One of the most frustrating things I found about moving to London was getting our bank account set up, and judging by your emails, you’re pretty annoyed by the process as well. This can be especially hectic for those of us who are constantly sending money abroad. I mean, you can’t get a bank account without a proof of address, but you can’t rent a flat without a bank account. How does this make any logical sense?

Have no fear girls, here are some tips to make the process much easier! 

(1) Have you or your Husband/Boyfriend/Whomever is the main bread-winner get a letter ready from the company he is working for stating exactly how much he will be making annually and instructing the bank to please open up an account. It depends on the bank, but often times this is good enough to substitute for a proof of address if you haven’t secured a flat yet.

(2) Pay ££££ for your flat/house upfront. If your landlords won’t let you rent without a bank account then offer them 6 months or so upfront to cover your lease. This will give you a proof of address, and then a bank account.

(3) Make sure to bring your passport to ANY and ALL meetings when trying to open up an account. You think they photocopied it the last time you were in? Doesn’t matter, they probably lost it.

(4) Making frequent  international transfers back and forth between the UK and the USA, try LloydsTSB International, which doesn’t charge a free for international money transfers!

(5) If have a bank account and are moving back to the US, but think there is even the slightest possibility that you may be back in the UK, just keep your bank account open. The Husband and I kept our account open from when we were studying abroad, so that when we made the big move, we didn’t have to deal with starting from square one.

Have something you want to add?! Feel free, as always, to comment below!