First bank account in UK?

It will be very hard to get one in the UK due to the current laws.

"If you're a new customer, by law, we have to ask you for proof of your name and address. This is to comply with money laundering regulations which help to stop criminals using financial products or services to hide money made from their illegal activities from the authorities."

This applys to anyone who wants to open a new account.

Complete nonsense saying it will be very hard - though the rest of your post is true!

Lithuanian Passport is perfectly acceptable ID.

Address Verification - might be easier than you might otherwise have thought, depending upon whom the employer and landlord are. Ask them if they are 'recognised introducers' for any banks. Futher, if he has a landlord he will almost certainly have some household bills - council tax, gas, electricity etc in his name by now - a recent one (last three months) with evidence of payment of said bill should be reasonably easy to get hold of. If not, why not?

Further, if he is a Lithuanian, I assume he has been given permanent right of residence? If not, then he will not get anywhere anyway - why would any bank give a tourist a bank account?!!

Go talk to some local branch staff and they will advise.

MC

He'll probably find it easier to get a credit card than a deposit account.

Does he pay electricity / telephone bills? Does he pay council tax? Those could be used as evidence of identity.

Get his employer to ask whatever bank they do their business with to help him set up an account.

Well, thats what the Halifax requires.

I still don't know how uncommon my situation is, but every account I have opened online with internet banks has been done without the bank asking for any proof of ID or address at all.

If he still has problems, passport/driving licence plus a proof of address (I used a mobile phone bill, but they probably shouldn't have accepted it!) will get him a Yorkshire Building Society Cash Transactor card account with Direct Debits in AND out. Very simple application form.

Hope that helps

Simon Clark

Quite often they use your credit record as proof.

cd

Hello MC and the previous poster,

I will pass on your suggestions.

Regarding household bills. AFAIK he pays an inclusive rent so there are no bills in his name. He currently uses a mobile phone so no BT bill either.

He does have permanent right of residence in the UK.

Thank you again.

Hello Jonathan,

His landlord said his rent includes council tax.

He's running out of options.

Hello Tumble,

Good idea.

He can but try.

Hello Simon,

Definitely sounds like a worthwhile idea.

I will pass your suggestions on.

Many thanks.

Lithuanian citizens have the right to live in the UK if they are exercising EU rights.

To the original poster: it is electoral roll, not role. Role is what actors play in the theatre. If you are uncertain about the spelling, use register.

Hi Steve,

Excuse the typo.

I type too fast and normally make do with the spell checker.

However, said spell checker is not to hot when it comes to grammar and I tend not to proof read.

With regards the electoral roll, I'm afraid I'm still waiting for my cheque from the sale of my personal information. It is for this reason I told Kensington & Chelsea council to stuff their electoral roll.

Once again, many thanks for all the responses to my original post.

Have passed on the information. My friend has probably visited the Yorkshire by now.