Are you looking for information on how to open a UK bank account in Nigeria? Are you a Nigerian and a non-British citizen who would like to create a bank account? Then, you have come to the right place because I will be guiding you as you begin your journey to creating a UK bank account in Nigeria, so keep reading to find out.
Furthermore, if you are looking to move to the United Kingdom, you will need a bank account. Moreover, you are in luck because, in the past, creating a UK bank account was very difficult if you were a foreigner in the country. Thanks to the modern age, it is pretty easy. But you need to have the necessary documents as well.
So, even though you haven’t gone to the United Kingdom, creating an account in Nigeria is 100% possible. However, you need to make sure that you have the necessary information and that you follow the correct procedure to carry this out. Now, if you want to learn how to open a UK bank account in Nigeria, keep scrolling to find out.
Types Of UK Bank Accounts
Here are the three types of United Kingdom bank accounts that you can check out:
Basic Banking Accounts: This type of account is for individuals who have poor credit ratings or earn a low income.
Current Accounts: With this type of account, you can overdraw up to a certain limit, and you also get debit cards.
Savings Accounts: This account type comes in various styles and is just like a regular savings account. Furthermore, as a current account holder, you get ISAs and special rates.
Requirements To Open a UK Bank Account in Nigeria
Before you open a United Kingdom bank account in Nigeria, there are some important details and information that you need to provide before you can successfully perform this process. So, here are the requirements you need:
- Proof of address.
- Proof of identity.
But if you are a foreign student, you will need to provide your valid study visa, a letter of acceptance from the university you got accepted into, or your Student ID, and a bank statement from your home country’s bank.
Open a UK Account Without Being A Citizen
Yes, you can open a bank account before arriving in the United Kingdom. Moreover, the bank in your home country should create an account for you. But you need to have a banking relationship with a British bank. What’s more, banks like NatWest, Lloyds, Barclays, and HSBC provide international bank accounts.
How To Choose a UK Bank Account as a Non-British Citizen
If you are looking to open a UK bank account in Nigeria as a non-British citizen and are having difficulties choosing what bank account to open, do not worry. So, here are some of the factors you need to put into consideration before opening it online:
- Catalysts: Some banks make an effort to attract the attention of customers by providing them with motivations like interest-free periods, cash deposits, and many more.
- Flexibility: If you are a non-citizen or foreigner looking to enjoy access to 24/7 banking, then you should consider mobile and digital accounts.
- Area of products and services.
- Global scope.
- Possible costs.
So, before choosing a UK bank account to open, you need to consider the following:
How To Open A UK Bank Account In Nigeria without Proof of Address
Creating a UK Bank account in Nigeria is not too difficult. As mentioned earlier, if you follow the right steps and procedures, you will be able to create a United Kingdom bank account in Nigeria as a non-British citizen without proof of address. So, for those who do not know, proof of address is very important if you are looking to create a UK bank account in Nigeria.
Furthermore, non-residents and foreigners who just got to the United Kingdom experience issues. But you do not have to worry because there are now convenient ways that you can open any bank account in the UK with ease. Now, with digital banks, according to Finder.com, 14 million British people have created arrangements in digital banks.
So, if you are looking to open a UK bank account without proof of residence or address, you can check out Monese, Monzo, and Revolut. In other words, if you choose to create an account with any of these banks, you will not need proof of address. What’s more, you can use your UK account number, debit card, or sort codes to pay for items and many more online.
How To Get Proof of Residence in the UK
To be able to obtain proof of residence, which is required when you are creating a UK Bank in Nigeria, here is what you need:
- Utility bills.
- HMRC self-assessment letters
- Mortgage statement.
- NHS Medical Card.
- Electoral register entry
- Current UK driver’s license.
- Local authority’s current council tax bill.
- Solicitor’s letter under the last three months validating the purchase of the property.
- Bank, credit union, or building society statement.
- Tenancy agreement for the current year or housing or council association rent card.
With all of these prepared, you will be able to get proof of residence and open a UK Bank account in Nigeria.
Easiest UK Bank Accounts to Open for Nigerians
As a Nigerian looking to open or create a UK bank account, here are some of the easiest options that you can try out. They include:
- Wise.
- Monese.
- Atom.
- Starling.
- Revolut.
- Monzo.
- Cashplus.
For high-street banks:
- Barclays International account
- HSBC Expat Premier account
- Lloyds International account
- NatWest International Select account
- HSBC Currency Account
Be sure to check out these banks and the factors that you need to take into consideration before opening a UK bank account in Nigeria.