In a first-of-its-kind service by an Indian bank in the United Kingdom (UK), ICICI Bank UK PLC will allow digital account opening through its mobile application.
This means that Indians (those holding Indian passports) moving to the UK for work will be able to open a personal current account there while they are in India itself. This account is equivalent to a savings account in India, ICICI said in a press release.
To open an account, one simply has to download the bank’s UK mobile application called ‘ICICI Bank UK iMobile’, and furnish the details electronically without visiting a branch in the UK.
The account will be instantly activated, allowing customers to start transacting immediately. Customers will also receive a contactless debit card at their correspondence address within a few days either in the UK or in India. They will also be able to remit money instantly to any ICICI Bank account in India.
“We have introduced the opening of a personal current account in digital manner to further improve engagement with our customers. This unique proposition heralds a new era of opening an account in a few minutes, a marked improvement over a few days taken earlier,” said Loknath Mishra, MD & CEO, ICICI Bank UK PLC. He added that the bank believes the ease of banking is a key parameter for individuals when they look for a banking partner.