Not having a household utility bill does not mean you should invent a residential address or assume a paid mailbox will satisfy a bank. Start by explaining your actual circumstances and asking what evidence the bank can accept.
This guide covers practical preparation. Account eligibility and verification depend on the provider and your circumstances; it does not recommend a particular account.
Ask about the evidence, not just the application form
Shelter England's guidance on temporary address evidence describes alternatives to conventional household bills and suggests asking about a basic bank account. That guidance is written for people experiencing homelessness in England. Travelling in a van does not automatically mean you qualify for a specialist referral scheme.
Before applying, ask the bank to distinguish three questions: what proves your identity, what establishes your address or circumstances, and where it can send correspondence. A document accepted for one purpose may not resolve the other two.
Prepare a clear enquiry
Make a list of the documents you actually hold and their dates. Ask which originals or copies are acceptable and whether an appointment would help resolve an online application that assumes a conventional address.
You could say: “I travel in a campervan and do not receive a utility bill in my own name. What evidence can I provide for this account, and how should I record my correspondence arrangements?”
Keep the answer or appointment reference. Do not send identity documents to an unsolicited email address; use the bank's verified application process.
Be precise about a friend or relative's address
Shelter advises obtaining permission before using another person's address. Discuss mail collection, confidentiality and what happens when either of you moves. Receiving post somewhere is not, by itself, evidence that it is your home.
Explain the arrangement accurately to the bank. Do not describe a friend's property as your residence if that would be untrue. Ask separately whether statements can be delivered digitally and which notices might still arrive on paper.
Keep an existing account current
If you already bank with a provider, contact it before your circumstances change. Record how to update contact information and how to recover access if your phone is lost. Keep a secure means of receiving important correspondence while travelling.
If the provider cannot resolve your situation, request its explanation and complaints process. Seek appropriate local advice where needed, particularly if housing insecurity or difficulty obtaining documents is involved.
The useful outcome is a documented arrangement the provider understands and accepts. A blog's assurance that one address “always works” is not a substitute for that confirmation.
Source reviewed on 25 October 2026. Bank requirements and individual decisions can change.
