UK bank account

[thebookiesoffers]

Bumping this ol thread. I will (hopefully) be opening a UK bank account for business very soon. I'm curious, do the recommendations in this thread still stand? Which banks do you recommend? And, do you recommend the "online marketing" route, or try to explain gaming affiliation?

I have other activities outside of gaming and affiliate work even, so I could focus on that.

Thoughts?

Thanks

co-op are still good for me, didnt care what i did

[RacingJim]

I would still recommend not mentioning it, it gave me a real headache when I did it. Natwest still a really good bank for me.

[Fastlane]

Thanks for your replies. I don't live in the UK so looks like co op is out.

Do you know if Natwesr allows customers from outside the UK? I have scheduled a meeting with HSBC, but would be nice to have an alternative or two if that falls through.

[salsero]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm afraid you have to live in the UK to open a bank account for your business.

[Fastlane]

I've been doing some research and from what I've found three UK banks that welcome non residents to open a business account:

HSBC
Lloyds (one of the directors of the company has to reside in the UK)
Barclays

You do not need to live in the UK, but you have to meet in person at a UK branch to open the account.

[DanHorvat]

Sure, UK banks are just waiting for people to apply for non-resident business accounts.

If you want a UK account do it properly and open a UK company. Go the normal route and don't look for alternative approaches or hacks to the system. There are tons of foreign businesses opening a UK branch - do what they do.

And don't mention gambling, FFS.

[Fastlane]

Thanks. Not looking to hack anything, I forgot to mention that I have a registered UK company.

[DanHorvat]

Well then you shouldn't have a problem at all. Just open a bank account anywhere.

[Triple7]

So, with f.e. an UK ltd I can open a bank account at whatever bank in the UK? I just need to go to the UK to meet the bankers their face to face.

[agsgroup]

I ran into this thread as I just had an unexpected call with Natwest...I've been privately banking with for years but said they can't open a Business account for my UK business as it's gambling related. Perhaps I should have stuck with Online marketing tactic, but he was asking all sorts of questions and I prefer to be transparent especially with the subject of banking.

Thanks to those of you who've recommended the Co-op and Santander, I'll give those a try. If anyone else has any tips on other banks I can try, that would be really helpful.

Call me naive but I wasn't expecting such an issue!

Cheers

[MrBinaryAff]

If you need a UK account not for business, then check out Monese. New, innovative bank, and you don't need to be a resident. Though I have no idea how safe it is, as they operate under business licence in UK, and certified with Visa Europe.

[agsgroup]

Thanks.. well i'm going to try Metro (a 'new' high street bank, have seen a few branches) it offers a walk in service to open an account, and i think i'm going to avoid mentioning gambling when they ask what websites. Back up - Co op seems to be another one to try. I actually started to worry I would not be able to open one, which is insane!

[Doolally]

If you must mention gambling, explain that you'll be running gambling related ads on a content site and that you'll not actually be taking any money from punters. This is what they normally think is going to happen and hence why they shy away from it.

I'd go the online advertising route.

[agsgroup]

If you must mention gambling, explain that you'll be running gambling related ads on a content site and that you'll not actually be taking any money from punters. This is what they normally think is going to happen and hence why they shy away from it.

I'd go the online advertising route.

Thank you, I will definitely do that, seems to be the smartest way! Ill feedback when all is said and done in case any one else finds themselves in the same predicament

[chairo]

Here we go again. After almost 2 years of peace, my business partner decided to open a new ltd for his private investments. Went to the same bank we bank with to open a new business account, and this triggered an account review. Received the dreaded account closure letter.

Anyone who had recently setup any bank account can please provide a contact? I am honestly starting being fed up with this...

Thank you all

[EssexRed]

I found this thread very interesting, along with an article that basically all UK banks will shy away from any business that has anything gambling associated with them. My problem is that I have launched a gambling business, more of an enter with x amount in x league, the winner at the end wins the pot of X, type of pool betting. It now seems that not one UK bank will touch me!
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks

[agsgroup]

I found this thread very interesting, along with an article that basically all UK banks will shy away from any business that has anything gambling associated with them. My problem is that I have launched a gambling business, more of an enter with x amount in x league, the winner at the end wins the pot of X, type of pool betting. It now seems that not one UK bank will touch me!
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks

Hi.. Did you try Metro Bank yet?

[justbookies]

I found this thread very interesting, along with an article that basically all UK banks will shy away from any business that has anything gambling associated with them. My problem is that I have launched a gambling business, more of an enter with x amount in x league, the winner at the end wins the pot of X, type of pool betting. It now seems that not one UK bank will touch me!
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks

If you are doing pool betting without a gambling commission licence then it is obviously illegal and they won't touch you. You are acting as an operator, not an affiliate. All operators, however small, must have a gambling commission licence. If you get that then they will open an account for you and they tend to have specific contacts within the banks for betting operators.

This thread is a different ball game - it relates to affiliates having problems. Affiliates do marketing only, they are not operators. Huge difference.

[agsgroup]

If you are doing pool betting without a gambling commission licence then it is obviously illegal and they won't touch you. You are acting as an operator, not an affiliate. All operators, however small, must have a gambling commission licence. If you get that then they will open an account for you and they tend to have specific contacts within the banks for betting operators.

This thread is a different ball game - it relates to affiliates having problems. Affiliates do marketing only, they are not operators. Huge difference.

Ah yes, agree with that completely, misunderstood biz model at first glance...

[EssexRed]

If you are doing pool betting without a gambling commission licence then it is obviously illegal and they won't touch you. You are acting as an operator, not an affiliate. All operators, however small, must have a gambling commission licence. If you get that then they will open an account for you and they tend to have specific contacts within the banks for betting operators.

This thread is a different ball game - it relates to affiliates having problems. Affiliates do marketing only, they are not operators. Huge difference.

Absolutely this is pool betting, we are in the process of going for our licence with the gambling commission, with a plan to launch in July this year. Posted in this thread as I spoke with Santander who were not interested as this was classed as betting, so concerned we will not have much luck with other bank operators, despite the business being a pool of money, not targeted at odds betting and will be raising and helping to raise money for grass roots football teams.

Apologies if this was not the correct thread, if you can suggest another as a newbie to the site, then that would be great.