Where to locate your account

Barclays International gives you a number of options regarding the location of your account.

Once you have decided to bank with us you can choose to hold your account onshore in the UK (London), or in an offshore location such as the Isle of Man, Jersey or Gibraltar. Making this decision is usually based on:

where you live or work
your tax status
whether you would like a regular, face-to-face service

A safe home for your money
The UK is an economically and financially stable country.
A feeling of security thanks to the strength of the UK financial regulatory system
At Barclays we believe in transparent and trustworthy banking. The financial market in the UK is highly regulated and includes an independent Ombudsman service. So in the event that you have a dispute which you cannot resolve with a bank, you have the option to have the matter reviewed by the Financial Ombudsman Service, which acts as an independent arbitrator. This process is free of charge and the Ombudsman's decision is binding on the bank.
The benefit of a face-to-face service at a Barclays International Centre
Although your account is held in London* you can benefit from a face-to-face service at any of our International Banking Centres in the UK, Europe, Africa or UAE. View a list of our International Banking Centres.

If however, you are unlikely to be visiting London, would like to bank offshore, or you are temporarily living in the UK, you may prefer to apply for an offshore account with Barclays International in the Isle of Man, Jersey or Gibraltar.

If you choose to apply to hold your account in London your account will be opened with Barclays Bank PLC, which is part of the Barclays Group.

Find out more about the benefits of banking offshore, or call us on +44 (0)1624 684079†.

Both islands are British Crown Dependencies and because of their special status are ideally placed to offer offshore banking facilities. Although not part of the UK or the European Union, they enjoy a special relationship with both.

They are attractive locations to hold an offshore account because:

There are potential tax planning opportunities for clients who are not resident in these jurisdictions.
They offer a safe home for your money.
They have an excellent reputation for providing financial services.
The financial markets are highly regulated.
Deposits held in the Isle of Man are protected by the Depositors Compensation Scheme.
You can benefit from an offshore account with a face-to-face service in London, Manchester or Birmingham when you visit the UK.

Gibraltar is part of the European Union, and is an attractive location to hold an offshore account because:

There are potential tax planning opportunities for clients who are not resident in this jurisdiction.
It offers a safe home for your money.
It has an excellent reputation for providing financial services.
The financial markets are highly regulated.
You can benefit from an offshore account with a conveniently located face-to-face service in Gibraltar – a real benefit if you’re in or near Gibraltar.

In all instances we recommend that you take independent tax advice to be sure that you open your account in the location most appropriate to your personal circumstances.

To discuss the option that best suits your circumstances, please contact us by calling +44 (0) 1624 684079†.

†Lines are open 9am to 5pm (UK time) Monday – Friday. Calls may be recorded for security reasons and so that we may monitor the quality of our service. Call charges may vary. Please check with your local telecoms provider.

A fast start to your application - Apply by phone in 15 minutes on +44 (0) 1624 684316* or apply online

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