You will be able to open a bank account if you have ID ( a passport/biometric ID card) and a letter from Keele confirming you have arrived and enrolled as a student and what your UK address is (which is easy if you are living on campus, but if you are off campus the banks want documents such as electricity bills with your name and address on, which can take time). Some banks also ask for proof of your overseas address, so having statements from your bank outside the UK within the last three months can be helpful.

Other students can advise you which bank has the best deals or is most convenient.

It should only take 24 hours to open an account if you have all documentation, and our campus has a branch of the Santander bank (one of the major banks of the UK) who are particularly accustomed to dealing with international students. Vessy Vasileva is the Manager of the campus Santander bank and she and her team are available for account opening appointments throughout the year.  The other major banks are NatWest, HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds TSB; the Co-Operative Bank has a strong ethical tradition, and many British people keep their money in 'Building Societies' such as Halifax or Britannia. You can use cashcards to withdraw money from ATMs of banks other than your own bank across the UK, so you don't need to worry about regional variations very much.

For Muslim students who want an account run on Sharia principles some of the major banks (HSBC, Lloyds TSB) and some specialist banks (e.g. Islamic Bank of Britain) provide this service.

After you have opened a bank account in the UK, if you change your address always inform your bank by letter or email as soon as possible and keep your bank statements! (they are useful if you need a visa extension)

Unfortunately UK banks have to be very strict about who can open accounts (due to 'money-laundering' prevention) and don’t allow International students to open normal ‘student’ bank accounts. Instead they offer ‘basic’ bank accounts or specialised 'international student' bank accounts. These offer only limited credit and debit card facilities, if they offer them at all.

Please note that different banks require different documentation. The most common documents banks ask for are:

  • Passport (and now visas are issued in ID cards they will want to see these)
  • A special letter from us stating that you are a student (we call a 'status letter')
  • 'Offer letter' your invitation to be a student at Keele
  • Bank statements from your home bank account
  • Your Visa, Master, American Express or Diner Card statements
  • ID card or driver’s licence with your address on it from your home country
  • Photo ID card with your address on it from your home country
  • Credit card statements with your address on it from your home country

Some local banks ask for proof of correspondence of your home address in your country, which is not necessary according to guidance from the British Bankers' Association and in many cases where we have used an agent impossible to provide, if you come up against this problem contact us and we may be able to help.

  • Banker's draft is a cheque from your bank to a specific person (you or Keele University).

  • Basic bank account, deposit or savings account may offer a cash card and pay interest to you. When opening an account, check the procedure for taking money out of the account, there may be restrictions or charges. Basic bank accounts offer direct debit and standing orders but they are designed so that you cannot spend more than you have in the account (no overdraft).

  • Building societies offer services similar to banks, but sometimes offer higher interest payments and are very popular in the UK, but often less used to dealing with international students.

  • Cash card is a card that allows you to take money out of your account using a cash machine.

  • Cashpoint, cashmachine, or ATM is a machine 'in the wall' outside the banks or elswhere, normally free to withdraw cash (if they have a charge they will warn you before you take money out).

  • Cheque book is not available for all types of account. Cheques are still used and useful for sending money as they avoid the charges involved in transfers.

  • Credit card (e.g. Visa, Mastercard) are very difficult to get for most international students and useful when, for example booking airplane tickets.

  • Current account - a normal account and you often get a cash card, debit card, cheque book, usually has a low rate of interest.

  • Debit card - widely used in the UK for paying over £5 or getting cash from a machine. Unlike a credit card the money is taken from your account immediately.

  • Direct debit/ standing order used to pay bills automatically and regulary from your bank account, e.g. for your electricity or phone. You sign a form at your bank to authorise this.

  • Direct deposit is a way of putting any money you earn directly into your account.

  • Interest is 1) the charge for borrowing money (e.g. by using a credit card), or 2) a reward for saving money.

  • Overdraft facility - is being able to go into debt with your bank . You will often have to pay interest and bank charges if you do this.

  • Store cards are offered by many high street companies or supermarkets that encourage you to use them and nobody else by offering 'reward points' that you can use in different ways if you get enough.  These often have high interest charges.

  • Student account is a special current account that often includes student advisers, free overdraft and gifts when you open the account (often not available to international students).