Bank account for foreign owned UK LTD, possible?

[Houdini]

Where would it be possible for a foreign owned company in the UK to open a corporate bank account? I'm not talking about EMI's ?

With all the research I have done, testing and trying I say it is impossible!

 

[wellington]

Why on earth would you open a company in the UK if foreigner owned ? I’m guessing it has no presence in the UK?

- UK has massive scam issue where companies registered for legitimacy used for fraudulent investing platforms (MLM/Ponzi)

- banking even for commercial companies operating in the UK is so difficult most result in EMIs

- UK taxes

- UK regulations

- Chaos with a open communist running the treasury - literally put a portrait up of the founding partner of the British communist party

 

[daniels27]

If I look at Companies House, the UK is full of UK Limiteds owned by foreigners of all sorts: Germans, Spaniards, Jamaicans and even rich dudes from more exotic places.

Are we talking about Limited owned by non -residents?

Afaik the banks don't care much as long as the owner can produce a UK address proof.

 

[brianK]

I have as well not been able to open any bank account yet.

 

[SCHLOSSFINANZ]

ZERO chances.

 

[avalanche]

Why on earth would you open a company in the UK if foreigner owned ? I’m guessing it has no presence in the UK?

Simple answer: access to Stripe and much lower bureaucratic burden compared to many countries and cheaper than any other jurisdiction for small business.

Talking from my personal experience where local company needs to file plenty of paperwork just to pay vendors. While UK company can just receive PDF invoices of arbitrary format, send money and all good.

 

[Marios]

Where would it be possible for a foreign owned company in the UK to open a corporate bank account? I'm not talking about EMI's ?

With all the research I have done, testing and trying I say it is impossible!

Try banks in Gibraltar

 

[redeye]

Try banks in Gibraltar

Do they open accounts for non resident companies in the UK ????

 

[SCHLOSSFINANZ]

no.

 

[ironwood]

It will depend on the number of directors and shareholders and their passport. Your best chance will be with someone with an EU passport who is sole Shareholder and Director, then you have a shot with HSBC, Barclays and Natwest. There are plenty of good EMIs, ANNA, Tide, Zempler have all worked fine for me. PM me if you would like me to arrange an intro with some UK banks and EMIs

 

[redeye]

As with many other things, it's really difficult to open a bank account for a company if you don't live in the same country unless the company has a genuine function and isn't just a shell company. I would recommend going to the UK and speaking with someone directly, such as @James Turner Turner or similar consultants. They will likely be able to help you set up something that suits your needs.

 

[CALAY]

Where would it be possible for a foreign owned company in the UK to open a corporate bank account? I'm not talking about EMI's ?

With all the research I have done, testing and trying I say it is impossible

Actually, it depends on how you look at it. As @wellington pointed out, opening a corporate account with a UK high street bank is close to impossible these days unless the company has what banks consider a “fixed establishment” in the UK. This generally means a resident director, a proper commercial lease, and an operational presence — essentially, substance that demonstrates the business is genuinely based in the UK.

Without these elements, national UK banks simply won’t proceed with onboarding in 99% of the cases (6digits+ under management certainly opens many closed doors). That said, some companies look beyond the UK and consider banking options within the EU, particularly with prime banks that may accept UK entities under specific conditions.

Of course, much depends on the nature of the business, as well as the residency of the UBO and directors. These factors are increasingly scrutinized across jurisdictions. Would you be keen to consider banking the UK entity abroad?