Are your international students finding it hard to open a bank account?

UK Banks have received new guidance on how to open bank accounts for international students. This new guidance makes it easier for international students to access banking services. In the past, most banks have required unreasonable documentation from international students, such as a UK gas bill with the student's name on it. Not any longer.

Some banks will still refuse to open accounts for international students where they can get overdraft, or will refuse to give them a credit card. However, they should ALWAYS be able to open a ‘basic’ bank account (free to open, where you can pay money in, set up standing orders and direct debits, and take money out with a cash card).

Here is a list of things banks will ask international students to provide, and things they should not be asking them to open a ‘basic’ bank account. For more information on basic bank accounts on what’s on offer, please visit: www.adviceguide.org.uk

Things a bank will ask international students when they open a ‘basic’ bank account:

• Their full name, residential address in the UK and country of residence, date of birth, nationality, country of residence;
• Passport;
• Student visa/leave to enter (except for European and Swiss students);
• Original of university/college admission letter, with your full-name, brief course details, expected course date and duration, and name and phone number of UK university or college, OR
• Letter from your university/ college with all of the above information.

Things banks should NOT ask when opening a ‘basic’ bank account

Banks should NOT ask for a verification of address, either in the UK or in the student home country. Therefore, banks should NOT ask for:

• UK utility bills (gas, electricity, water);
• UK driving licence;
• Utility bills from your home address.

If you assist international students trying to open a bank account, you might find useful to print out the banks’ guidance on opening bank accounts and bring it to the bank manager: www.bba.org.uk

We also recommend you read this leaflet about basic bank accounts: FSA leaflet on basic bank accounts

FREE hard copies of the leaflet can be ordered online for your students' union or advice centre at: Order form for FSA leaflet on basic bank accounts

or by calling the FSA consumer helpline on 0845 606 1234.

Help us spot the good banks and the bad ones by reporting where your students have found it easy or difficult to open a bank account:

Click here to take survey

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