Pensioner Don Lowe has been embroiled in a battle with his bank to receive his life savings (Image: Youtube)
Don Lowe has lived some life which included sailing the world as a teenager, drilling for oil in , writing books, starring in documentaries and having friendships with famous people including the late singer Leonard Cohen.
Today, his life is far quieter – and he spends his days living on the small Greek island of Hydra.
Despite a more chilled approach to life, Lowe has spent five years in frustration due to him battling to secure his £126,000 life savings.
This immense amount of money is trapped in the English banking system with Lowe unable to receive it.
Speaking to he said: “I don’t waste anything and live simply. I don’t own a house here, I stay with my daughter. All I need is a few groceries. I draw water from a well.”
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Lowe lives on a popular Greek island known as Hydra (Image: Getty)
His situation is not uncommon as thousands of other Brits had their accounts closed after when the UK left the EU in January 2020.
Yorkshire Building Society was one such bank whose rules changed after and who closed a number of expats’ accounts, giving them only 60 days to move their funds.
“I still very much am an Englishman and had an English passport all these years. I’ve always had an English bank account and always operated that,” he explained.
He added: “I got a letter saying they’re closing the account. It was supposed to be three months’ notice and when I got the letter, it was three days to go.”
A cheque was sent to Lowe by Yorkshire Building Society in March 2020 with the full amount.
However, Lowe’s Greek bank account was frozen due to not having a regular income which meant he was unable to cash the cheque.
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Don Lowe was also very good friends with the late singer Leonard Cohen (Image: Getty)
He explained: “When the cheque expired, I called Yorkshire and they said ‘No problem, we’ll send you another one’.
“I wasn’t against this as long as I could find another bank to transfer to if they weren’t able to reinstate me.
“I got in touch with about 12 institutions in England, but they all said they were under the same obligation and they wouldn’t do it.
“[Yorkshire] have not offered any other way than a cheque and you need an account. They said ‘Why don’t you put it in another account of someone you trust?’, but I couldn’t access that. Who can you trust these days?”
Lowe further explained how he believes this inability to get his money back as being an “injustice” adding how he has been left completely unhappy as it’s been “taken out of my hands”.
He added: “Where’s the money now, is it still safe? Yorkshire Building Society hasn’t verified it. I’ve tried to suggest reinstatement [of my account].
“I think about it every day to be honest, and in bed at night.”
Telegraph Money had set up a phone call with Lowe and Yorkshire Building Society who state they’ve been in regular contact with him and have tried to help him.
A spokesman also confirmed how the bank works which includes only being available to UK residents with those moving out of the UK to Europe having 60 days to transfer their funds elsewhere.
“If they do not do so, we will close their account and issue them with a cheque for all remaining funds, including accrued interest up to the point of closure, ” added the spokesperson for the bank.
“Once an account is closed, if a customer does not cash their cheque, their funds are classed as dormant and held securely until they provide us with further instructions and the details we need to verify their identity and help them regain access to their funds. We always make best endeavours to reunite customers with their money.”