Opening a bank account!

[Piamed]

I went to the local Abbey yesterday with the ultimate objective of having a bank account that Pia and I could both have debit cards attached to, irrespective of whether the account would be a joint one or in the name of a single card holder.

Currently, Pia has the cash card for one of my flexible saver accounts and i transfer funds continually, (I mean as and when required)...

Anyway, the bank said that I cannot have 2 cards on the one flexible saver account. I cannot open a joint current account as she will have no credit status and I cannot add her to any of my current accounts as she will similarly fail any of the credit checks. Similarly, she cannot open a sole account so that she can have a debit card.

Can I ask, is that consistent with what you have experienced with other banks and how did your wife (invariably) open an account when here?

I would prefer to have a joint account with 2 debit cards attached to it and a separate account for my wifes savings either in her name or mine.

Cheers!

[aromulus]

I went to the local Abbey yesterday with the ultimate objective of having a bank account that Pia and I could both have debit cards attached to, irrespective of whether the account would be a joint one or in the name of a single card holder.

Currently, Pia has the cash card for one of my flexible saver accounts and i transfer funds continually, (I mean as and when required)...

Anyway, the bank said that I cannot have 2 cards on the one flexible saver account. I cannot open a joint current account as she will have no credit status and I cannot add her to any of my current accounts as she will similarly fail any of the credit checks. Similarly, she cannot open a sole account so that she can have a debit card.

Can I ask, is that consistent with what you have experienced with other banks and how did your wife (invariably) open an account when here?

I would prefer to have a joint account with 2 debit cards attached to it and a separate account for my wifes savings either in her name or mine.

Cheers!

I had no problems at all opening a joint account for Jet with Lloyds TSB.

Before her arrival, I opened another account in my name, 1 week after she got here we went to the bank and added her name on it, no hassle whatsoever.

10 days later she received debit card, cheque book, paying in book and we both got new pin numbers.

Different banks, different rules it seems.

[Piamed]

I had no problems at all opening a joint account for Jet with Lloyds TSB.

Before her arrival, I opened another account in my name, 1 week after she got here we went to the bank and added her name on it, no hassle whatsoever.

10 days later she received debit card, cheque book, paying in book and we both got new pin numbers.

Different banks, different rules it seems.

What you did would have been the easiest option I thought! I think I maybe complicated things by mentioning what I was planning to do when my wife arrived; I should just have opened the account in my name and left it at that for now!

[joroco]

Cristina has a second card on my Nationwide Credit Card account. Nationwide give good exchange rates, and don't charge. The only charge is by the bank where the cash is withdrawn and that is £3.00 for up to 10,000 pesos. To avoid paying interest, pay the same amount immediately into a Nationwide Branch on the account, because they also guarantee to pay off your most expensive credit FIRST!

[Piamed]

Cristina has a second card on my Nationwide Credit Card account. Nationwide give good exchange rates, and don't charge. The only charge is by the bank where the cash is withdrawn and that is £3.00 for up to 10,000 pesos. To avoid paying interest, pay the same amount immediately into a Nationwide Branch on the account, because they also guarantee to pay off your most expensive credit FIRST!

Thank's Jeroco. I am trying to avoid Credit and Charge Cards which is kinda hard to contemplate given that I spend up to £10k a month on corporate expenses. But I had a bad experience so don't use them anymore. Someone with exactly the same biometrics as me, who shall remain nameless, got himself into debt with Amex having had massive company expenses, his employer going bust and him having no income for almost a year.

In fact, that's the reason I wrote to the British Embassy recently, to explain why the baseline of my account was fluctuating by £10k a month and that its financial position was actually more than it at first seemed.

[aromulus]

given that I spend up to £10k a month on corporate expenses.

Ever considered posh wine as corporate gifts...???

[Piamed]

Ever considered posh wine as corporate gifts...???

You don't supply by any chance, do you? Fine, wines I mean! Most of the expense goes on flights and hotels but I have been known to buy a bottle or two. I was in the Freixenet caves recently, really fascinating...hic!

[aromulus]

You don't supply by any chance, do you? Fine, wines I mean! Most of the expense goes on flights and hotels but I have been known to buy a bottle or two. I was in the Freixenet caves recently, really fascinating...hic!

What...???

And how many cases of...????

Freixneit.......... Memories..............

I must have poured over 6000 bottles of the stuff down the sink, in a previous life.....

Either that, or losing commission.....

[Piamed]

[Piamed]

well what do you know. Having last week been told to go into a branch to sort my requirement out and at the branch being told I could not do what I wanted - I have now just opened an account over the phone...hmmmn!

[kimmi]

I had no problems at all opening a joint account for Jet with Lloyds TSB.

