account with another bank we can shift everything to but we're worried they will do the same. And that our mortgage might also be withdrawn.

Has anyone managed to open an account from overseas without 100k to keep in it?

OP posts:
LoveThisUsername · 24/08/2023 23:22

Can you use wise?

KnickerlessParsons · 24/08/2023 23:27

You can't open a new account in a U.K. bank without a U.K. address.

tilestoclean · 25/08/2023 02:18

Hsbc have allowed us to keep ours

coxesorangepippin · 25/08/2023 02:25

HSBC allowed me to keep mine too

I have less than 100k in my account

😅

whatt2do · 25/08/2023 02:27

This is my current bug bear too. The levels of admin now attached to UK finances if you live over seas is going insane - I've just had to have loads of stuff notarised to send back to companies to confirm who I am, despite banking with them for 30+ years!

Anyway, yes a global bank like HSBC is the answer. That way they see you holisitically as opposed to just as a single bank account.

(And, never in a million years did I think I'd use the sentence "HSBC is the answer" 😖😂)

bert3400 · 25/08/2023 02:58

HSBC and Halifax both let you keep an account when living overseas...I believe

Lengokengo · 25/08/2023 03:02

First direct, part of HSBC, is excellent. All my uk accounts were closed one by one, but first direct is last man standing.

MooseBeTimeForSnow · 25/08/2023 04:31

We moved to Canada 12 years ago. We still have an account with Lloyds TSB.

feliciabirthgiver · 25/08/2023 07:14

Yes I recently had to switch from Barclays to HSBC.

TropicalTrama · 25/08/2023 07:25

We had HSBC when we lived abroad. No issues.

Smidge001 · 25/08/2023 07:42

LloydsTSB have no issues if you move abroad. Don't know if you can open one in the first place if you're not in the UK, but once you have the account they are fine. They used to send me my statements to Australia for years while I lived there.

Original poster
thelittlestkiwi · 25/08/2023 07:53

Thanks all. I'd discounted HSBC cos they are withdrawing from NZ but the UK website does seem to allow us to apply so I'll give it a try.

@whatt2do It's getting to be hard, eh. Staying up late to call a UK bank is my least fun thing to do of an evening.

OP posts:
yumscrummy · 25/08/2023 13:09

Kept several with nationwide just changed address to overseas but statements were via email anyway

HappilyContentTheseDays · 25/08/2023 13:46

When I was overseas I kept my two HSBC accounts and one NatWest without any problems, they changed my address to my overseas one - and I certainly didn't have any property here in the UK at the time. I did everything online though and accepted I'd pay charges every time I used my card.
Eventually I also got a Norwegian bank account, I kept that when I returned to the UK. Didn't have lots of money in any of them.

MrsCarson · 28/08/2023 17:15

Barclays kept my UK account open for many years while abroad, but HSBC closed my US account when we moved back to UK. I think it's pot luck.

CobraChicken · 29/08/2023 05:33

Like @MrsCarson said - must be pot luck.

I still have 2x HSBC UK accounts and we left the UK 18 years ago (and notified them immediately.) One is used for UK family to put cash into for our DC's birthdays and Christmas presents, and I transfer it straight out again for them, and I generally put spending money into it when we're going back to visit the UK, but it's almost always under £500 balance.

The other has had no transactions since we emigrated and I believe it has £8 in it, but they still keep renewing my bank card when it expires (posting it to Canada) and they've never even cancelled the overdraft I set up >2 decades ago!

Turangawaewae · 29/08/2023 08:09

I've had my account for 15 years successfully. But things seem to have changed in the last six months.

I failed to open an HSBC account. They no longer serve NZ. Fingers crossed our other account stays okay.

backatschool · 29/08/2023 13:01

I've been abroad for 16 years and still have my NatWest account.

amyboo · 29/08/2023 15:18

I've lived abroad for 22 years and still have my Natwest account from when i was a student. It's regisered to my overseas address, and British DH was even added to it some years ago without a problem.

MargotBamborough · 04/09/2023 07:11

I have accounts with HSBC and Nationwide which I opened when I lived in the UK. Both are aware that I am living in the EU and there have been no issues so far, touch wood.

Tartareistasty · 05/10/2023 09:29

Lloyds allowed me to change address to abroad without closing the basic account. Even kept the credit card

Original poster
thelittlestkiwi · 09/10/2023 09:13

Thanks @Tartareistasty We are not eligible for this one.

I have had some success though - Barclays are not closing our account atm, despite sending me a letter saying so!?!

I've also investigated Wise as suggested by @LoveThisUsername and think that could work if they change their minds again.

OP posts:
BobShark · 09/10/2023 10:29

Left to go travelling 15 years ago, and never returned and my First direct account is still open, I tried to close it years ago as it was a joint account with my now ex husband, but it was tied to the property we had together.

I think FD is part of HSBC which is international so may be more flexible.

allmycats · 09/10/2023 10:44

When we lived abroad we still had our Nat West account. Address was changed and we had actual paper statements sent to us every month. Used online for transactions.