Moving house always comes with a lot happening at once: boxes, paperwork, a new address, new neighbours. With so much going on, it is easy to forget about your bank. But your account and your card are exactly what let you pay rent, buy groceries, and receive your salary or pension at your new address. This article walks through how to get your banking ready for a move, calmly and without extra stress.
Why it matters to tell your bank your new address
Your bank asked for your address when you opened the account, and that was not just a formality. Your bank may still send important letters to that address — for example, a new card once the old one expires, or a notice about changes to your account terms.
If you have moved and your bank does not know, a letter with your new card could be sent to your old address. No one will be there to collect it, and you may end up having to order a replacement card.
Updating your address is usually possible in a few ways: in your bank's mobile app (the program on your phone that lets you manage your account without visiting a branch), under a section called "Personal details" or "Profile"; through your online account on the bank's website; or in person at a branch, if you would rather speak to someone directly.
Do not hesitate to call your bank's official phone number (printed on the back of your card) and simply ask, "How do I update my address?" Bank staff answer this question every day — it is a routine, simple request.
What keeps working, and what might need a second check
Here is the good news: your account and the money in it do not disappear when you move. Your account number (called an IBAN, a string of letters and digits that identifies your account) stays exactly the same no matter where you live. Your card keeps working too, as long as it has not reached its expiry date.
Your phone number matters
There is one thing worth paying close attention to: the phone number linked to your account. That is the number your bank uses to send a one-time code by text message — a short string of digits you type in to confirm a transfer or a login. This extra step is called two-factor confirmation, and it exists to protect your money from anyone else trying to access it.
If you changed your SIM card or phone number as part of your move (especially a move to another country), update that number with your bank beforehand, while your old SIM card still works. Otherwise, confirmation codes will keep going to a number you no longer use, and you will not be able to confirm any transaction.
If you are moving to another country
Some banking actions may look slightly different when you log in to your app from another country — that is normal. Your bank is simply checking more carefully that it is really you. If the app suddenly asks for an extra confirmation by text message or phone call, that is not an error and no reason to worry. Just follow what it asks, calmly and carefully.
Keeping access to your money during the move
The move itself often brings a few chaotic days: boxes everywhere, a new address not yet confirmed with the bank, an old SIM card that no longer works. To avoid losing access to your money during those days, it helps to prepare in advance.
Before you move, check whether fingerprint or face login is turned on in your app — this lets you get into your account even if something goes wrong with a text-message code. It is also sensible to keep a little cash on hand for the first few days, just in case your card or app is temporarily unavailable for technical reasons.
If you are moving to a new city and feel you need a different account — for example, one closer to a new branch, or better suited to your new routine — you can take your time comparing personal account options, such as on our best personal accounts page. There is no need to rush: your existing account and card keep working even if you open a new one.
Common mistakes to avoid
A few small oversights cause most of the trouble people run into after moving.
One of the most common is forgetting to update the address and phone number together. Another is leaving everything until the last day before the move, when there is no time left to sort things out if something goes wrong. A third is trusting a call or message that claims to be "from the bank" on moving day itself.
A move is a convenient moment for scammers, precisely because you are busy with other things and expecting calls from movers, landlords, or delivery services. If someone calls saying your account needs to be "confirmed because of the move" and asks you to read out a text-message code, that is always a scam. A real bank never asks you to read a text code over the phone. Hang up, and call your bank yourself using the number printed on your card.
Moving house is just one more task on a long list of tasks. It does not require anything complicated from your bank — only a little attention beforehand. Update your address and phone number calmly, before moving day, and everything else will keep working exactly as it did before.