[India] Bank allows expats to open UK account before arrival

The UK base of an Indian bank has unveiled a new mobile app facility which will let Indians migrating to the UK open an account while still in India, Eastern Eye reports.

ICICI Bank UK’s mobile app will reportedly allow Indian passport holders relocating to the UK to work the option of opening a personal current account in the UK. The account will be the equivalent of an Indian savings account. 

ICICI says the service is the first-of-its-kind from an Indian bank in the UK. 

Loknath Mishra - chief executive of ICICI Bank UK - said, “This unique proposition heralds a new era of opening an account in few minutes, a marked improvement over a few days taken earlier.”

A completely digitised process dispenses with any need to visit a physical UK branch. Customers may simply send all KYC details electronically after downloading the app. The account has instant activation, letting customers immediately carry out transactions.

Money can be instantly transferred from the UK to any ICICI Bank account in India. Customers will also be sent a contactless debit card to either their UK or Indian address. The app is available on iOS and android platforms.

The UK base of an Indian bank has unveiled a new mobile app facility which will let Indians migrating to the UK open an account while still in India, Eastern Eye reports.

ICICI Bank UK’s mobile app will reportedly allow Indian passport holders relocating to the UK to work the option of opening a personal current account in the UK. The account will be the equivalent of an Indian savings account. 

ICICI says the service is the first-of-its-kind from an Indian bank in the UK. 

Loknath Mishra - chief executive of ICICI Bank UK - said, “This unique proposition heralds a new era of opening an account in few minutes, a marked improvement over a few days taken earlier.”

A completely digitised process dispenses with any need to visit a physical UK branch. Customers may simply send all KYC details electronically after downloading the app. The account has instant activation, letting customers immediately carry out transactions.

Money can be instantly transferred from the UK to any ICICI Bank account in India. Customers will also be sent a contactless debit card to either their UK or Indian address. The app is available on iOS and android platforms.