You can open some US bank accounts from the UK, but the process is narrower than it is for US residents

Most major US banks will not open accounts for people living outside the United States. They require a US address, a US phone number, and a US tax ID (Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number). If you are in the UK, you do not have these things, and the bank's system will reject your process before a human ever sees it.

Some banks do offer accounts to non-residents, but they are the exception. The ones that do typically require either a prior relationship with the bank (you had an account when you lived in the US), a substantial deposit, or both. A few online banks and fintech companies have built systems to accept UK residents, but they are not the same as a standard checking account—they often function more like money transfer services or prepaid cards.

The real barrier is not the bank's willingness but US federal banking law. Banks must verify your identity and tax status under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). For a UK resident, this means proving you are a US citizen or resident alien, which requires documentation most UK-based people do not have readily available.

Key Takeaways

  • Most US banks require a US address and Social Security Number and will reject applications from the UK automatically.
  • Banks that do accept non-residents usually require either an existing account history with them or a large opening deposit.
  • If you are a US citizen living in the UK, you may have better luck than a UK citizen, because you can provide a US tax ID.
  • Online banks and fintech services sometimes offer accounts to UK residents, but they function differently from standard US checking accounts and may have higher fees or lower limits.
  • The fastest route for most people is to use a money transfer service or a UK bank with a US correspondent account rather than trying to open a direct US bank account.

Banks that accept non-residents from the UK

Citibank is the most reliable option if you have a prior relationship with them. If you held a Citibank account in the US and maintained it or closed it in good standing, you may be able to reopen or open a new account from the UK. You will need to contact their international banking division directly—the standard online process will reject a UK address. Expect the process to take several weeks and require documentation of your previous account and your current UK address.

HSBC and Standard Chartered both have US operations and UK operations, which sometimes makes it easier to open a US account if you already bank with them in the UK. However, this is not may provide. HSBC's US subsidiary has different policies than HSBC UK, and they do not automatically link. You would need to contact HSBC USA directly and ask whether your UK customer status helps. Standard Chartered's US presence is much smaller and primarily serves corporate clients, not individuals.

Some online banks marketed to expats—such as Wise (formerly TransferWise) and Revolut—offer US account numbers to UK residents, but these are not full US bank accounts. They are virtual account numbers that sit on top of a US bank's infrastructure. You can receive US dollar transfers and pay US bills, but you cannot deposit checks, use an ATM card at most US ATMs, or access the full feature set of a real checking account. Fees are typically lower than traditional banks, but the limitations are real.

What you need to provide, and why banks ask for it

Every US bank will ask for a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). If you are a US citizen living in the UK, you have a Social Security Number from when you lived in or worked in the US. If you are a UK citizen, you do not have one and cannot get one unless you move to the US and work there. An ITIN is issued by the IRS to non-residents who have US tax obligations (usually because they have US income or own US property), but getting one requires filing a US tax return first, which most UK residents have no reason to do.

Banks also require proof of identity (a passport), proof of address (a utility bill or bank statement from your UK address), and sometimes proof of income or employment. The address requirement is the sticking point: your UK address will fail the automated checks at most banks, and even if a human reviews your process, many banks have explicit policies against opening accounts for non-residents.

The reason for these requirements is FATCA compliance. The US government requires all US financial institutions to report accounts held by US citizens and resident aliens, even if those accounts are held overseas. For a UK resident who is not a US citizen, the bank has less regulatory incentive to open an account, and the compliance burden is higher. Some banks straightforward decide it is not worth the effort.

If you are a US citizen living in the UK

Your situation is different. You have a Social Security Number, and you are required to file US taxes every year regardless of where you live. Banks know this and are more willing to work with you, though the process is still slower than it would be for a US resident.

Contact the bank's international or expat banking department directly. Do not use the standard online process. Explain that you are a US citizen living abroad and ask what documentation they need. Most banks will ask for your passport, your UK address, and your Social Security Number. Some will also ask for proof of income or a letter from your UK employer.

Processing time is typically four to eight weeks. Some banks will mail a debit card to your UK address; others will require you to pick it up in person during a US visit. A few will not issue a debit card at all and will require you to manage the account online or by phone.

The money transfer alternative

If opening a full US bank account is not working, consider whether you actually need one. Most people in the UK who want a US account need it to receive payments, pay bills, or hold US dollars. A money transfer service like Wise, OFX, or Remitly can handle most of these tasks without a bank account.

Wise lets you hold US dollars in a virtual account and receive transfers from US employers or clients. You can pay US bills directly from the account. You cannot deposit checks or use an ATM, but for most expats, those are not essential. Fees are transparent and typically lower than a bank would charge.

If you need to receive checks, ask the payer to use electronic transfer instead. If you absolutely must deposit checks, you may be able to use a US-based check deposit service like Mobile Deposit or a remote deposit capture service, though these are less common now and often require a US bank account anyway.

Opening a UK account with US dollar access

Another option is to open a UK bank account that allows you to hold and transfer US dollars. Most major UK banks—Barclays, HSBC UK, Lloyds—offer multi-currency accounts. You can receive US dollar transfers directly into the UK account and convert to pounds when you need to. This avoids the need for a US bank account entirely.

The advantage is simplicity: you are banking in the UK with a UK address and UK documentation, which is straightforward. The disadvantage is that you cannot use a US checkbook, and some US businesses prefer to pay accounts that are actually in the US. For most situations, though, a UK multi-currency account is faster and easier to set up than a US account from abroad.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a US address from a friend or family member to open a bank account?

No. Banks verify addresses using utility bills, mortgage statements, or lease agreements. If you provide an address that is not yours, the bank will discover this during verification and close the account. Some banks also flag this as fraud. Use your actual UK address.

What if I have a US driver's license from when I lived there?

A US driver's license helps with identity verification, but it does not solve the address problem. Banks will still require a current address, and a UK address will still trigger rejection at most institutions. A US driver's license is useful but not sufficient on its own.

Can I open a US bank account online if I use a VPN to make it look like I am in the US?

No. Banks verify your actual location through multiple methods: the address you provide, the phone number you use, the documents you submit, and sometimes IP address checks. Using a VPN to mask your location is also a violation of the bank's terms of service and can result in account closure and potential fraud investigation.

How long does it take to open a US bank account from the UK?

If the bank accepts your process at all, expect four to eight weeks. This is longer than opening an account as a US resident because the bank must verify your non-resident status and may support FATCA compliance. Some banks take longer; some may reject the process outright without a clear timeline.

Is it cheaper to use a money transfer service or open a US bank account?

For most people, a money transfer service is cheaper. US banks often charge monthly fees, minimum balance requirements, and international wire fees. Wise and similar services charge only for the actual transfer and currency conversion, with no monthly fee. If you only need to receive money occasionally, a money transfer service is almost always the better choice financially.