Moving to the UK?

UK and offshore banking services and bank accounts for individuals moving to the UK

If you plan to relocate to the UK, think about opening a Barclays Wealth International bank account. We make it easy for you to take care of your money and banking requirements.

Most importantly, we can help you by setting up your account even before you arrive in the UK, so that you can have access to your cash from day one. You will not have to worry about getting UK utility bills, which is a typical requirement for setting up a bank account in the UK. By choosing to bank with us, all you need is to provide one proof of identity (usually a certified copy of your passport) plus one proof of your residential address. Original documents are required. However, if you are applying online or by phone, you can provide photocopies certified by an authorised person.

With Barclays Wealth International, you can also choose whether your account is located in the UK or one of our offshore locations such as Jersey, the Isle of Man or Gibraltar. By locating your account offshore, you may be able to realise potential tax advantages depending on your residence and tax status.

Your residence and tax status are important in determining how much and what type of taxes you will pay when relocating to the UK. We do not provide tax advice, but we can introduce you to international financial services firm, Ernst & Young, our preferred partner for tax planning.

Apply for a Barclays Wealth International bank account, and when you open a new Barclays Wealth International account, you’ll have the option of opening a 1 year fixed term deposit account, offering a fixed 3% AER/Gross* on sterling deposits between £10,000 to £250,000. This competitive interest is paid upon maturity of the New Client Term Deposit** and no withdrawals are permitted.

You can also call us on +44 (0)141 352 3986^†, or use our call back service.

Relocate to UK in comfort

If you are relocating to the UK as a requirement of your job, then your employer would normally pay for your accommodation and moving expenses.

Bear in mind that there is a lot of competition for accommodation in the UK. The markets for renting and purchasing are both crowded and competitive. So if you have decided on an area where you would like to live, you should contact local real-estate agents as early as possible.

You should also make plans to provide yourself and your family with adequate healthcare. The UK's National Health Service is the country's main provider, and is free for permanent residents. However, you should check your entitlement to free NHS treatment and consider private healthcare if need be.

If you want to use the National Health Service, you will need to apply for a national insurance number, if you don't already have one. The Directgov website has details of how to apply.

Looking after your investments

While you are in the UK, it makes sense to look after the health of your investments too. Our services include a full range of investment products and strategies, And our products and services can be individually tailored, and we can offer you pro-active management or enable you to manage your investments yourself. The aim is to give you the exact amount of control over your investments that suits you.

Our investment management teams give you access to the skills and resources of one of the world's major banking groups. This includes for example, Barclays Stockbrokers, the UK's largest retail stockbroker. Further market expertise comes from top investment bank, Barclays Capital.

We have access to the entire resources of the Barclays Group, with its 300 years of banking heritage, And we manage total client assets of £145.1 billion worldwide (as at 31 December 2008) so, as a client, you benefit from our international reach and our ability to act as a single source for asset management, private banking, financial planning, brokerage and online services onshore and offshore.

And if you have complex needs, we offer a fee-free Relationship Manager service. A Relationship manager will take the time to get to know you, in order to understand your circumstances and help you achieve your financial aspirations. The service is aimed at clients with balances of £50,000 or more (or currency equivalent) to place with Barclays Wealth International, or for clients who have come to live in or are moving to the UK, an annual individual gross income of £100,000 or more to mandate to a Barclays Wealth International account.

Apply for a Barclays Wealth International bank account.

You can also call us on +44 (0)141 352 3986^†, or use our call back service.

Our services in England

Our main branch is in Knightsbridge, in London's West End, and is in easy reach of the two major London airports (Heathrow and Gatwick). Here you can arrange face-to-face meetings with us.

But having bank accounts that can be operated through the telephone or over the internet means that many of your needs can be met without having to travel. Aside from this we also offer a fee free Relationship Manager Service, designed to help affluent clients maximise their wealth.

Apply for a Barclays Wealth International bank account.

You can also call us on +44 (0)141 352 3986^†, or use our call back service.