Opening a bank account and documents needed

If you're moving to Leeds from outside the UK you'll need access to your money and the easiest way is to open a UK bank account. 

It can take several weeks to open a bank account. Be prepared and think about arranging money for when you arrive before you travel to Leeds.

Below you’ll find the answers to some of the questions that you might be having at this stage. Find out more about what documents you need to open a bank account, how to obtain them and how to choose the best bank that suits your needs.

What documents will I need? 

1. Proof of your identity  
   Your passport or EU national identity card. 

2. Proof that you are a student 
   Your offer letter or a bank letter from the University. See information below on how to get your bank letter. 

3. Proof of your address 
   Accepted documents include a housing contract, a utility bill or a bank letter from the University.  
   If you provide a tenancy agreement for private sector accommodation, it will need to be signed by the landlord. 

Your bank letter 

Your letter is valid for 3 months. It’s important that the information on your letter is correct before you visit a bank. The information that appears on your bank letter will be automatically downloaded from the personal details you enter on Minerva.

Follow these steps to check that you’ve entered the information correctly before you obtain a bank letter:

Complete the first three steps of the online registration process to receive your bank letter.  

It’s very important that your personal details on Minerva are correct as this information will later appear on your bank letter. Check the following points: 

1. Your name and surname 

• Your name must match the one shown on your passport or Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). 
• Your name must be entered in this format: first, last name or first, middle, last name (if you have a middle name). 

2. Your address 

• Home address – enter your address in your home country.
• Term time address – enter your UK address.  
• Complete all fields in full, including the ‘Nation’ field. 

You usually cannot open a bank account if you’re staying in temporary accommodation (in a hotel, for example). 

Decide what bank you want to open an account with.

The standard bank letter produced by the University will start with “To whom it may concern”. This means that it won’t be addressed to a specific person. The following banks accept the standard University of Leeds bank letter: 

• Lloyds
• HSBC
• Santander

If your chosen bank needs the letter to be addressed to a specific person, for example the bank manager, complete a bank letter request online.  

Find more information on choosing a bank. 

When will I receive my bank letter? 

Your bank letter will be sent to you automatically after completing the first three steps of your online registration. When you’ll receive the letter will depend on the type of accommodation you’ll be stating in:

If you’re in University accommodation

The University will email your bank letter to you after your accommodation contract has started. You should receive your bank letter five days after your accommodation contract has started.   

If you’re in private accommodation

The University will email your bank letter within five working days from the start of your contract, after you have completed the first three steps of online registration.     

I have not received my bank letter

If you’ve waited for longer than a week and you’ve still not received your letter, check that your full name and adress have been entered correctly. If you spot any mistakes, correct them as soon as possible. Entering information incorrectly on Minerva is usually the main reason for not receiving bank letters. 

If you’ve waited for longer than a week and you think that your profile information is correct, contact the Student Documents and Visas team to notify them of the delay. 

I have other questions about opening a bank account

Get in touch with the friendly team in the Student Information Service (SIS). You can call them, email them, or visit them at one of four Student Information Points on campus.