Setting up a bank account

BCUIC will provide information to help you open a UK bank account. Setting up a bank account will take up to three weeks after arrival, so please ensure you have adequate funds to support yourself in the interim. (We strongly advise all students to bring enough cash – at least £250 – for the first few weeks of their studies.)

You will need to provide proof of your UK address before you can apply for a UK bank account.

Opening a UK bank account can be done in three steps:

1. Visit your nearest bank
2. Present your passport to the bank staff and let them know you’d like to open a bank account
3. Complete the relevant paperwork given to you by the bank

The UK’s biggest banks are HSBC , Barclays , Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Bank.