Opening a UK bank account when an expat

[Asterix]

Hope you chaps can help.

I'm an expat of +5yrs. I don't have an UK bank account - stupidly closed them all when I moved.

I'm now buying a property in the UK, have had mortgage approval - they know I'm an expat and will be renting it out - yet have demanded that I have a UK bank account to service the payments (just found out at the end of the whole process).

From my online research of the major banks, I need to be a UK resident to open one - The Halifax that have approved the mortgage knowing I'm an expat, buy to let etc... cannot offer me a current account for the sole purpose.

I don't require a cheque book, ATM/debit card, credit cards just a mechanism to service the mortgage payments.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

[Biggles111]

How about an account with a Uk bank offering offshore facilities? I use Lloyds TSB and have an account with Jersey offshore which has always proved fine for servicing my UK mortgage.

As an alternative most UK banks do offer accounts for non UK residents, HSBC are probably the most prgressive on this.

Who did you use to broker the mortgage if you don't mind me asking? Am looking for a recommendation.