UK Bank Account For Thai Wife On Spouse Visa

[MrZM]

We have only recently arrived.

It would make my life a lot easier if my wife had a bank account.

Please from experience can you explain.

At the moment the only letter she has with the home address is a letter from the NHS.

So I've been told this is not suffice

Thanks

[MAZ3]

Try Metrobank,their requirements are on their website.

Also no ATM fee anywhere in the world,and prefect Mastercard exchange rate.

[Stanaris]

Try the bank that you use yourself first.

I use HSBC and when my wife arrived here 3 years ago only had her passport but they gave her a cash card initially and now she has a debit card.

I am sure there are other banks that will help

[kunash]

try and put your wife's name on a utility bill if you can. that will help. then ask the company to send out a new bill

[wilbs]

Get her put on the council tax bill

[7by7]

Even following the suggestions above may not suffice as some banks will not open an account for an adult who does not have a traceable credit history.

You'll need to shop around, or do as we did which is open an account in our joint names for my wife to use.

[Rumpole]

Try this one:

http://www.mycashplus.co.uk/products/current-account.aspx

No credit checks and no proof of address required until you want to upgrade from the basic level to "Total Access". Their cards function like a basic bank account, too.

[markie53]

Try the bank that you use yourself first.

I use HSBC and when my wife arrived here 3 years ago only had her passport but they gave her a cash card initially and now she has a debit card.

I am sure there are other banks that will help

Same for my wife 2 years ago. HSBC asked for a council tax bill which was in joint names, passport and all was very straight forward. Just over a year later her standard ATM card was changed to a debit card. I must add that I put £200 in her account and left it there.

[Maybole]

Try the local Post Office

[10120]

No.

Must apply for NI number for Thai wife. This, amazingly, means physically going to a Jobcentre, then being given a tel number to call a jobcentre call centre oop north (from within the jobcentre!). They then send you a pre-printed doc, You send copies of wife's spouse visa, passport ID page and they generate a LETTER containing the new NI number. There is NO NI CARD ANYMORE This letter obviously shows yours/her home address. This is sufficient with ALL UK banks to open a bank account.

Edited September 17, 2013 by 10120

[KhunDave]

Mrs KD opened a Barclays Cashcard account about two months after we arrived. All that was needed was passport with settlement visa and a council tax bill with her name on it. It comes with a Visa debit card. After holding this account for six months she was also offered a Visa credit card with a 400 quid credit limit.

[7by7]

10120,
You do not need to have a NI number in order to open a bank account; although some banks may require this of new adult customers.

Applicants do not attend a Jobcentre to apply, they apply via phone or online.

They may need to attend an identity interview, though.

See Applying for a National Insurance number.