Open Bank Account in UK now to use ATMs later?

This topic has been discussed before. I'm sure someone out there has figured out a way to do it, but for the most part, you need a UK address to open a small petty cash account. Unless you plan to open a large business account, very few (if any) banks will do it for you.

Since this question has been answered in the past, I suggest you do a search in the box at the top right corner of this page and read previous posts.

As I remember it, nearly everyone agrees that using the ATM machines as you need currency is best.

Unless things have changed a lot since 1994, it is no easy matter to open a checking account in the UK. I was an exchange teacher that year, and I needed an official letter testifying to my status before I could do so. When the school year was over, I left a balance in the account, thinking it would be handy to have in the EU for future trips. My local branch closed at some point, and I was never able to get new checks or an atm card. All they would do is close the account and refund the balance. Some one explained to me that the UK banks had had a lot of trouble with foreign residents running overdrafts and just leaving. Therefore, they were super cautious when dealing with foreigners.

Cindy,

As the others have suggested, opening a Bank account in the U.K. is totally impractical especially for such a short trip.

From what I've heard from relatives that lived in the U.K., you'd not only need a local address but also need to demonstrate a source of income in the U.K. (ie: funds to deposit in your new bank account). The matter of "income" could complicate matters when you're arriving and going through Passport control, as if they think you might be working there (illegally), you could be pulled out of the line and questioned.

Good luck!

To be honest, its not easy as a non-Britisher to open a bank account here. Several of my friends are non-UK Nationals studying here in Oxford and in some cases it took them several months, with letters of reference from the University, to actually get a bank account. One of them, despite being an Australian citizen and having been here for 4 years, has been turned down several times for a credit card.

So, in summary, its not even worth trying to open a UK bank account.

Dave: The feeling in Rick's organization (I've been told) is that most posters (those who aren't regulars here) reach the Helpline via a Google search and probably don't have his books or even know who he is. Rick's staff (that I've talked to) are of the opinion that a large number of the questions asked by these posters (who reach here via a Google search and don't know Rick's work) are already answered in either 1) Rick's books, 2) other sections of this site, or 3) in previous posts. But the first time posters don't know this. So that's why I tend to give them a link to a specific page of Rick's books (available for limited review online), or a link to other sections of this website, or a link to previous posts (which are difficult to locate if you don't know the trick of how to efficiently search for prior posts).Regulars know all this but many of the first timers don't.

Betting on currency exchanges is, at best, foolish.

Thanks Kent, it's always surprising to me how many people post to the Rick Steve's graffiti wall, and apparently haven't read a single Rick Steves book, or watched a single Rick Steve's Travel Skills Special.

Our WAMU ATM card worked at every ATM we tried it at in London, and we usually withdrew 100 pounds at a time.

I opened an account with a building society - like our trust companies - a few years ago and use it when I go over there. However, I have a few things going for me that most of you do not. My sister lives there, so I could use her address. The first deposit came from a small legacy I received from a relative there. It works well for me, but I am in a fortunate position.

As someone else suggested, betting on a foreign curreny is a mug's game. Look at the US/Can situation. Lats summer it was about 1:1, before that it was 100/80 and now it is back there, despite our economy being much stronger than the US one.

Alex is absolutely correct. My friend moved to the UK last year with her husband who was working over there. As an American, it took her close to 5 months to finally get her own bank account with an ATM card. Lots of paperwork had to be completed.

Suck it up and pay the paltry ATM fee to get your money as you go along on the trip. Take out larger sums from the ATM so you only have to tap it 1 or 2x during your 2 week trip.

Cindy,It won't be as convenient as using an ATM but why don't you go to a large bank and get pounds now? you can get in large denominations so you won't have as big a bundle to carry. Of course, you'll have to be sure you keep all this loot very very safe....