During this period, friends who entered school in 2023 have come to the UK from China one after another. Life here is inseparable from bank cards. For daily expenses, the editor will share with you some information about how to apply for a local bank in the UK. Strategy for Xingka. When living in the UK, having a card is really convenient and practical. Let’s take a look at the options! 💳💷
1⃣HSBC 🏦
Advantages: Some branches provide Chinese services; the process is fast and there is no queue; you can even apply in advance domestically; it supports cross-border countries, has many outlets, and has a variety of account types to choose from for transfers.
Disadvantages: Be careful not to spend too much or deposit too much in one day, otherwise the card may be locked. 🔒
2⃣Barclays 💳💰
Advantages: Simple process, convenient mobile application, available in many physical outlets; 0 monthly fee
Disadvantages: It may be difficult to make an appointment during the school season, and you need to queue up. In addition, the card application process is cumbersome.
3⃣Lloyds Bank 🔝
Advantages: British local banks are generally easy to use and are the choice of most students.
Disadvantages: You may have to queue for a long time when processing, and the queue time may be as long as a month during the school season🙅🏻♀; large transfers or high consumption in one day can easily lead to the card being locked🤦🏼♂ .
4⃣Bank of China
Advantages: It can be processed in advance at home, and cross-border remittances are supported.
Disadvantages: Fewer outlets in the UK✖ .
5⃣Online banking - Monzo, Revolut, Starling
These virtual banks do not have physical branches, but compared to traditional banks, the process is faster and more convenient☑ . You only need to complete the application online, and the card will be mailed to your home in 7 working days. Among them, Starling can make deposits, but you need to go to the post office to handle it. However, it should be noted that you cannot deposit large amounts and there are different amount limits. For example: Starling can only accept cash deposits of 1k pounds in one year❗ . The advantage of doing online banking is that it saves a lot of time, and any problems can be reported through the application. At Lloyds Bank, you may have to wait in line for an hour☎ , which is less efficient. The disadvantage is that online banking may not be as convenient as a physical bank, and deposits cannot be made.
The above is a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of some popular banks. Students can make a choice based on their own needs and preferences! I hope this little guide will be helpful to you! Have a good start to school