International Student Handbook - International Student Office

International Student Handbook 2013-14
Opening a bank account
34
Can I open a bank account
Most students are able to open a basic bank
account in the UK. If you are here for 12
months or more, you will have the widest choice
of bank accounts available to you, but students
here for less time are still able to open
accounts. The International Student Office has
created a Bank Account Comparison Table to
help you decide which bank account you wish to
open. Please check the Bank Account
Comparison Table to see how long you need to
be in the UK for to open each specific account.
www.internationalstudentsupport.leeds.ac.uk/
useful_links/information_leaflets
What do I need to open
a bank account
What you require to open a bank account will
depend on which bank and which bank account
you choose. You may find the following
information helpful as general guidance about
what you may need to open a UK bank account:
1. Proof of your identity:
Evidence of your identity = passport or EU
national identity card
2. Proof of your status as a student (if you are
opening a student account):
Evidence of your status as a student: your offer
letter or a bank letter from the University
3. Proof of address:
Some banks will require proof of your UK
address and/or your home/overseas residential
address. Different banks accept different
documents as proof of address: See the Bank
Account Comparison Table:
www.internationalstudentsupport.leeds.ac.uk/
useful_links/information_leaflets
4. Minimum deposits and fees:
Some banks require a minimum deposit to open
certain accounts and charge a monthly fee.
(Some bank accounts also require you to
maintain a minimum balance in your account).
Where can I get a bank introduction
letter from the University
A banking letter can be used as proof of student
status and proof of both your UK and oversees
addresses. You can get one from the Student
Services Counter in the Marjorie and Arnold Ziff
Building. You need to decide which bank
account you wish to open before you get your
bank letter as Student Services will address your
letter to the bank of your choice.
How do I decide which bank
to choose
The University does not recommend any
particular bank. Everyone is different, and
different banks have different services and
opening requirements for different bank
accounts. The Bank Account Comparison Table
has initial guidance to help you compare the
different banks, but you also need to read
further information from the banks before you
make your final choice.
There are three banks on campus and many
other banks have several branches in the city
centre. The nearest Bank of China branch is in
Manchester.
How long does it take to open
an account
Some accounts can be opened quickly
(less than 48 hours) – others may take longer,
particularly during the busiest periods, such
as September. If you pay your University tuition
fees in instalments you will need your bank
account to be open before you can complete
your University registration. However, if your
bank account takes time to open, this is not a
problem. Once you have paid the first
instalment of your tuition fees you can receive
a temporary registration card to use until your
bank account is open and you can complete
your University registration. A temporary
registration card enables you to use the
computer and library facilities.