As a new member of staff, you will need to have a UK bank account for your montlhy salary or timesheet payments.
FAQ list
If you do not currently hold a UK bank account (for instance, if you are relocating or new to the UK) you will need to open a current account as a new member of staff for your monthly salary payments. A current account will also be required for utility and other bills when owning or renting a home in the UK.
Once you have selected a bank or building society, you will need to submit a bank application and provide proof of your identity to open the account.
It is likely that your bank will ask you to provide the following documents:
- Photographic ID (passport, national ID card and visa / biometric residence permit)
- Evidence of your UK address (tenancy agreement, most recent council tax or utility bill )
- A letter from the University confirming your employee status
Large retail banks with local branches are commonly referred to as "high street banks", which offer banking services to the general public and businesses.
Banks with branches in Canterbury & Medway:
- Barclays
- Halifax
- HSBC
- Kent Reliance
- Lloyds Bank (Canterbury only)
- Metro Bank (Canterbury only)
- Nationwide
- NatWest
- Santander
- TSB Bank (Medway only)
Once your current account is open, you will usually receive a unique PIN code and debit card in the post. Your bank will send instructions on how to change your PIN code.
Most bank accounts offer direct debit and standing order payments which is a simple way to pay bills straight from your bank account.
A direct debit is an authorisation that you have given a business or service to take a certain amount of money on a set date. This is often used for regular bills (i.e. energy bills and council tax).
A credit card is not linked to your current account and is a type of loan where you can spend up to a certain amount (known as the 'credit limit') which you will repay at a later date, either through one off or spread out payments.
You will have a set period of time in which you can repay the loan where no interest is charged. After this period, interest will continue to be added to your balance, which you will also need to repay along with the initial loan.
Credit limits will vary depending on your income, though some banks will require you to have a credit history of at least 3 months.
You will have to pay income tax if you come to live, work or study in the UK. The amount of tax you pay will depend on your salary.
As a salaried employee at Kent, income tax is automatically deducted from your monthly pay and is calculated using your tax code.
Everyone has a Personal Allowance which is the amount you can earn each tax year before paying income tax. You can read more about Income Tax and Personal Allowances here.
National insurance is a compulsory tax that you pay on your earnings, which entitles you to certain state benefits and pension.
You can apply for a National Insurance number if you:
- live in the UK
- have the right to work in the UK
- are working, looking for work or have an offer to start work
If you have a BRP or eVisa, you may have a National Insurance number already.
You can find it:
- on the back of your BRP
- by logging into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to view your eVisa
More information can be found here - Apply for a National Insurance number.