I need to sort out my UK banking arrangements, and I’d like to hear how other Brits here do it. I seem to have simply fallen into expat living over the years (now nearly 20 years), moving from place to place quite frequently – there was never one moment when I decided to leave – so I’ve rather let things slide, as you will see.

At the moment, I have a current (Flexaccount) with the Nationwide in my name only. As far as they are concerned, I still live in my late mother’s home, which is still in the family, so I get my statements ok. From this account I pay by DD the mortgage and insurance for a house in the UK that my wife and I bought just a few years ago which we let out. The rental income also goes into this account. With interest rates so low, a tidy sum (~GBP 20k) has built up over the last year or so. I lost the cheque book years ago, but have never really needed to access the money.

I really need to ‘fess up, make this a joint account and get access to our money (I will need to pay something to the Inland Revenue soon). I’d also like a UK credit card. However, looking at the Nationwide website, I notice that our main residence should be in the UK, and pointing me to their international branch in the Isle of Man. The problem is that, if I recall correctly, the mortgage (with C&G) should be paid from a mainland UK bank.

We're going back for a short break in a week's time and I'd like to sort this all out.

I intend at some stage to return permanently, so I quite like the idea of having some continuous high street banking history.

So where do other people go for their UK banking? Any recommendations?

Any input gratefully received!