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How can a UK citizen open a UK bank account without a UK address? Are there any UK banks which do this? I have recently been told that my UK bank account, used for pension payments, is to be closed because I live in Cyprus.

Dan Getz
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D Kerr
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  • Opening a UK bank account requires proof of a UK address. No exemptions or workarounds. But a pension can be transferred to Cyprus without problems – Gayot Fow Jul 24 '15 at 21:33
  • @GayotFow are you sure? When I moved over 6+ years ago HSBC in the US helped me open an account with HSBC UK before I got there. – StrongBad Jul 24 '15 at 21:36
  • Different case. But you can read the JMLSG guidance and tell me if I'm right or not. The guidance lists out what a bank needs to see. – Gayot Fow Jul 24 '15 at 21:50
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    Does it need to be a UK-based bank account? Or would a GBP-denominated one held elsewhere in Europe work? – Gagravarr Jul 25 '15 at 06:19
  • Not really an answer and perhaps not ideal but the whole EU (including the UK, even though it does not use the euro) is now part of SEPA so having your pension transferred to an account in Cyprus might be slightly easier than before. – Gala Jul 25 '15 at 07:04
  • @Gagravarr, DWP doesn't care what currency the account is denominated in, but the OP may wish to avoid getting whipsawed by exchange rates. – Gayot Fow Jul 25 '15 at 13:17
  • @GayotFow I'm wondering if a GBP-based account in somewhere like the channel islands, aimed at a non-resident, might be the answer? They'll still do (quite strict) ID checking, but would be perfectly happy with British personal ID + non-British residential ID – Gagravarr Jul 25 '15 at 15:38
  • @Gagravarr, same regulator. And they are even worse with section 5.3. It's not going to happen in the Sterling world and that makes the OP's question unanswerable. The OP needs to change the question. – Gayot Fow Jul 25 '15 at 15:44

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