How to open a Barclays bank account?

Tired of your bank, or simply fancy a change? If you’re shopping around for a new bank account, one option you’ll almost certainly come across is Barclays. It’s one of the UK’s biggest banks, and an established high street presence.

But how easy is it to open a Barclays bank account in the UK? We’ll walk you through the process below, covering everything from the documents you’ll need to how long it takes. With our help, opening your new account should be a breeze.

Don’t forget though that a bank account isn’t the only solution for managing your money. The Wise account from the money services provider Wise is the ideal alternative, especially for things like international transfers and overseas card payments.

Please see the Terms of Use for your region.

Requirements for opening a bank account with Barclays?

Most UK banks have the same or similar requirements for new customers, although they can vary depending on the account.

To open a current account at Barclays, you’ll need to be:¹

• Over 18 years old
• A UK resident.

To join as a Barclays private banking customer, you’ll need to have a gross annual income of at least £75,000. You’ll also be eligible if you have savings/investments of at least £100,000 held with the bank.¹

For most Barclays savings accounts, you’ll need to be at least 16 years old and a UK resident to apply.³

Cash ISAs are likely to have different requirements, including being resident in the UK for tax purposes. So before you start comparing AER interest rates on savings accounts, it’s worth taking a moment to check whether you’re eligible.

And of course, if you’re opening a business account in the UK, there’ll be a whole other set of requirements to meet.

What documents do you need to open a Barclays bank account?

To apply for a current account at Barclays, you’ll need to provide the following documents:³

• Proof of identity - such as your passport, UK/EU driving licence, UK biometric residence permit (BRP) or HMRC letter from the last 12 months.
• Proof of address, such as a recent utility bill, bank statement, Universal Credit statement or credit card statement from the last 3 months. Here’s a guide on how to get a proof of address in the UK if you don’t have any of these documents and need to know how to get proof of address.

You’ll need to provide your contact details, address and other personal details, such as your date of birth and nationality. Barclays may also ask about your income and employment.

If you’re opening a student bank account with Barclays, you’ll likely be asked to provide a valid form of student ID.

How to open a Barclays bank account?

Once you’ve gathered together your ID and other documents, it’s time to apply for your new bank account.

There are two ways you can do it, either online or through the Barclays mobile app.⁴

To get started, simply follow these steps:

1. Go to the Barclays website and select a current account.
2. Read the eligibility requirements and important legal info for your chosen current account carefully.
3. Click the ‘How do I apply’ button to be taken to the bottom of the page.
4. To apply online, click the ‘online form’ link. Follow the on-screen instructions, providing your details and uploading ID documents when requested.
5. To apply via the mobile app, click ‘Apply in the app’ and download it from either the Google Play Store for Android devices or the App Store for Apple devices.

Can you open a Barclays bank account online?

Yes, you can apply online for a Barclays account, and it’s the way the bank recommends that you do it.

Whether you use the mobile app or complete the process on your laptop or desktop computer, you should find it relatively quick and easy.

How long it takes to open a Barclays bank account?

If you apply for your new account via the mobile app, Barclays says it should take around 10-15 minutes to complete your application.⁴

If approved, your account will be available to use right away. You’ll get your debit card and PIN within 5 working days.⁴

The bank doesn’t say how long it takes if you apply online, but you can expect a similar timeframe.

If you’re using the Current Account Switch Service to switch over an account held elsewhere to Barclays, it should be complete within 7 working days.

How to contact Barclays customer service?

If you have a question about Barclays products or need help opening an account, you can contact the bank’s customer services team.

Here’s the contact info you need:

• Phone - call 0345 600 4545, line available Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm⁵
• Branch - find your nearest Barclays branch here
• Send a message online by logging into your online banking (existing customers) or via Apple Messages

Wise - An alternative to a Barclays bank account

While you’re comparing accounts and providers, check out the Wise account. It’s not a bank account, but is a fantastic alternative to a Barclays bank account as it offers many of the same features.

When you sign up online with Wise, there’s no initial or monthly fee to pay.

You’ll get a powerful account for managing your money in 40+ currencies, including making international payments for low fees and mid-market exchange rates.

For a one-time cost of just £7, you can get a Wise debit card which has no foreign transaction fees for spending abroad, just a small conversion fee for cross-currency transactions. You can withdraw up to £200 a month in up to 2 transactions from overseas ATMs with no Wise fees.

Sign up with Wise today 💰

Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees.

After reading this, you should be all clued up on how to open a bank account with Barclays.

It’s pretty easy to do online or via the mobile app, as long as you have the right documents ready. It works in much the same way as opening any other UK bank account. And if you need help, you can always contact Barclays customer services.

Sources used for this article:

Sources checked on 25-Oct-2023.