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List of banks in the UK where you can open a bank account without proof of address

26 May 2021 - Category: Blog /
Bank district London

New to the UK? If so, you may not have an address of your own yet. This can make it difficult to open a bank account. Without an account you will struggle to live your life effectively.

But don't worry! If you don’t have a job or a house, there are still banking options available to you. Before we explore them, let us quickly glance at the options you have and also figure out who should look for a no ID bank account in the UK.

Types of UK Bank Accounts without Proof of Address

If you are looking to open a bank account without ID in the UK you have three options:

  1. The first option is to use your regular walk-in bank, which refers to Barclays, Lloyds and other banks.
  2. The second option is to use technology, usually through mobile phone payment systems. Most mobile payment systems keep the entry criteria quite flexible. However, to get a phone connection in the UK, you need an address. Also, this comes with an inflexible capping. We don’t consider this one to be a viable option for most people.
  3. However, the third and most convenient option is Small World, a reliable money exchange intermediary.

You can conveniently create accounts for yourself and your family members. If you are a student this is a great way to receive allowances from your parents. On the other hand, if you are in a temporary, contract or hourly job, then you can also send money to your loved ones, back home. We’ll discuss this in more detail shortly.

Who Should Consider a no ID Bank Account?

Let us now discuss some situations in which you should consider a no ID bank account. We will also discuss some workable solutions for every case.

Unemployed in the UK

Real estate prices in the UK are high. Without a well paid job it is difficult to afford good accommodation. So if you have recently landed in the country or are in between jobs, opening a bank account in the UK without proof of address is an important option.

Immigrant Student

Are you planning on studying in the UK? If so, you’ll want to avoid the extra charges levied on international transfers and are probably looking out for a no ID bank account. Well, you have quite a few options to choose from because there are many banks that let you open a UK bank account without proof of address. Immigrant students are common and a student account is one of the easiest bank accounts to open.

Homeless Citizens and Homeless Legal Immigrants

Homelessness is one of the biggest problems in the UK, especially in London. If you are a UK citizen or an immigrant legally residing in London, and find yourself to be homeless, there are ways to get an address, without renting or owning a property. It is important to have an address in the UK, in order to receive letters regarding your employment and benefits.

However, if you are currently homeless and want to get yourself a bank account then there are ways to do this. You can get yourself a virtual address or a proxy address where you can receive your post. The choice of a service provider depends on your affordability, but if you absolutely cannot pay for it, then there are also some ways to do that for free. Then you can start engaging with banks in London to try and find an account that’s right for you.

Digital Nomads

Not everyone wants to live within the same four walls for the rest of their lives. The rise of digital nomads has encouraged innovation in the financial sector. If you dream of moving through as many countries as you can you may be wondering how your finances will work.

If you have just joined the digital nomad bandwagon or wish to have a company registered in the UK you can consider getting yourself a mailing address from a virtual address service provider. More and more people are securing virtual bank accounts with no ID. Online banking with no ID required is more common than ever. However, it is important that you find one that is reliable and doesn’t hike up the service costs midway.

Places to Open a Bank Account without Proof of Address in the UK

To guide you through the process of opening a bank account in the UK without proof of address, we have highlighted some banks.

All the options listed below are offered by legitimate banking institutions. You don’t have to worry about accidentally bypassing local laws or regulations, while you open a UK bank account without proof of address.

Most banks will require a copy of a house rental contract. But this is not always the case! So, below we’ve listed some of the easiest bank accounts to open without proof of address.

Hassle-free Banking with Small World

Setting up a bank account can take time. If you have just immigrated to study in the UK, and wish to receive money from your parents or guardian, then you can do so through Small World.

While you look for UK bank accounts without proof of address you can receive cash from your family through the nearest Small World Agent. You and your family members can register straight from your country of origin. Small World can help, no matter the complexity of your case.

Remember you can send money home with Small World, too. Send money home.

Banks to consider...


Barclays

Barclays is one of the most accessible banks for people without proof of address. Europeans can open an account by showing their passport. For non-europeans there are several options. The first one is opening a Cash Card Account, which has no fees. With this account you can perform basic operations, but make sure you are given a debit card instead of a cash card.

Another option is to open a Barclays Bank account with a contactless debit card. If you are a student, then you can also open a student’s account with Barclays which requires minimal paperwork. However, you must note that you need to be 18 years old, in order to be regarded as a adult in the UK.

Lloyds

Lloyds is another bank that has several options for those without proof of address. To open a bank account, you only need a passport, which makes it one of the best options for the newly arrived.

Here, you will also be offered the Cash Account but bear in mind that with its credit card you will only be able to withdraw money at certain ATMs. You may prefer to opt for the Classic Account which has no limitations.

TSB

Until 2013, TSB was part of Lloyds TSB. While they are now separate entities, the requirements for opening a bank account are exactly the same as those of its former partner. A passport is enough to proceed!

Starting out

There are many other banking companies, but we recommend starting with the banks mentioned above. When you have established yourself in the UK with a house contract or a job you may want to branch out and explore other banks.

Ultimately, the most complex part of your journey will be opening your first account in the UK. Once you have achieved this, changing to a different bank is usually much easier.


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