Skip to content

Banking & Credit History

Opening a bank account is one of the first things you will do in the UK. Without a UK credit history, some banks may be cautious — but several options exist for newcomers. Building a good credit score takes time but is essential for mortgages, phone contracts and more.

Most banks require proof of address and ID — some offer "basic" accounts without UK address
Monzo, Starling and Revolut accept newcomers without UK credit history
Building credit: get on the electoral register (if eligible), use a credit-builder card
Check your credit report for free at Experian, Equifax or ClearScore
Quick answers

Straight to the point

All answers
Guides

In-depth articles

All articles

What will you actually take home?

Use our free calculator to see your monthly take-home pay after tax and National Insurance.

Put this into practice

Test what you've learned with free practice questions and flashcards.

Browse more

Other parts of the newcomer guide