This is a Tide referral site through the Tide Partners scheme

Setup a UK bank account as a non-UK resident

Open up your business bank account today for your UK limited company

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Get £150 for free on opening a Tide Business Bank Account *

FSCS-Protected Bank Account by ClearBank

This is a Tide referral site through the Tide Partners scheme.

Sign up with our exclusive Tide promotional code and get £150 FREE cash added to your balance *

BUSINESSMATTERS

* To receive £50 you must add at least £100 to your Tide Business Account within 30 days of account opening. To receive an additional £100 cashback, open a Tide Instant Saver and deposit £5,000 within 7 days of account opening and hold that balance for at least 30 days.

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Your options as a non-UK resident

As an overseas resident, opening up a business bank account for a UK limited company can be challenging. Prior to Brexit, there were many options. You would have been able to complete an application online and then visit a branch of the 'high street bank' you applied with (typically HSBC, Barclays, Natwest, RBS for example), confirm your ID and show your proof of address documents. And then, fingers crossed, have your business bank account opened for your UK limited company.

Although options like this have decreased, thankfully, the market is opening up to other options, such as online banking providers.

High Street Banks Vs Online Providers

When opening up a UK business bank account as an overseas resident it can be daunting to work out which is the right business bank account for your requirements. Typically, 'high street' banks have been the go-to banks. It has been the norm to apply to these institutions in the belief that they are safer. However, this is not necessarily true.

High Street Banks

High street banks are your 'typical' banks. Such as HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds, Natwest, RBS and so on. They are called 'high street banks', typically because they have a high street presence! You can physically walk into their branch in many towns and cities in the UK.

Online Providers

We are now seeing more online providers. The application can usually be completed online and you do not have to visit a physical location. They have become very popular for their streamlined application processes and speed. Compared to the 'high street banks', they are proving to be a superior option for many UK businesses.

How safe is my money?

Banks are eligible for FSCS protection up to £85,000 within the UK, even as a non-UK resident. It is important to check with each institution how your money will be protected. Tide offers bank accounts provided by ClearBank Ltd.

FSCS Protection

Why Tide and what does it have to offer?

Tide is a leading digital financial platform in the UK, specifically designed to meet the needs of small businesses, sole traders and freelancers. It is open to non-UK residents, as long as the limited company is registered in the UK.

It can be fast to set up, paperless, and offers a range of features including expense management, automated invoicing, real-time notifications, and integration with accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero. Tide also offers multi-user access, 24/7 supports and an optional business Mastercard.

​Tide is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the FSCS-Protected bank accounts are provided by ClearBank, whom are also regulated by the FCA.

​Note* Your do need a UK mobile number for your application. If you would like to order an activated and topped up UK SIM card please click here.

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Premium Features

Tide has become one of the UK’s rapidly expanding business account providers for SMEs, boasting over 550,000 registered account holders in 2024.

  • No monthly fees

    Low transaction and ATM fees. Only pay for what you use.

  • Safe & Secure

    24/7 account monitoring ensuring your money is safe and secure.

  • 24/7 Support

    Get help in the app any time, 365 days a year. Just start a chat in the app.

  • Simple Accounting

    Connect your accounting software and bank account for easy reporting. Sage/ Xero.

  • Business Savings

    Earn 4.07%* AER variable on your capital with our Tide Instant Saver Account.
    *T&Cs apply.

  • Personalised Invoicing

    Create, send and track invoices from the Tide app to get paid faster.

Tide Bank Signup Process

Follow the process to signup for your new Tide business account and receive your Tide Promotional offer of £50 for FREE, providing you deposit at least £100 into your new business account within 30 days of opening. To receive an additional £100 cashback, open a Tide Instant Saver and deposit £5,000 within 7 days of account opening and hold that balance for at least 30 days.

  1. Make sure you have a UK mobile number ready. If you would like to order one from us please click here.

  2. Click on the link to go to the Tide landing page to register and begin your application.

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  3. Download the Tide app in the UK app store on your smart phone. You may need to change your 'country' to find and download the app.

  4. Upload your ID and take a selfie.
    Tide prioritises security ensuring that verification is both thorough and swift.

  5. In the UK home address section, put the address of where your UK limited company is registered. When Tide ask you to verify this, give them your home address, the proof of your home address, and tell them the UK address where your UK limited company is registered.

  6. Follow the questions and complete your application.

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Let us help!

For assistance or to order an activated UK SIM card please use the form below to contact us.

Thank you for your enquiry, we will be in contact with you shortly!

FAQs

I don’t have a UK mobile number, where do I get one?

Contact us and we can help! We provide a service where we can send a UK SIM card out to you, that is activated, topped up and ready to go. Please contact us know to arrange this for you. Our SIM cards, including activation, £10 of top up, your own online account and postage costs £45 in total. Contact us here.

What is the Tide promo code?

Use the Tide promo code: BUSINESSMATTERS when signing up for a business account at Tide to receive £50 for FREE, providing you deposit at least £100 into your new business account within 30 days of opening

Where do I enter the Tide code?

During the signup process you are asked to provide your personal details such as name and email address. As part of this process a box requesting your Tide referral/promo code is presented. Make sure to enter the code at this point.

What if I forget to enter the Tide referral code?

If you forget to enter the code or completely miss the box requesting your code – not to worry! You have 7 days from sign up to get the promo retrospectively applied. Just contact in-app support at Tide and they will apply the code for you.

What are the T&Cs to receive the free £150?

Full details on the terms and conditions are available at Tide when you click the sign up button – but the most important are that you need to enter the code: BUSINESSMATTERS and fund your new account with at least £100 to qualify within 30 days of account opening. To receive an additional £100 cashback, open a Tide Instant Saver and deposit £5,000 within 7 days of account opening and hold that balance for at least 30 days.

When do I receive the first free £50 payment?

Once you have signed up and deposited at least £100 in your new account within 30 days of account opening, you should expect to receive the £50 within 4-6 weeks directly into your Tide account.

Can you provide full details of the terms and conditions for this Tide referral offer?

Of course! Full details for the Tide promotional offer can be found at the following link.