This has been completely unacceptable. Our Ukranian guest tried to open an account in Stockport branch 7 weeks ago. It has now transpired after numerous visits to the branch along with numerous assurances the card will be with us soon that the application has gone missing. We are now completing yet another application which has taken over an hour. It would seem that the branch IT system cannot trace account applications!!! A friend of ours who is sponsoring a recent arrival went to HSBC after hearing about poor service from NatWest. The account was open within a day. Avoid NatWest at all costs and go to HSBC...or anywhere tbh. Update... absolutely unbelievable. Iryna just got the email link to try and open an account and yet again it asks for ID that she can not possibly provide. I'm absolutely furious with these clowns, it's almost like they are in cahoots with the government to make things as difficult as possible. It took three days to open a Monzo account. HSBC it is.