Sterling account in Ireland

bstop said:
I opened Sterling and US dollar holding accounts with PTSB years ago. I never used them as while they accept the foreign currency all withdrawals must be made in euro at rates that are not very competitive.
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Thanks bstop. I contacted PTSB as that's who I bank with. They don't offer this service (anymore?).
 
Oirishfruitie said:
Yep. I need to speak to Barclays and see why they haven't suggested this to me. It's never easy to get talking to anyone in Barclays, but I'm hoping a number they provided on the letter will make it easier.
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I got the same notification, reason being I have a non-UK address. I called them re above and they are no longer providing banking services of any kind to non-UK residents. You could go up to Newry and open a Sterling account there? I have an older one I’m using to transfer mine.
 
mustang01 said:
I got the same notification, reason being I have a non-UK address. I called them re above and they are no longer providing banking services of any kind to non-UK residents. You could go up to Newry and open a Sterling account there? I have an older one I’m using to transfer mine.
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I don't think I'll be allowed to open a sterling account up there, same reasons.

My findings so far:

PTSB - No
Ulster Bank - No
Revolut - Yes - but some people hesitant to deposit large sums in an account with poor customer service!
WISE - Yes
Fexco - No - just for exchanges
Currency Mail - again - no - just exchanges
BOI - yes - need to discuss for rates etc
AIB - yes - again need to discuss for rates etc
Barclays - need to speak to them, and there is the option to just leave it there, with no banking service to speak of - just resting in the account!
 
Oirishfruitie said:
Revolut - Yes - but some people hesitant to deposit large sums in an account with poor customer service!
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Customer service is in my experience fine with Revolut.

I wouldn't worry about using Revolut more than anyone else for amounts up to the deposit guarantee maximum of €100k per individual.

If a deposit-taking institution is resolved (wound up or sold in an emergency) it can involve disruption to services and limits on withdrawals for a while. But you don't seem in a hurry to access the funds so this shouldn't be a major concern for you.
 
Oirishfruitie said:
Would I end up in the same situation in a few months/years if/when Lloyds do the same as Barclays.
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Possible, because UK is now a third country, alot of the UK banks are writing to customers in EU telling them their accounts are going to be closed. One way of getting round this might be to change the address to that of a friend or relative in the UK.
 
TLO said:
Not sure about limits, my balance was modest. Very easy to transfer £ to Euro with Revolut. I note that Barclays International offer £ accounts to non-UK residents who have balances of £100k upwards. See:

International Bank Account | Barclays International Bank

Manage your money wherever you are in the world with the Barclays International Bank Account. Speak to us today or apply online.
international.barclays.com international.barclays.com
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Spoke to them this morning. This account is no longer available to NON UK address holders. So international for UK residents!
 
Wow, Barclays need to update their site, saying "A global account for global citizens" is misleading if they insist on a UK address.

Here is another idea, which has worked for posters on other threads; Bank of Ireland in Newry. Here is a link to Bank of Ireland UK's personal current account brochure:


On the last page it says, "if you are resident outside of the UK, we will request certified copies of documentation to verify your identity and address". This suggests that they will entertain account applications from Irish residents.
 
TLO said:
Wow, Barclays need to update their site, saying "A global account for global citizens" is misleading if they insist on a UK address.

Here is another idea, which has worked for posters on other threads; Bank of Ireland in Newry. Here is a link to Bank of Ireland UK's personal current account brochure:


On the last page it says, "if you are resident outside of the UK, we will request certified copies of documentation to verify your identity and address". This suggests that they will entertain account applications from Irish residents.
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Somebody else on this site suggested to me HSBC UK. I checked their website and it appears they do offer Stg£ accounts to EU
residents.

I have about £700 in Revolut. I suppose I can take a risk with that amount and leave it with Revolut. Incidentally do I have to declare Revolut and N26 with zero balance as a Foreign bank account on my Income Tax return?
 
TLO said:
Wow, Barclays need to update their site, saying "A global account for global citizens" is misleading if they insist on a UK address.

