Banking

It is very likely that you will need to open a UK bank account during the course of your studies.  For example, you may need to pay your rent by direct debit or you may need bank statements to provide evidence of your funding for immigration purposes etc.  We cannot recommend any one particular bank, however, we have collated information about the local banks, their services and different types of account they offer and hope that this is useful to you in choosing the bank most appropriate for you.

To open an account, you will need your passport or ID card and evidence of your current course of study and address. Depending on the bank you choose, you may be asked for other documentation.  We can provide you with a letter of introduction to assist with the opening of your account.  Please review the Banking facilities comparison chart and complete the Bank letter request form to obtain this letter. It is vital that you enter your postcode accurately on the letter request form otherwise the bank may reject your application and you will be required to submit another letter request.  You can check your postcode using this postcode checker before you request a bank letter.

The British Bankers' Association (BBA) provide a useful leaflet on interntational student banking which you can find at www.bba.org.uk/international-students and you can also find useful information on the UKCISA website.

Please note that you should not complete this bank letter request form if you are studying on the EFL Pre-sessional course.  These students should contact the Language Centre to obtain a bank letter.