UK banks for new arrivals & expats

Opening a UK bank account as a new arrival

Getting a UK bank account is one of the most urgent tasks when you move — you need one to receive a salary, set up direct debits for rent and utilities, and establish yourself financially in the country. The challenge for new arrivals is that traditional high street banks typically require a UK address and, in many cases, evidence of a UK credit history before they will open an account. Neither is easy to have on day one.

The fastest solution for most new arrivals is a digital challenger bank. Monzo, Starling and Chase UK all allow you to open a full current account entirely through your smartphone, without a branch visit and without requiring a UK credit history. You typically need a valid passport or biometric residence permit and a UK address — even a temporary one works for the initial application. Accounts can be open and usable within 24 hours of landing.

For high street accounts, the picture varies considerably. Metro Bank is often the most accessible for new arrivals who want a physical presence, as its branches are open seven days a week with no appointment needed. HSBC has a particular advantage for internationally mobile customers: if you already bank with HSBC in another country, you may be able to use its international account opening service to have a UK account ready before you arrive.

Expats who need to hold and move money across currencies — especially US citizens, who must maintain US accounts for tax reasons — will find multi-currency accounts from Wise or Revolut invaluable alongside a primary UK current account. These are not full UK current accounts but complement one well, allowing salary splits, currency exchange at near-interbank rates and the ability to hold balances in multiple currencies without conversion fees on every transaction.