INFORMATION ON OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT (DOC)

							OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT IN THE UK – JANUARY 2010 ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE ORIGINALS ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATES MUST HAVE BOTH THE LOCAL OXFORD ADDRESS AND THE OVERSEAS HOME ADDRESS TO BE USED TO OPEN A UK BANK ACCOUNT. AN ATTENDANCE
CERTIFICATE CAN ONLY BE OBTAINED AFTER ENROLMENT VIA PIP AND/OR FROM THE ACADEMIC MANAGEMENT OFFICE (AMO) BANK NAME & ACCOUNT SANTANDER BANK ACCOUNT INCLUDES Current Account Visa Debit Online card-can be used in most shops- students should check. Free to use in all UK ATM’s  No minimum deposit  Free foreign cheque presentation one per month + internet banking There is a monthly charge of £5.00 for this account  Current Account  Cheque Book  Visa Debit Card (not cheque guarantee card)  Monthly statements   Please keep all original bank statements. You will need them if you apply for a visa extension.   Passport Account EVIDENCE REQUIRED  Passport / EU ID Card + Attendance Certificate / UCAS/Offer letter if living in halls or private accommodation  Current valid visa  Santander will open bank accounts for students on courses of 5 months or less  Account opened on same day Please keep all original bank statements  Passport / EU ID Card + Attendance Certificate / UCAS letter if living in halls or private accommodation  Minimum 30 days remaining on visa stamp  EU students in private accommodation can open an account with passport/ ID card only NB: See over for full list of countries & details for single ID eligibility  Passport / EU ID Card + Attendance Certificate / UCAS letter if living in halls or private accommodation  Visa must be valid for 6 months  Minimum stay in UK – one   

Clerici Building Oxford Brookes University Gipsy Lane OX3 0BP Mon – Fri 10:00– 6:00pm
International Student Account LLOYDS TSB 87 London Road HEADINGTON OX3 9AB Classic Account – No monthly fee when account is in credit. Students should be able to pay in at least £1,500 in first three months HSBC 108 London Road HEADINGTON Oxford OX3 9AP Passport Account

Visa debit card

There is a standard £8.00 monthly subscription for this account with a fixed term contract of 12 months.

academic year Quarterly statements

Basic Bank Account
NATWEST 91 London Road HEADINGTON Oxford OX3 9AF Step Account (Also small branch in Gibbs Building – please check for their opening hours)

Cash card
    Current Account Savings Account Solo debit card No credit card available

Please keep all original bank statements. You will need them if you apply for a visa extension NATWEST no longer accepts the Oxford Brookes University Attendance Certificate NATWEST CANNOT stamp printouts or provide letters for visa extensions  Current Account, Barclays Connect debit card, cheque book on request  Minimum deposit of £2,000  No tax on interest in savings account There is a £5 monthly charge for this account Cash card (Connect Electron) can only be used at Barclays cash machines, in shops and online

As above Minimum length of academic course – 6 months  Passport / EU ID Card + Introduction letter addressed to NatWest / UCAS letter + Licence to Occupy if living in halls  If living in private accommodation a Tenancy Agreement from an approved Letting Agency or utility bill (gas, electricity, water, telephone) or bank statement to UK address not more than 3 months old  Passport / EU ID Card  UCAS letter or University offer letter + Acceptance letter sent to your home address overseas (NOT to a PO Box, Institution or agent).  Letter of introduction / Attendance Certificate + proof of overseas address in English: driving licence, recent bank statement Minimum stay in UK – one academic year (9 months) IMPORTANT! PTO

BARCLAYS 105 London Road HEADINGTON Oxford OX3 9AH Student Solutions Account Cash Card Account

IMPORTANT INFORMATION – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY This information has been compiled in co-operation with staff at the HEADINGTON branches of the banks listed and Abbey in Clerici Building so it is very important that you visit these branches if you are following the information on this sheet. Please make sure that your name on all your documents/correspondence is exactly the same as in your passport. If there are any spelling mistakes or different names then these documents will not be accepted by the banks and you will not be able to open a bank account. Whatever account you decide to open please visit the banks for up-to-date information on the different types of accounts and what each bank offers. If you are transferring money from your home country ask about commission charges. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP ALL YOUR MONTHLY BANK STATEMENTS as these are important documents and if you need to extend your student visa or apply for a different type of visa during your stay in the UK you will be required to send up to 3 months’ original bank statements. To order new statements will cost you a minimum of £5.00 and can take up to 10 working days. If you change your address in the UK it is very important to notify your bank immediately of your change of address. If you fail to do this your bank statements may get lost or returned to the bank resulting in your bank account being closed. NATWEST: NATWEST no longer accepts Oxford Brookes Attendance Certificate and cannot provide stamped printouts or letters for visa extensions. If you open an account at NatWest you MUST keep your original monthly bank statements or you will have to order duplicate statements. This takes approximately 10 days and there is a charge of £5.00. Lloyds TSB – List of countries eligible for single ID: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland (except Bulgaria and Romania). Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and USA PLEASE NOTE: Students living in halls of residence will require a bank letter verifying their UK address BEFORE ENROLMENT or their Attendance Certificate AFTER ENROLMENT to open an account at Lloyds TSB. HSBC: Please note that HSBC has the right to close an account in the following situations: 1. If letters or bank statements are returned to the bank. Students must inform the bank immediately of any change of address or personal details. 2. Inactivity of the account, if a student returns home during the summer months and does not inform the bank. 3. Irregularities in the use of the account or misuse of the account, e.g. allowing other people to deposit money in it and then withdrawing it. 4. The refusal three times of a direct debit HSBC CANNOT stamp print-outs of statements so please keep your originals. If after reading this information you experience problems in opening a bank account please contact the International Student Advisory Service (ISAS) on 01865 48 4681 or email isas@brookes.ac.uk
This information was correct at the time it went to print (January 2010). However, you are advised to visit each individual bank in HEADINGTON / Abbey in Clerici Building on Gipsy Lane site for up-to-date information to help you make an informed decision on opening an account.