Advice for new refugees: opening a bank account

You should open a free current account at a bank as soon as possible. You can do this while you are still considered an asylum seeker but you must have had your first Home Office interview.

You can find many different banks in town centres, but sometimes an account with a digital bank (such as Starling or Monzo) can be the easiest to set up.

You will need to provide your telephone number and email address, as well as proof of identity. This could be a:

• passport
• EVisa share code
• Application Registration Card (ARC)
• Biometric Residence Permit

If the application requires you to prove your address, here are some options:

• NHS registration letters dated in the last month
• a letter of introduction from a professional you are working with, for example: a West Berkshire Action for Refugees (WBAR) case worker, accommodation manager, or council housing officer

If you can't get proof of address go to the local bank and ask their advice, or talk to West Berkshire Action for Refugees (WBAR) for advice.

Your bank account will be how you receive Universal Credit and/or your salary when you start working. Please note: it is not illegal to use someone else's bank account for Universal Credit or salary payments, but it is not good practice. Always open your own bank account and keep the details of it to yourself.

> Next page: claiming universal credit and other benefits.

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