December 2019
HSBC are offering bank accounts to people who are homeless. Banks typically require photo ID, as well as proof of address, to open an account but with the new HSBC service, the charity’s address can be used instead. Following a successful pilot in Liverpool, the service is now live in 31 branches in major UK cities including London, Birmingham and Manchester. More locations will be added in the new year. More than 80 accounts were opened during the pilot, one of whom belonged to a Liverpool man who had been homeless for 12 years. Opening a bank account meant he could claim benefits for the first time in over a decade and has now been put on the housing list.