Opening a Bank Account
When you arrive in Plymouth, you may wish to open a UK bank account. We recommend you research the different options available to find the one that best suits your needs. Almost all banks offer standard student accounts; however, with some banks, students can get additional benefits including freebies and interest-free overdrafts.
A few examples of banking options in the area are:
- Lloyds
- HSBC
- NatWest
- Barclays
- Santander
You will need to prove your student status when opening your account, and the Student Services team can provide you with a letter of enrolment to support this once you complete your registration.
Payment Methods
Travellers’ cheques
These are a good alternative to carrying cash, as they can be converted into cash when you need it. Unlike a personal cheque, you do not need to have a UK bank account to use them. If you lose them or they are stolen, you can apply to have them replaced. You should normally try to get Sterling (GBP)-based travellers’ cheques as these are the easiest to cash. If you bring travellers’ cheques in any other currency, most banks and the bureau de change will impose a charge for converting them to GBP. GBP travellers’ cheques may be used to pay for purchases in larger shops in major towns and cities, but not all shops will accept them. Make sure you keep details of your travellers’ cheques and your passport separate.
Credit Cards
These can be used for payment of tuition fees and accommodation charges. Make sure your credit limit is sufficient to allow you to make large payments in the UK – check with your bank or credit provider before you leave home. You should also make sure that you give someone at home authority to pay money into your credit card account while you are in the UK, in case of emergency.
Debit Cards
Maestro, Visa or Cirrus can be used to pay your tuition fees and accommodation charges (there is no handling charge for payment by debit card), as well as for shopping and other expenses. Make sure you have sufficient money in your account to allow you to make this payment – check with your bank before you leave home. Similarly to your credit card, you should also make sure that you give someone at home authority to pay money into your bank account while you are in the UK, in case of emergency.