List of banks in the UK where you can open a bank account without proof of address

If you have just landed in the UK and are looking out for a job, then you probably don’t have an address of your own. Now, this can have several repercussions, but the worst of them all is not being able to open a bank account without proof of address. After all, being able to afford a place of your own in the UK, even on a rental basis isn’t going to be easy.

Without a steady job, paying for one is going to be a nightmare, so your only option is to open a UK bank account without proof of address. So if you don’t have a job or a house yet, then the below-listed options should sort that out for you. However, before we explore them, let us quickly glance into the types of banking options you have and also figure out who should look for a no ID bank account in the UK.

Types of UK Bank Accounts without Proof of Address

If you are looking up for a no ID bank account in the UK, then you have three options to choose from. The first one is through the regular physical bank, which refers to Barclays, Lloyds and other banks that you can walk in. The second option is to cling onto technology and refers to options, which is usually through mobile phone payment systems. Usually, most mobile payment systems keep the entry criteria quite flexible. However, to get a phone connection in the UK, you do need an address. Also, this comes with an inflexible capping so we don’t consider this one to be a viable option.

However, the third and most convenient option is Small World, a reliable money exchange intermediary. You can conveniently create accounts for yourself and your family members, who you wish to transact with. If you are a student, then this is a great way to receive allowances from your parents. On the other hand, if you are in a temporary job, contract job or hourly job, then you can also send money to your loved ones, back home. We shall discuss more on this, shortly.

Who Should Consider a no ID Bank Account?

Let us now discuss some situations in which you should consider a no ID bank account. We will also discuss some workable solutions for every case.

Unemployed in the UK

The UK is one of the world’s strongest economies and attracts people from all over the world. However, that has skyrocketed the real estate prices, and being able to afford accommodation isn’t possible without a decent job. So if you have recently landed in the UK or are in between jobs, you may want to open a bank account without proof of address. This becomes a lot easier for those from the European Union but can get a wee bit tougher for the rest.

Immigrant Student

If you plan to move to the UK to pursue your education, then you don’t want to incur the extra charges levied on international transfers and are probably looking out for a no ID bank account. Well, you have quite a few options to choose from because there are quite a few banks that let you open a UK bank account without proof of address.

Homeless Citizens and Homeless Legal Immigrants

Homelessness is one of the biggest problems in the UK, and more so in London. So if you are a UK citizen or an immigrant legally residing in London, and find yourself to be homeless, then its time you got yourself an address, without actually renting or owning a property. After all, it is extremely important for you to have an address in the UK, in order to receive mails regarding your employment and benefits.

However, if you are currently homeless and want to get yourself a bank account then there are ways to do this. You can get yourself a virtual address or a proxy address where you can receive your mails. The choice of a service provider depends on your affordability, but if you absolutely cannot pay for it, then there are also some ways to do that for free.

Digital Nomads and Others

The days of staying in one country or location are done with and the present generation believes in living their dream of moving through as many countries as they can. So, if you have just joined the digital nomad bandwagon or wish to have a company registered in the UK, then you can consider getting yourself a mailing address from a virtual address service provider. However, you must find one that is reliable and doesn’t hike the service costs midway.

Places to Open Bank Account without Proof of Address in the UK

To guide you through the entire process of opening a UK bank account without proof of address, we have listed down some of the best options that you can explore. You may now wonder if it is even possible, or whether it is legitimate to open a UK bank account without proof of address. We have answered this by suggesting some ways in which you can deal with the issue, depending on why you want a no ID bank account. You can always consider getting a virtual mailing address and work around it.

To begin with, you can be sure that all the options listed below are offered by legitimate banking institutions, so you are not going to bypass the local laws or regulations, while you open a UK bank account without proof of address. Most of the banks will require at least a copy of a house rental contract. However, you need to find one that doesn’t and below listed are some of the most promising options to get yourself a UK bank account without proof of address.

Hassle-free Banking with Small World

If you have just immigrated to study in the UK, and wish to receive money from your parents or guardian, then you can do so through Small World. While you lookup for UK bank accounts without proof of address, or until you get yourself an address, you can receive cash from your family through the nearest Small World Agent. Also, as Small World has a strong global presence, your family members and you can register straight from your country of origin. No matter how complex your case is, a mail to Small World can make things easier for you in no time.

Barclays

Traditionally it has been one of the easiest banks to open an account without the usually required documents. Europeans can open it by just showing their passport. There are different options here; the first one is opening Cash Card Account, which has no fees and you can perform basic operations, but make sure you are given a debit card instead of a cash card or another good option is to open a Barclays Bank account with a contactless debit card. If you are a student, then you can also open a student’s account with Barclay’s which requires minimal paperwork. However, you must note that you need to be 18 years old, in order to be regarded as a major in the UK.

Lloyds

It is also one of the most indulgent banks. In fact, in order to open a bank account, you only need to have a passport, which makes it one of the best options for the newly arrived without any contract. Here, you will also be offered the Cash Account but bear in mind that with its credit card you will only be able to withdraw money at certain ATMs so you´d better opt for the Classic Account which has no limitations.

TSB

Until 2013, TSB was part of Lloyds TSB and while now separate entities, the requirements for opening a bank account are exactly the same as those of its former partner; having a passport is enough to proceed.

Other Options

Of course there are many other banking companies, but to be honest, trying to open a bank account could be pretty arduous. Our recommendation is that you start with the banks mentioned, and later on, once you have a house contract and a job, you attempt it with others. The most complicated issue is to open the first account in the UK. Once you have achieved this, changing to a different bank is usually much easier.