Opening a UK bank account  How to open a UK bank account

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

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

Read about the different types of bank you can choose from.

Benefits of opening a UK bank account

Opening a bank account in the UK is not compulsory. However, there are benefits to opening a UK bank account, such as not paying transaction fees for cash withdrawals or bank transfers.

A UK bank account is useful if you’re planning on making any regular payments in the UK by direct debit, including: 

• Paying your mobile phone bills – if you want a UK number, you can use pay-as-you-go phone, but if you prefer a contract, you can only pay by direct debit from a UK bank account.
• Paying your bills – most utility companies will expect you to set up a standing order from a UK bank account to pay your bills.

Before you leave home

Speak to your local bank in your home country and let your bank know that you’re coming to the UK. If you don’t tell them you’ll be overseas, they might think your card has been stolen and block your account.

Ask your bank if they have a bank in the UK, they might be able to offer services while you study in the UK or help you book an appointment with a local branch. 

Many banks require you to be in the UK to complete the process of opening your account. However, some banks could allow you to open an account from your home country. For example:

• If you live in China, Bank of China can help you to open a UK account before coming to the UK.
• Customers who have a relationship with HSBC in their home country can use HSBC’s International Banking Centre (IBC) network to open a UK account before they arrive. This is available to customers in 29 countries, and the average time required to process this before you come to the UK is two weeks.

Documents you need to open an account

1. Proof of your identity – your passport or EU national identity card. 
2. Proof that you’re a student – your offer letter or a bank letter from the University.
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. 
4. Your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) – if you’re an international student on a Student visa, some banks require you to show your BRP to open an account. 

University bank letters

Your bank letter will be valid for three months.

Request a bank letter

To request a bank letter, activate your IT account and complete the online registration process.  

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 name then last name, or first then middle then last name (if you have a middle name). 

2. Your address 

• Permanent 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). The University is unable to provide you with a bank letter if you have only entered a temporary address in the UK. 

It is important to reject the offer of University accommodation as soon as you have made the decision to live in alternative accommodation, as delaying can have implications during registration and when receiving a bank letter with the accurate address listed. Let the University know that you wish to reject the offer by emailing the Accommodation team at accom@leeds.ac.uk. 

Banks that accept bank letters

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: 

• HSBC
• Lloyds
• Santander

If your chosen bank is not listed above and you need the letter to be addressed to the bank manager, apply for a Registration Status Certificate. Please be aware that it can take up to 10 working days to receive your bank letter when requesting it via a Registration Status Certificate.

Read more information on choosing a bank.

Receiving your bank letter

Your bank letter will be generated automatically after completing the first three steps of your online registration.

The University will email your bank letter to your University email address within five working days from the start date of your accommodation contract.

Please check that you have entered the correct start date for your term-time (UK) address in Minerva.   

If you’ve waited for longer than a week and you’ve still not received your letter, check that your full name and addresses have been entered correctly in Minerva. If you spot any mistakes, correct them as soon as possible. After any changes are made to your name or addresses in Minerva, a new bank letter will be generated and emailed to you the next working day.  

If you’ve waited for longer than a week and you think that your personal information is correct, email the Student Documents and Visas team at ssc@leeds.ac.uk to notify them of the delay. Please email using your University of Leeds email account, including your full name and student number.

Further information

If you have questions about opening a bank account, contact the friendly team in the Student Information Service. You can call them, email them, or visit them at one of the Student Information Points on campus.