Menu
Expat.com

EU citizen living in the UK and moving to Berlin: UK bank accounts

Post new topic

Guestposter155

Hi all,
I have been living in the UK for the past 13 years (I am Italian with no British citizenship) and I am going to move to Berlin in March. I am rather unsure what to do with my UK Bank accounts (HSBC Advanced, Halifax ISA & Credit Card and Barclays Credit Card). Is anyone aware of any issue with keeping UK bank accounts opened as a EU citizen leaving the UK imminently? I have come across some contradictory information: in some cases it is possible to change your UK address to an abroad one, in other cases you do need to be a UK resident (unless you go for an international account, e.g. HSBC). In principle, for pension reasons, I would like to be able to keep them open (Brexit and all that)

Thank you so much for your help!

I.

beppi

As EU citizen, you will have no formal problems moving to Berlin.
Regarding your UK bank accounts and whether you can keep them without UK address, you better ask on the UK forum, not here!

TominStuttgart

Like Beppi mentioned, the question about UK banks is best posted on the UK page. But with Brexit so much up in the air who can say what the rules will be. Maybe Brexit doesn't even happen. I can imagine banks have planned out a couple of possible scenarios to fit to different outcomes but any certainty is impossible at this point. But why don't you ask your bank! Who would know better than them?

I really don''t understand some of the questions here sometimes. Why do people speculate or ask opinions on a forum rather than the people  or organization involved?

Cynic

With regards to retaining your UK bank account; I kept my account with what is now HSBC open for the 15 years I lived in Germany, but it was >20 years ago and things may have changed; I do recall reading that some banks will make a decision based on your circumstances and why you need to keep an account open if you are leaving the country; receipt of a UK pension was deemed as being one of the reasons they would permit the account to remain open; bottom line though is it's probably best to ask your bank.

Articles to help you in your expat project in Berlin

  • Opening a bank account in Germany
    Opening a bank account in Germany

    Expats who plan to stay in Germany for more than 3 months would benefit from opening a bank account with a German ...

  • Universities in Berlin
    Universities in Berlin

    Studying in Germany is a rewarding and fulfilling experience, which may open many doors to professional ...

  • Student life in Berlin
    Student life in Berlin

    Living in Berlin as a student will probably be one of your most rewarding life experiences, as the city offers ...

  • The work culture in Berlin
    The work culture in Berlin

    When starting out in a new city, it's really important to understand the work culture before your first day at ...

  • Buying property in Berlin
    Buying property in Berlin

    Buying property in Berlin is easier than in most European cities when it comes to the bureaucracy and formalities ...

  • Berlin's neighbourhood guide
    Berlin's neighbourhood guide

    Berlin has 12 official boroughs and 96 localities, which, for the most part, are self-sustained, offering ...

  • Accommodation in Berlin
    Accommodation in Berlin

    Finding accommodation in Berlin (or any other city for that matter) will be your first step towards settling into ...

  • Discovering Berlin
    Discovering Berlin

    Berlin, the capital of Germany, is an enchanting city full of culture, history, great food, diversity, and nature. ...

All of Berlin's guide articles