My UK born granddaughter is visiting from MZ for 6 months and living with us. She needs a bank account so she can put money in and take it out while in the UK and also visiting friends in Europe. Her NZ bank won't allow this. She needs this quickly so she can start earning some money.
To open a UK account she needs proof of address. The bank require a passport, utility statement etc. She plans to apply for a UK Passport but this takes many weeks. She isn't on any of our utility bills. The bank won't accept our statement that she is living here.
Any idea how she can get proof of address QUICKLY and preferably legally?
Any other options to get a bank account*?
*HSBC offerent a basic account that allows cash deposits and card machine removals in the UK only and cannot be altered for the first 6 months after creation, so not much use in this case
Apply for a UK driving licence? Even a provisional? Not sure what the wait is like mind.
Any digital banks in NZ which offer a UK account?
Seems like a gap in the market for working holiday types if not...
Monzo or Starling
Is this not something a Wise account would allow her to do? Although getting the physical card might be a pain if she has to use NZ address to sign up!
Get her to sign up to a tenancy agreement with you?
Contract of employment?
Open an account with Wise, using her NZ details?
Starling still want proof of residence - tried that
NZ digital accounts want
Wil check out the driving licence but I suspect they want proof of address
Looks like wise is the best option
Ideally she would have organised something before she left NZ, assuming she is here now. The passport is only needed as ID so she can use her NZ passport for that. Though if she has dual citizenship she can of course apply for a dual UK passport if she wants. I believe there are basic bank accounts you can apply for with a temporary address, i.e. staying with friends or family. So the HSBC basic account does solve her problem in the UK, no? And then get a Euro pre-payment card for when travelling to Europe. When I first moved to Australia (temporary but for 2 years) I used by UK account with international money transfers and a credit card without exchange fees and used internet banking to pay most things. But I suspect it's too late for her to organise anything from NZ.
When my family visit from NZ they get these cards they call a "cash passport" I have no idea how it works but they can be used as a normal debit card and you top them up from NZ account via online banking. But yes she should perhaps have thought of that before she left.
I didn't when I came over in 1995. My posh uncle went into his bank and talked the bank manager into opening an account for me but I think they were in the same golf club. Also not helpful! But you may be able to sort something out if you are prepared to act as guarantor for her.
YUes, she should have sorted this all out but she only knew she was coming over a year in advance and she was , like, you know, like, uh, yeah whatever..
Basic account won't let her get money when visiting friends in Europe.
Will check out Wise
I will also try a tenancy agreement
This suggests a tenancy agreement from me won't work : A council or housing association rent card or tenancy agreement for the current year.
Provisional licence also doesn't count
But a revolut card will link to a basic account and allow changing £ into €.
Chase bank?
revolut?
Alternative option. Do you have a credit card? Order an extra card in her name but on your account. She then transfers the money from her NZ bank to your bank and you pay off the bill each month.
How much do you trust her?
https://www.moneysupermarket.com/credit-cards/joint-credit-cards/
Edit: Another option may be curve. Basically it just fronts other cards. Can't remember what the requirements are to get one (proof of address etc) but may be an option and it's free. She gets one of those and adds her NZ bank card to it. Various options of FX fees as well.
If shes planning on working in the UK, then I assume she will have some kind of work visa and National Insurance number? (I did when I did the reverse out to Oz many years ago)
That should allow her to open a basic account.
Prepayment debit card - she loads money onto it and then uses that in Europe?
Could even be in your name, you load it for her and she just spends it for you....
Just sign up to Wise. Gives both a NZ and UK bank account details and the UK one is a fully functioning account. Also offers EU AUS and US bank accounts. Can sign up with all her NZ details.
