Bank Account

The guide explains how bank accounts work in the UK, the documents that banks require applicants to provide, how to make an application for a new account and tips for avoiding financial scams.  The guide is available in English, Arabic, Farsi, Kurdish, Pashto and Tigrinya.

You can find out more and access the guide here.

Accounts for people with no fixed address or photo ID and survivors of human trafficking and modern day slavery.

HSBC bank accounts for people without a fixed address now available in over 100 branches - About HSBC | HSBC UK

HSBC UK provides support for survivors of human traffickinga

‍

Getting a bank account can be really tricky for an asylum seeker as they don’t necessarily have the documents required. One of our Befrienders found that Nationwide were very helpful in this regard.

If you don’t possess a current passport or driving licence you can use two forms of ID from professional people; doctor, solicitor, social worker, please ask the YWB coordinator for the document with details of what the bank will accept.  Please see the ARC card section on this document for name ID. Apply online for a Flex Basic Account, then you will need to hand deliver the letters to a local branch of Nationwide as they will need to verify who you are. You are only able to apply online for an account but they will be happy to support you in your online application.