Why do we ask you for proof of your identity and address?

We have introduced a new way to identify customers and validate addresses electronically using information held by credit reference agencies including the Electoral Register. If this fails to provide us with the level of proof we require, we will ask you to provide proof of identity and/or address.

Before you can open an account with us, we need to verify your identity and address. This applies to all new customers, and in some circumstances, to existing customers.

We ask for this information to comply with money laundering regulations and to help stop criminals using our products and services to launder money and to prevent fraud.

All providers of financial products and services must have systems in place to prevent criminals from using them to "clean" their proceeds of crime. Our procedures include obtaining proof of your identity, address and date of birth. We also request information on how you intend to operate your account and where funds being paid into your account will come from. This information achieves the requirements of the Money Laundering Regulations and also helps to protect you and us against fraud.

Proving your identity can be inconvenient, but please remember that all building societies, banks and other financial institutions will ask for similar information.

How does money laundering affect you?

Criminals who make money from crime need to find ways to hide the money so that it can't be traced back to them. One way of doing this is to put the money into a building society or other financial institution account, in a way that hides where it came from and then to access it safely, later. Criminals may use a false name and address to make it more difficult to trace them and this is why we ask you to provide evidence of your identity and address. Please be assured that these checks do not mean that you are under suspicion. The only way we can catch criminals using the financial system is to check every customer.

Opening an account at a Branch or Agency

If we are unable to electronically identify you, we will need to see two original documents - one from the identity list and one from the address list. We will take copies of the documents for our records and give the originals back to you.

Opening an account through the post or online

If we are unable to identify you electronically, we will need to ask you to provide us with two certified copy documents - one from the identity list and one from the address list. Please do not send original documents to us in the post. If you send original documents to us, we cannot accept any liability for the safety of these documents whilst they are in the post.

Copies of documents must be certified as being a true copy of the original by any one of the following:

Teacher
Doctor
Banker
Post Office Official
UK Lawyer
FSA Regulated Financial Intermediary
Accountant, or
Minister of Religion

Individuals retired from these professions are not able to act in this capacity. Each certified copy must be signed by that person and must appear with the full name, qualification (where applicable), job title, address and telephone number and date of certification (please see example below).

Certified as a true copy by John Paul Smith (full name and signature)

ACA
Accountant
Saffron House, 1A Market Street, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 1HX
0800 072 1100
Date certified: 29/06/2008

The identity documents cannot be certified by any party to the account or their relatives.

Existing Customers

We must keep up to date and accurate information about our customers. If you have not used your account for a while, or if we do not hold adequate information about you, there may be a need to update that information and check your identification. At any time, for your protection, we may require proof of your identity before allowing withdrawals from your account.

What happens if we can't verify your identity?

We do not want to stop people using our products or services for lawful purposes. Unfortunately, if it is not possible to verify your identity, then by law, we will not be able to provide you with our products or services.

Giving us proof of your identity

You will be required to provide us with two documents, one from the personal identification list and one from the address verification list.

Personal identification - one item
Current full signed UK/EU passport
Current UK photo-card Driving Licence + paper counterpart (full or provisional)
Current UK full (old style) Driving Licence (provisional not acceptable)
Firearms certificate or shotgun licence
Inland Revenue Tax notification/demand/assessment (less than 12 months old)
Letter from Benefits Agency confirming entitlement to benefits or state pension (less than 12 months old)

Address verification - one item
Council Tax bill or statement (valid for current year)
Utility bill or statement issued/dated in the last three months/current year for water bills (mobile phone statements are not accepted) (internet prints are not accepted)
Bank/Building Society/National Savings statement or passbook containing current address (issued/dated in the last three months and not issued by the Society) (internet prints are not accepted)

If you have lived at your current address for less than three months you must also provide one additional item from the address list above that shows your previous address.

If you do not possess any of the identification detailed above please talk to us and we will tell you what other documents can be accepted.

Identification for Minors (aged under 18)

We are unable to identify minors electronically so you will be required to provide us with two documents, one from the personal identification list and one from the address verification list below.

Personal identification - one item
Any personal identification that is listed above - click here to view
Birth certificate
NHS medical card
Child allowance benefit book

Address verification - one item
Any address verification that is listed above - click here to view
Any address verification that is listed above, in parent's name

If an account is being opened on behalf of a minor (nominee or trustee basis), the person(s) operating the account must provide two documents, one from the personal identification list and one from the address verification list above for themselves - click here to view, as well as the minor's proof of identity as above and proof of the child's current address if this differs from that of the nominee/trustee.

Identification for Corporate Accounts

Copy of the Certificate of Incorporation
Letter on Company headed paper authorising opening of account signed by directors
The Society will perform a search of Companies house records
Resolution of the Board of Directors to open an account and confer authority on those who operate it
Names of all Directors
The Society will electronically ID all signatories however if we are unable to locate we will require identity and address verification (one document from each list in our proof of identity section - click here to view) of at least one Director and all persons authorised to operate the account

Clubs and Societies
The Constitution of the Club, Society or Association
A written authority signed by all officials approving the opening of the account
Identity and address verification (one document from each list in our proof of identity section - click here to view) of the person(s) authorised to operate the account

Charities
The Constitution of the Charity
A written authority signed by all officials approving the opening of the account
Identity and address verification (one document from each list in our proof of identity section - click here to view) of the person(s) authorised to operate the account
Charity number

Solicitors
Declaration confirming that you are acting for a client/estate

Identification for Charity Tracker

The Constitution of the Charity
A written authority signed by all officials approving the opening of the account
Identity of the person(s) authorised to operate the account
Charity number

Identification for Solicitors' Reserve account

We will also require you to provide an acceptable form of organisation identification detailed below.

There must be two partners signing to open the account
Accounts may only be opened by cheque or transfer from an account in the firms name
We will check with the Law Society for confirmation of your status and that of the firm

Data Protection Act

The Society may make searches about you at credit reference agencies who will supply it with information, including information from the Electoral Register, for the purpose of verifying your identity. The agencies will record details of the search whether or not your application proceeds. The searches will not be seen or used by lenders to assess your ability to obtain credit. The Society may use scoring methods to assess your application and to verify your identity. Credit searches and other information which is provided to the society and/or the credit reference agencies, about you and those with whom you are linked financially, may be used by the society and other companies, if you, or other members of your household, apply for other facilities including insurance applications and claims. Alternatively, the Society may ask you to provide physical forms of identification.

You have the right of access to your personal records held by the society and the credit and fraud agencies. Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you have the right to see and receive a copy of any personal information that the Society holds about you. The Society will charge an administration fee of £10 if you make a request to see your personal records. Further information is contained in our leaflet Your guide to data protection.