Besides an ATM card, will I need a checking account to pay rent, etc., when studying in the UK next year?

Question

Seems like most experienced travellers agree that using your US bank ATM is the best way to access money in the UK, but what about paying monthly rent? Won't I need a UK checking account? I will be enrolled in a 1 year graduate program, so will I be allowed to open a UK bank account? Also, any advice on buying/using a local cell phone when I arrive in the UK?

Answer 1

You're Uni will help you get a bank account. You'll get one fine.

Answer 2

Us brits is weird.

Spell the word "cheque" or you will confuse the elderly

Answer 3

It will certainly help if you open a checking account here in UK.  It will enable you to set up a 'direct debit mandate' with your bank to pay such as your rent and any other regular monthly bills.

Paying by DD [direct debit] saves you the bother of remembering to pay a repeat monthly bill each month/quarter or whatever.

Most UK banks welcome students and in fact offer special facilities to them.

Try the links below : -

Student Finance | Guide to Student Banking & Money - Yahoo! Finance UK

Student finance guide from Yahoo! Student Zone. Advice on banking, student accounts

and the incentives to sign up for one.

http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/student/student-...

Student finance | Student banking | Compare current accounts ...

go to MSN UK money. Search the Web: ... Students: beware banks bearing gifts ·

What to look for in a student account · How to graduate debt-free ...

http://money.uk.msn.com/Student/accounts... - Cached

Best Student Bank Accounts, Compare Current Accounts, Free ...

Moneyextra.com reviews current accounts available to students to help you compare

UK student bank accounts. Use our table to compare student banking ...

http://www.moneyextra.com/banking/studen... - Cached

international students

Some banks also offer student accounts. Once I’ve chosen, how can I open a bank.

account? You normally need to be physically present in the UK to ...

http://www.bba.org.uk/pdf/40746.pdf - Cached

UK Economy - latest : -

Yahoo! Finance - UK Economic News

UK Business news. ·, Daily video bulletins. ·, Company and market news. ·,

What the Papers Say · Markets News ... Industries. ·, News and quotes by sector ...

http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/economy/uk/ - Cached

World News, Business News, Breaking US & International News ...

Reuters.com brings you the latest news from around the world, covering breaking

news in business, ... United cancels flights, grounds 777s for checks ...

http://www.reuters.com/ - Cached

BRITAIN'S ECONOMY: Latest British/UK Economic Data/Statistics ...

British/UK Economy: Economic database for the United Kingdom (UK). Links to

British data, statistics, Britain (London) news, reports, analysis.

http://www.geoinvestor.com/statistics/un...

GOOD LUCK AND WELCOME TO BLIGHTY.

[Blighty is the slang word for Britain, UK etc]

Answer 4

The first thing you will discover when you arrive in the U.K is the ease with which you can get things done.Of course it makes sense to bring your ATM card but don't forget that your home bank will charge exorbitant fee,s to convert from dollars to pounds. The convenience of a checking account is no different from home.Take advantage of the Direct Debit program that banks operate over there to pay your bills, utilities etc, IT WORKS!!, and from experience I can tell you that most rental agencies will require your rent to be paid by direct debit.You will find the cheapest way to pay ,if you are using your home bank account for every day things, is by credit card, MC or Visa are OK.There are many cell phone companies, the Brits call them mobile Phones, to choose from and they all work so get the cheapest deal when you get there.You will find dozens of stores just dedicated to selling them.If you have a land line phone, I used  a company called One-Tel, I am pretty sure that's what it was and they only charge a couple of cents a minute to call state side. I know there are others but just cant remember them.You will have a great year. Just remember the Brits are not Americans. Was it Churchill who said that "we are two great nations divided by a common language"

Answer 5

you will need a letter from your uni saying you are a student before you can open a bank account. They will probably issue this shortly after enrolment.

Yes you will need a bank account - a lot of landlords prefer rent to be paid by direct debit - straight from your account, and it has to be a UK account.

Re cell phones - have a look at internet deals before you get here - some do cheap international calls which might be worth looking into. common companies to search for: virgin, O2, vodafone (but i have had problems with them).

You can get a PAYG for £20 and buy credit just about everywhere.