Bank account assistance in the UK

For a company owned from abroad, the business bank account is frequently the step that takes longest. UK banks and payment providers each set their own rules for non-resident directors, and there is no official list of requirements to quote here. What a firm can do is prepare the paperwork, introduce you to providers that accept foreign owners and explain what the bank will ask about the company’s activity and ownership. A firm cannot promise that an account will be opened.

Ask what the assistance includes: an introduction, document preparation, a call with the bank, or only advice. Ask whether it has worked with owners from your country, whether it charges a fee if the application is declined and which providers it usually approaches. Check the profile for languages and the entity types handled. A company needs a registered office and the director details before any bank will start, so see the UK country guide for the order of steps.

Fewer firms offer this service than most others: 64 firms, made up of 53 accounting firms and 11 corporate services providers. 28 say they serve foreign clients. Healthcare, e-commerce, start-ups and construction are the sectors named most often. Look at London, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh or ask for a free quote request.

Firms offering bank account assistance in the UK

1Office UK

Accounting firm · Medium-sized firm

London

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +5 more

Languages: English · Estonian · Finnish · Latvian …

View profile of 1Office UK

Hawksford

Corporate services provider · International network

London

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +6 more

Languages: English · Chinese

View profile of Hawksford

40 more firms offering bank account assistance in the UK

Frequently asked questions

Can a firm guarantee that my UK business account will be opened?

No. Each bank or payment provider decides for itself, and a firm can only prepare the application and introduce you. Be wary of any promise of approval, and ask what happens to the fee if the application is declined.

Do I need to be in the UK to open a business account?

Requirements differ between providers. Some accept applications from non-resident directors with identity checks done remotely, others ask for more. A firm that works with foreign owners can tell you which providers are realistic for your situation.

What documents will a bank ask for?

Typically proof of identity and address for each director and significant owner, the certificate of incorporation, a description of the business and its expected activity, and sometimes a business plan. Ask the firm for the checklist before you begin.

Other services in the UK

Accountants by city in the UK

Setting up a company in the UK: the guide and every firm

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and fees change: check them with the official sources linked on this page or with a qualified adviser before you act.