🏦 How to Open a Bank Account
✅ Why You Need a Bank Account
- A bank account is a safe place to keep your money 💰
- You need one to get benefit payments or your salary from a job.
📲 Since BRP cards are no longer issued and many have expired, you now need eVisa documents.
👉 Refugee Council have also published this excellent guide to opening a Bank Account for refugees.
You must bring:
- Proof of identity
- Valid passport
- UK eVisa share code + date of birth️
- (If EU: Passport or EU ID card)
- Proof of immigration status
- eVisa via UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI), with share code
- If still holding expired BRP/BRC, use it to create UKVI account (until end of 2025)
- Proof of address
- Recent utility bill, bank/benefit letter, Jobcentre or DWP letter
- All dated within the last 6 weeks
Some banks may ask for:
- National Insurance number
- Proof of income (e.g., payslip or benefit letter)
💷 Which Bank Account to Open?
- A basic or current account is usually free.
- It lets you:
- Deposit money
- Withdraw cash at ATMs
- Pay your bills
📍 Where to Go
- You can visit most major banks in Leeds City Centre.
- For local branches, use Google Maps to find one near you 🗺️.
- Many things can also be done online or by phone.
🏢 Banks You Can Try
- Barclays
- Co‑operative Bank
- HSBC
- Lloyds Group (including Halifax, Bank of Scotland)
- Nationwide
- RBS Group (NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland)
- Santander
- TSB
- Virgin Money (Clydesdale, Yorkshire Bank)
👉 If one bank says no, try another—different banks have different rules.
🤝 Need Extra Help?
Citizens Advice Leeds can help you open an account:
Address: Oxford House, Oxford Row, Leeds, LS1 3BE
Phone: 0808 278 7878
Open Mon–Fri 9 am–5 pm:
- Drop-in: Mon/Wed/Fri 9am–1pm
- Appointments: Mon/Wed/Fri 1–4pm, Tue/Thu 9–4pm
They also offer help through web chat and email.
💬 For more help, check the Banks & Money section on New to Leeds.
