Opening a bank account in the U.K. can sometimes be a lengthy – and frustrating – process. In addition to a passport or driving license, most banks require a proof of address, such as a telephone or utility bill, to open an account. Many expats will not have these documents until at least a few weeks after settling in London, so it is important to consider this when planning for those first few weeks after emigration. In the meantime, ATMs are plentiful in London, and most foreign debit and credit cards can be used to withdraw money in Sterling as well as to make purchases at local businesses and restaurants.

There are a number of international banks in London that offer international or offshore bank accounts in Sterling, US dollar, and Euros, making it easy and convenient to withdraw, deposit, and transfer money between accounts. The major international banks offering these and other financial services, such as savings, investments, and tax preparation, are HSBC, Lloyds TSB, and Citibank. The contact details for their U.K. offices are as follows:

Customer Relations Department
HSBC Bank International Limited
HSBC House
Esplanade
St. Helier
Jersey
JE1 1HS
CHANNEL ISLANDS
+44 1534 616 111 (for questions about opening a standard account)
www.offshore.hsbc.com

Lloyds TSB Bank Plc
8-10 Waterloo Place
London
SW1Y 5NJ
UNITED KINGDOM
+44 (0)1624 638000 (from outside the U.K.)
0800 876 6555 (from within the U.K.)
www.LloydsTSB-offshore.com

Customer Service Team
Citibank International plc
P.O. Box 49930
London
SE5 7XT
UNITED KINGDOM
0800 00 88 00
www.citibank.co.uk London branches are located at St. Paul's; Cabot Place, Canary Wharf; Canada Square, Canary Wharf; Monument; Hanover Square; and The Strand.

Many of the U.K.'s major banks also offer international or offshore accounts. These include Abbey National, Barclays Bank, Natwest, and Royal Bank of Scotland. Branches are located throughout Greater London. Information about opening an account or finding a local branch can be found at the following web sites:

Abbey National
www.abbey.com

Barclays Bank
www.barclays.co.uk

Natwest
www.natwest.com

Royal Bank of Scotland
www.rbs.co.uk

There are also a large number of banks that cater to particular expat groups. Some of the these include Bank of America, The Bank of Ireland, The Bank of Thailand, Deutsche Bank, Emirates Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, State Bank of India, and Turkish Bank, just to name a few.

Normal banking hours are from 9:00 or 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; some banks are also open Saturday mornings.