Personal Finance | 2 May 2024

“Coutts were streets ahead of any other bank” – How we helped USA based clients come home to the UK

Our clients detail how “excellent and truly personalised service” helped them and their family get set up in the UK.

We recently helped two clients relocate home to the UK from the US. Having been stateside for number of years they needed to go through a series of property sales in the US and then a home purchase in the UK. Below they explain how Coutts were able to support them throughout their journey and beyond.

“Coutts were streets ahead of any other bank when it came to meeting our needs when we decided to repatriate to the UK and buy a home upon our return from the US. Our situation was complicated by the fact that when we started looking for our new home, we had not actually been domiciled in the UK for eight years and all our recent income had been earned in a foreign country. 

“We spoke to a number of banks and even though we weren’t Coutts clients at the time, they were the most willing to underwrite the risk and help us. They took into account our worldwide income and assets as well as our UK-based assets. They were by far the most responsive and proactive in their operations.

“The most understanding of our global wealth”

“This was largely due to having a dedicated private banker. They liaised with our mortgage broker, enabling quick turnaround times in terms of replying to emails, jumping on calls, issuing requests and sending information to credit committees to make decisions on mortgage approvals. Our previous bank (which also had an international wealth offering) was not able to operate anywhere near as quickly and the processing times alone were two to three times longer than that which Coutts offered. If we had gone with them, we would have lost the sale as we were up against fast-turnaround cash offers.

“Coutts were also the most understanding of our global wealth and portfolio of assets. This was very helpful as our property holdings were in flux – we were in the process of selling two homes in the US to fund the acquisition of the London property. There was real clarity in terms of communicating the timeline of the approval stages; when we could expect decisions to be made and when requests for more financial information might come – so we were ready and able to turn things around quickly. This was very helpful in securing the purchase and for communicating with the seller, legal team, and estate agents. 

“We moved back to the UK with two young children and have wanted to ensure we had a good lifestyle balance both in London and in the countryside, with one eye on the family’s future and schooling specifically. So, since using Coutts for our first property acquisition in moving back the UK, we've now used them for the purchase of our second house purchase in the UK. They were as brilliant as the first experience.

“Their full-service offer has also introduced us to our UK buying agent. Through Coutts, we got preferential rates with the buying agent and the service provided by the agent was second-to-none. Their team did extensive due diligence on the property and, through their negotiation, they managed to save us £200,000 off the asking price.”

“Ensuring our cash has been working for us all the time.”

“Coutts also provided very flexible short to medium term investment options, ensuring our cash has been working for us all the time in the run up to completion. Their help and advice were invaluable in structuring our finance options. We were able to leverage our current residence and the new one. That enabled us to mix both fixed and flexible mortgage products, reflecting our needs at the time.”

“Their customer service is, without question, excellent and it is truly personalised to the individual client. The best banking relationship we've ever had – and that's saying something from someone who used to work in banking! Thank You.”

CONSIDERING YOUR NEXT MOVE?

Speak to your private banker today or become a client to find out how we could help you with your property goals.

 

Contact Us

Become a client

When you become a client of Coutts, you join a network of exceptional people. Get in touch online or call +44 (0)20 7957 2424 to find out more about our services.

Already a client?

Contact your private banker at any time or call +44 (0)20 7957 2424 for more information.

 

All calls with Coutts are recorded for training and monitoring purposes.

All calls with Coutts are recorded for training and monitoring purposes.

Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Over 18s only. Credit is subject to status and approval. Terms and conditions apply. You may not be eligible for all Coutts mortgage solutions. Security may be required. Product fees may apply. Think carefully before securing other debts against your home.

Please be aware the value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you may not get back the full amount you invest. Eligibility criteria, fees and charges apply.

Share

More insights