Halifax Bank closing expat accounts

[Keithcaley]

Yet another UK Bank appears to have joined the banks closing expat accounts.

Just heard from a friend here that Halifax Bank closed their account without warning - the first that they knew about it was when a transaction was refused in a Supermarket.

The Halifax was their only UK Bank account, which leaves them in a very difficult situation as it was the account that their pensions were paid into.

[gates]

Open a Wise account great bank

[alphamike]

Thanks for the warning Keith, would assume that this will also apply to BoS and Lloyds.
Really bad news for your friend, especially cut off without warning and being only bank account. It's always prudent to have more than one bank account and try to retain a UK address, but too late after the horse has bolted unfortunately.

[waddo]

Nationwide did us in on the 26th of December last year - really helpful that was!! I still can't understand why the banks are doing this in particular if you are tax resident in the UK (That means all your income is from the UK and taxed at source) there is no law that says you can't have an account in the UK it is just the banks making it hard. Of course if you live abroad and are not a UK citizen then you can have a UK Bank Account - beats me. As soon as Nationwide successfuly closed our accounts the message appeared on their websites that you could keep your UK account if you moved abroad, when I asked if I could keep mine I was told mine was closed but if I opened a new one it might be possible!!! Banked with them for over 40 years and not impressed with their lack of customer service at all.

Gates, how do you open a Wise account if you have no UK address???????

[wanderer]

Its all to do with" know your customer " Then when they do they find no UK residence they close the account

[Keithcaley]

Just to add: -

My friend has had a UK address for many years, UK passport, is a UK tax payer with a UK NI number.

Halifax state that it's clear they do not live in the UK due to the usage of their debit card.

[alphamike]

Thanks for the update Keith. See what happens with mine then, but don't use their cards in NC.
This year I've started switching usage of debit cards monthly, which I hold with different banks, as things are getting quite strict.

[waddo]

GATES, come on - tell us the secret of opening a Wise account if you don't have a UK address???

[Mowgli597]

How to Open a Wise Account Without Proof of Address (2025)

??

[aerhere]

Just looking at Wise web site and note that as Turkey and North Cyorus is not in the EEA, any TRNC address cannot be used to open an account. Has someone actually done this using a TRNC address or has it been necessary to use a UK address to register and to receive a card?

[waddo]

Maybe Gates could say but he is not answering - probably having another power cut!!

[benjaminbutton]

Out of curiosity I went on to the Wise link. By the time I was less than half way I gave, up, selfies not withstanding.

[tutor4u]

https://suitsmecard.com/pricing#compare-cards

or
https://international.standardbank.com/ ... d=RB_2RS2D

[gates]

II just used my son’s address. It’s not rocket science

[gates]

I also have a Revolt account and card

[alphamike]

II just used my son’s address. It’s not rocket science

Just pointing out that not everyone has the ability to use a UK address (or some other country).

[waddo]

Not everyone has a son either! Wise have told me I can use CYPRUS as my country of residence, I am waiting for them to confirm that they will still accept my TRNC address as being in CYPRUS and not in TURKEY - once that is confirmed then I can "LEGALLY" have a Wise account without having to lie about where my residential address is! Using somebody else's address as your own will get found out in the end and then your account will be closed - that is what every UK Bank is doing these days. It is simple for the banks to find out who owns the property at the address you give.

[gates]

You can still live with your family that’s not illegal

[benjaminbutton]

Gates, I don't know if the friend of KC reads or even participates on this forum, but I can't help feeling that some of your remarks come across as being "smart" and "look at me I know all the answers". He or she must be distraught and a kind word would be preferable. Just my opinion of course.

[gates]

Just information . Someone ask me to explain how to do and I did. What is wrong with that.

[Brazen]

We have an account with hsbc who know that we don’t live in the uk, they send us statements to us here. However we did have a uk account with them prior to moving which might have helped. They actually helped us to open an account with the now defunct hsbc bank in Girne, but told us that it didn’t have the same status as one in other countries due to the political situation. Maybe worth checking out.

[waddo]

Brazen, Same/Similar with us and Nationwide. Had the account well before we even knew TRNC existed, they told us in 2006 it was no problem to keep our account! Problems arose when the replacement cards never got here - they might have made it to the pile of mail in the Muhtars office but who can tell - so we gave the bank the address of a UK contact - a trustworthy UK Civil Servant we had known for years, that worked and the address was fine. Then came the big mistake - we changed our address back to TRNC as the mail system improved - BREXIT - BANG - Nationwide told us we could no longer hold that account as they had found out (As we had told them that already they must have worked really hard to find that out) we lived abroad. So that was us NO UK BANK and we could not open a new account with any other bank because they were all playing the same card! My advice to you is to make sure you have kept or will keep any mail/email from your bank to prove they have told you that you can keep your account - wish I had done that - lol.