Here is another idea, which has worked for posters on other threads; Bank of Ireland in Newry. Here is a link to Bank of Ireland UK's personal current account brochure:


On the last page it says, "if you are resident outside of the UK, we will request certified copies of documentation to verify your identity and address". This suggests that they will entertain account applications from Irish residents.
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Opened up a current account about 10 years ago with Bank of Ireland in Newry. It was called a Basic Cash account. Account came with a cash card (not a Visa Debit card). I then applied online recently for a new current account with them. Its called the 'Clear' account which comes with a Visa Debit card. No problems getting it done. You can upload all requested documents online as well. Whole process took about 3 weeks. I closed the old account once the new one was up and running. There are also no fees with the Clear account.
 
17-pdr said:
Opened up a current account about 10 years ago with Bank of Ireland in Newry. It was called a Basic Cash account. Account came with a cash card (not a Visa Debit card). I then applied online recently for a new current account with them. Its called the 'Clear' account which comes with a Visa Debit card. No problems getting it done. You can upload all requested documents online as well. Whole process took about 3 weeks. I closed the old account once the new one was up and running. There are also no fees with the Clear account.
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Thanks for this. I'm going to enquire with them
 
Oirishfruitie said:
Thanks for this. I'm going to enquire with them
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I don't think you should have a problem. The only thing I had to do was ring them up to give them a good reason as to why I wanted the account after they enquired via an email, so be prepared for that scenario if it arises. It mightn't be a factor here, but because I had the original account with them since around 2010, it probably made setting up the more recent account easier, as I was on their books if you know what I mean.
 
Look to Northern Ireland. A lot of them do provide accounts to ROI customers with the benefit that you can take either euro or sterling out without any currency fees.
Whether you need an NI address now I don't know - but I know people who have done it without that. You may need to make a visit, but The Mournes and Slieve Gullion are worth the trip to Newry to see anyway.
 
THE_Chris said:
Look to Northern Ireland. A lot of them do provide accounts to ROI customers with the benefit that you can take either euro or sterling out without any currency fees.
Whether you need an NI address now I don't know - but I know people who have done it without that. You may need to make a visit, but The Mournes and Slieve Gullion are worth the trip to Newry to see anyway.
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As far as i know only Bank of Ireland UK do it now. Ulsterbank NI & AIB NI used to open accounts for RoI customers, but since Brexit was completed in early 2021 they stopped doing it. UK/NI only banks such as Danske, Santander etc don’t offer accounts to non-residents either to the best of my knowledge.
 
Pmc365 said:
Somebody else on this site suggested to me HSBC UK. I checked their website and it appears they do offer Stg£ accounts to EU
residents.
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I have received email confirmation this morning that my HSBC account has been opened. ROI address.
 
bstop said:
I have received email confirmation this morning that my HSBC account has been opened. ROI address.
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Are there any fees for the HSBC UK account and do they offer a debit card? I was reluctant to open a sterling account for only £780 in HSBC ( which I currently have in Revout) as I thought I would be obliged to declare it on my income tax form ( eventhough completely legitimate funds from a tax perspective) and this may trigger a Revenue query and if I didn't declare as a foreign account this too might trigger a Revenue query? At least Revolut did not ask for my PPSN eventhough I imagine they should. I suppose for a relatively small sum I can leave it in Revolut and spend on my trips to England.
 
And just to add.....

I completed the BOI UK Clear Account application online. I expected they'd be intouch as there was no option to attach any documentation. They did e-mail and asked me to contact them on the 0800 number.

0800 0850444 - doesn't work from Republic

Got through on + 44 345 7365 555 - but wasn't able to help. Transferred to what turned out to be BOI Republic - who couldn't even see my application.

That lady gave me + 44 345 6016 157 - have tried twice - both times on hold for an hour...... hung up.

Anyone got any useful numbers? Or e-mail addresses? Thanks
 
HSBC current account opened.
Debit card provided.
No regular charges.
All the interest paying savings accounts offered by HSBC are blocked due to non UK address.

Everything necessary was sent to my address by post except for a telephone banking pin code. I had to phone HSBC for this pin code. Waiting time for phone call was a few minutes.
 
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