Before her arrival, I opened another account in my name, 1 week after she got here we went to the bank and added her name on it, no hassle whatsoever.

10 days later she received debit card, cheque book, paying in book and we both got new pin numbers.

Different banks, different rules it seems.

we also used Loyds TSB when I arrive here and seems no problem so far..

[aposhark]

Cristina has a second card on my Nationwide Credit Card account. Nationwide give good exchange rates, and don't charge. The only charge is by the bank where the cash is withdrawn and that is £3.00 for up to 10,000 pesos. To avoid paying interest, pay the same amount immediately into a Nationwide Branch on the account, because they also guarantee to pay off your most expensive credit FIRST!

joroco, are there many Nationwide banks in Phils?

[Pepe n Pilar]

We went to Natwest and was told of the same. Now i will have to try with Loyds Bank. This site is really very informative we were just discussing this topic about opening an account and here i got the answers...Thanks Aromulus..

[stuartfarm]

Halifax easycash account , only passport needed . The bank copied it and authenticated it.
Sent off application and recieved card 1 week later

Its a very basic account but you get an ATM card plus online banking . after 6 months of good history you can upgrade to a full current account

[chino]

joroco, are there many Nationwide banks in Phils?

No - Nationwide don't charge to take your money out when away from the UK

[vbkelly]

I went to the local Abbey yesterday with the ultimate objective of having a bank account that Pia and I could both have debit cards attached to, irrespective of whether the account would be a joint one or in the name of a single card holder.

Currently, Pia has the cash card for one of my flexible saver accounts and i transfer funds continually, (I mean as and when required)...

Anyway, the bank said that I cannot have 2 cards on the one flexible saver account. I cannot open a joint current account as she will have no credit status and I cannot add her to any of my current accounts as she will similarly fail any of the credit checks. Similarly, she cannot open a sole account so that she can have a debit card.

Can I ask, is that consistent with what you have experienced with other banks and how did your wife (invariably) open an account when here?

I would prefer to have a joint account with 2 debit cards attached to it and a separate account for my wifes savings either in her name or mine.

Cheers!

hi piamed try another banks coz
first thing when i was arrived in uk my husband openned me my own account in halifax we don't have a problem at all and i got it straight away and he joined me in his acccount aswell

[Piamed]

Thanks vbkelly; it seems that the lady at the branch and the first one I spoke to on the phone did not know what they were saying or somehow i confused them about what I wanted. I think the account details are downstairs by the front door now.

[aug06_2006]

Hi Piamed, we just open my account in Lloyds TSB..just passport needed..no hassle!

[joroco]

joroco, are there many Nationwide banks in Phils?

I mean pay into Nationwide branch here in UK, assuming you are here and she is in RP.

[Piamed]

Hi Piamed, we just open my account in Lloyds TSB..just passport needed..no hassle!

Thanks aug06_2006. Seems Lloyds and Nationwide applications have been most straight forward!

[aposhark]

I mean pay into Nationwide branch here in UK, assuming you are here and she is in RP.

OK, np and cheers

[Andy]

Barclays said that my wife & I couldn't have a joint account (their policy was not to give accounts to people who had been in the UK for less than 2 years). We went to HSBC & opened an account without any problems.

This was 6 years so Barclay's policy might have changed.

Andy
Surrey,UK

[JAMZ]

Sorry for selective reading, just checked quickly the forum.

I wonder if Ms. Pia does or doesn't have work?

My hubby opened a bank account as he arrived here in the UK early this year and he was approved to open an account with debit card even without any previous bank accounts in the UK. We just presented his passport, visa, tenancy agreement with his name as one of the tenants and contract from his employer.

[Piamed]

Sorry for selective reading, just checked quickly the forum.

I wonder if Ms. Pia does or doesn't have work?

My hubby opened a bank account as he arrived here in the UK early this year and he was approved to open an account with debit card even without any previous bank accounts in the UK. We just presented his passport, visa, tenancy agreement with his name as one of the tenants and contract from his employer.

Unfortunately, Pia is still in da Phils. Not coming for perhaps another 6 weeks or so. That seems like a really easy way of getting an account.

[Piamed]

well what do you know. Having last week been told to go into a branch to sort my requirement out and at the branch being told I could not do what I wanted - I have now just opened an account over the phone...hmmmn!

Account details have finally arrived...and it only took 5 weeks. Hmmn!

[LEAHnew]

Account details have finally arrived...and it only took 5 weeks. Hmmn!

Hello amigo sorry to hear about what had happen to Pia (been robbed)

but im sure the next news is about the success of her Visa

God Bless

[Piamed]

Thank you so much amiga. I am certainly praying that she will get her visa this week so can go and accompany her back here asap. God bless you too.