[waddo]

And this is the final reply from WISE:

Thank you for your message and for clarifying your address situation regarding the TRNC and Cyprus.

Wise can only issue accounts and cards to customers with a registered address in an eligible, internationally recognized country. While Cyprus is eligible, the TRNC (Northern Cyprus) is not recognized as a separate country in Wise’s systems. If your address is only recognized as being in the TRNC (with mail routed via Turkey), Wise will not be able to issue you a card or account due to regulatory restrictions.

If you can provide proof of address in the Republic of Cyprus (with a Cyprus postal code and documentation), you should be able to proceed. Otherwise, unfortunately, Wise will not be able to offer you an account or card at this time. This is due to international regulations and not a request for you to misrepresent your address.

We understand this is frustrating, but Wise must comply with these requirements and cannot make exceptions for unrecognized territories. If you have further documentation or a different address in Cyprus, please try submitting that for verification.

So, if you want a Wise card either lie about your "Permanent" address or get one whilst in the UK BEFORE you move here.

Sorry people but I did try.

[benjaminbutton]

Way back in early July I went on about Halifax UK closing my accounts with them overnight more or less. This is the latest. Its 27th August and they are still holding on to thousands of pounds of my money for the following reasons. Notwithstanding I have send at least three copies of my Passport, Proof of address i.e. Insurance policy, proof of utility etc. They have had these three times. Today we have been contacted by yet another department (we have been contacted by at least 4 departments) They want all of the above yet again, certified by Bank Managers, Solicitors, (the usual motley crew) ON TOP OF THAT, THE PEOPLE DOING THE CERTIFICATING MUST SHOW THEIR OWN OFFICIAL CERTIFICATIONS AND QUALIFICATIONSi.e. Halifax clearly have NO faith in the TRNC, bearing their mind they are part of the Lloyds Bank Group, Scottish Widows the lot. Thankfully I am not on my uppers, but if I had been, I would be lying outside as a skeleton and certainly I can't go on for ever, bearing mind Government taxes etc. BTW, all this in the UK is being dealt with through my P of A, which because of Covid, took over two years to come through and cost mega bucks to obtain the whole thing. Clearly P of A is not all its made out to be, despite being pushed and pushed to protect the elderly.

[Brazen]

Brazen, Same/Similar with us and Nationwide. Had the account well before we even knew TRNC existed, they told us in 2006 it was no problem to keep our account! Problems arose when the replacement cards never got here - they might have made it to the pile of mail in the Muhtars office but who can tell - so we gave the bank the address of a UK contact - a trustworthy UK Civil Servant we had known for years, that worked and the address was fine. Then came the big mistake - we changed our address back to TRNC as the mail system improved - BREXIT - BANG - Nationwide told us we could no longer hold that account as they had found out (As we had told them that already they must have worked really hard to find that out) we lived abroad. So that was us NO UK BANK and we could not open a new account with any other bank because they were all playing the same card! My advice to you is to make sure you have kept or will keep any mail/email from your bank to prove they have told you that you can keep your account - wish I had done that - lol.

Perhaps the difference is that HSBC is an international bank with banking facilities in many countries?

[benjaminbutton]

Brazen, if a UK bank won't or can't hand over my money to an international recognized bankinG group i.e. then that my risk. It's my money after all. Today they want four more certified documents, all of which they have had twice before. Every time its a different person in a different department of Halifax AND ITS MY FRIGGIN MONEY NOT THEIRS.

[waddo]

BJB, just think of all the interest they will have earned from your money and how much of that interest you won’t get! Send them the contact details of the people you sent the last three lots of certified documents to and request how you are able to claim back the expenses you have had to pay due to their obvious incompetence. Give them 5 working days to respond prior to placing the matter in the hands of your solicitor!

[benjaminbutton]

waddo, what a lovely thought, problem is we had, by law, to tell them we had gone to the Ombudsman and the Halifax Complaints department, hence them being even more and more argumentative and difficult, What really gets me is the Power of Attorney. We have proved that it is a useless method of Family or Anyone trying to solve a complex problem. Provided everything is totally straight forward, ( other banks , your private pension providers, DWP or whatever, ) and treat you with respect. Have an ongoing problem such as mine, having paid a large sum of money to jump through hoops and obtain Pof A (including tracking down people who have know you for over 20 years or more) Halifax don't care a monkeys.

