RetireJapan

Hi,

Hope you are all well.

Just recently called my two UK banks (Lloyds and Metro Bank) anonymously, and both have said that if I were to update my contact details and list my current address as residing in Japan, they would close my accounts

Up until now, I have used my parents' address and phone number, but they are not getting any younger, so I thought it was time to sort this out. I won't be able to use their address forever.

I will need the UK bank account for NI contributions and sending to / receiving money from friends and family mainly.

My Qs:
Does anyone know of a UK bank that is friendly towards expats / non-UK residents?

If yes, is it possible to be upfront about the situation and use my Japan address when creating the account,
or is it better to open it using my parents' UK address and then change the details to my Japan address?

There must be loads of people in a similar boat, but I can't find any banks that can serve this particular need.

Thank you in advance for any help with this.

Wise allows you to create a virtual UK bank account from Japan with sort code and account number. That should allow you to do everything you need to.

I still have a NatWest account, but I'm expecting them to close it at any time (they have my current Japanese address and contact details). If that happens I will use my Wise account instead.

I do not know why Lloyds are like that, I have changed my address back-and-forth from the UK to Japan a few times. I have found them to be quite professional and efficient on all occasions.

Wales4rugbyWC19 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 04, 2023 9:55 am I do not know why Lloyds are like that, I have changed my address back-and-forth from the UK to Japan a few times. I have found them to be quite professional and efficient on all occasions.

Probably Brexit. It is too much trouble/expense to deal with non-resident customers now.

HSBC let me change my U.K. address to my Japan address. Proving the address was the tricky part but sorted it in the end.

And I have subsequently moved in Japan. Changing addresses from a Japan address to a Japan address was done smoothly and easily online.

RetireJapan wrote: ↑Mon Sep 04, 2023 10:16 am

Wales4rugbyWC19 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 04, 2023 9:55 am I do not know why Lloyds are like that, I have changed my address back-and-forth from the UK to Japan a few times. I have found them to be quite professional and efficient on all occasions.

Probably Brexit. It is too much trouble/expense to deal with non-resident customers now.

My wife was in the UK with the kids for a year from 2018-2019, it was pretty much impossible to use an app without a UK address, so we changed. No problem when they got back, I don't remember being asked for any identity. It may have changed since then. I really would be stuck without having an active current account in the UK. Although my wife and kids were able to live in Poland for a year this year, just using Wise. This maybe the future.....

My wife has an HSBC account registered to our Japan address.

I have a Lloyds TSB account registered to our Japan address.

Both of us had to provide Japan TIN's too.

Deep Blue wrote: ↑Mon Sep 04, 2023 11:32 am My wife has an HSBC account registered to our Japan address.

I have a Lloyds TSB account registered to our Japan address.

Both of us had to provide Japan TIN's too.

Same for me with NatWest. They even send my cashcards to Japan.

But I'm expecting to get a letter any day now

I'm not expecting to get shut down, had the account for over 20 years and have a considerable account balance there, including in fixed term deposits. Time will tell I guess. If they offer five year fixed term deposits again I will be tempted to chuck a grand in there just in case it is a factor.

Deep Blue wrote: ↑Mon Sep 04, 2023 12:33 pm I'm not expecting to get shut down, had the account for over 20 years and have a considerable account balance there, including in fixed term deposits. Time will tell I guess. If they offer five year fixed term deposits again I will be tempted to chuck a grand in there just in case it is a factor.

Do they not require you to tick a box saying you are a UK resident in order to open a new deposit account? That’s what stops me opening a better paying interest account with the Nationwide (also registered with my Japan address).