[tutor4u]

Be aware of these changes to banking. What Are the New Bank Rules for Pensioners? From September 2025, the DWP will introduce enhanced verification and security checks for all bank accounts receiving pension payments. The main aim is to prevent fraud, ensure accurate delivery of funds, and improve transparency.

https://purpleconsultinggroup.com/dwp-p ... ules-2025/

[wanderer]

Complaint to the Banking Omburdsman cost the Bank money .Threaten see if that shakes them up .If it doesnt complain to the omberdsman they pay compensation with the Banks money

[Dalartokat]

Be aware of these changes to banking. What Are the New Bank Rules for Pensioners? From September 2025, the DWP will introduce enhanced verification and security checks for all bank accounts receiving pension payments. The main aim is to prevent fraud, ensure accurate delivery of funds, and improve transparency.

https://purpleconsultinggroup.com/dwp-p ... ules-2025/

Also below worth listening to.....Also other new rules for debanking should have been 60 days notice now new rules 90 days notice from banks to close your account


https://youtu.be/mByGAQKOUFc?si=8twwUSWD4gymfz47

[benjaminbutton]

I don't care how transparent it is, I just want my money transferred to a Turkish Bank of choice, so I have some to spend. Thank heavens I haven't put all eggs in one basket. Actually DWP have been the least of my problem, its bloody Halifax. I am first to admit that they could have buried the information amongst endless pages of information on "keeping money safe", drawing money out when on holiday", "freezing accounts", "spotting fraud" etc, etc. some of these notifications can be 9 or more pages long, and clearly I missed it!!!!

[tutor4u]

Take a look at this site, https://www.ukpostbox.com/

Then you could open a Wise Account using the UK address.

Mail Solutions For Expats
We offer flexible mail solutions to expats looking for a UK postal address. Discover how our online mail software helps British Expats across the world.

[mrsgee]

Complaint to the Banking Omburdsman cost the Bank money .Threaten see if that shakes them up .If it doesnt complain to the omberdsman they pay compensation with the Banks money

A complaint will inly be taken up by the ombudsman once the formal complaints procedure has been exhausted with the bank. Normally banks will try their best to satisfy the complaint as they do not want it referred to the ombudsman, which will attract a fee of, i believe now, £650, even if the complaint is not upheld and of course a black mark against the bank. So, tell the bank you want a copy of their complaints procedure and raise it as a formal complaint, they then have set timescales to work within. If the final response from the bank, which can take several weeks, is not satisfactory then the customer can opt to refer it to the ombudsman. Sorry to say, I worked in complaints team at Halifax some years ago..... along with Rachel from accounts although I did not know her personally lol

[wanderer]

No she was always at lunch not on my card though
BoS group was still solvent when I left

[mrsgee]

No she was always at lunch not on my card though
BoS group was still solvent when I left

Hbos was taken over by Lloyd's when I left December 2008, forced into it due to major losses and mismanagement. I believe Rachel from accounts joined maybe March 2009, hence our paths did not cross..... otherwise I would have punched her knowing what I know now, abuse of the reward card, plus other suspicious activities, which appear to have been swept under the carpet somewhat. Allegedly she signed a non disclosure agreement when she left, or was pushed..... nasty piece of work as the UK are now experiencing.

[Jeremy S]

benjaminbutton. Are you sure that your money hasn't been lent to Angie for her new seaside apartment? If it has, I'm sure you'll be far happier that your dosh has been put to such good use and understand Halifax's reluctance to give it back to you.

[benjaminbutton]

JeremyS. Aahhhh now, I know exactly where her two apartments knocked into one is. Hove used to be frightly poooosh and full of the VIP entertainment fraternity going up to London on the Brighton Belle. There used to be a statue of Victoria (I think it was) and depending which side of the statue you were, determined your status. I say no more!! I just want my flaming money. Halifax are still not happy with proof I live here, tomorrow I have to go banks, a hospital and the Belediye and have paperwork signed and stamped . It just goes on and on and on and it not funny any longer. I know I've said this earlier but the disappointment being that Power of Attorney, no longer has the kudus that it did.

[waddo]

BJB, you said that DWP have been the least of your problems, do you mean that payments from them to you are now direct to your TRNC bank?