What ID you'll need to provide
You'll need to provide proof of your identity and proof of your address.
Each document can only be used for one purpose – for example, you can’t use your driving licence for both proof of identity and proof of address. We can only accept one document from the same provider.
We'll need one document from the Proof of identity section and one document from the Proof of address section.
Proof of identity
Proof of identity documents must be in your name, in date and show your full date of birth or full address. We accept:
- Passport (UK/Ireland)
- UK driving licence (full or provisional)
- Benefits confirmation letter
- HMRC tax notification letter
- Blue badge
- Armed Forces or Police ID Card
- Birth certificate (under 18s)
- Non UK or Ireland signed passport along with your share-code to evidence your right to remain in the UK
- EU/EEA member state ID photo card
- National identity card
- Identity card issued by the electoral office for Northern Ireland
- Current UK residence permit (issued by UK Visas and Immigration)
- Current firearms certificate or shotgun licence
Proof of address
Proof of address documents must be in your name, dated within the last six months unless a different date is shown below, and show your full address. We accept:
- Bank statement or certificate
- UK driving licence (full or provisional)
- Benefits confirmation letter
- Utility bill (including council tax)
- HMRC tax notification letter
- Care home letter or letter from a solicitor confirming the sale of a property or land
- The most recent original mortgage statement from a UK recognised lender within the last 12 months (internet/branch printed statements aren't acceptable)
- Signed Local Authority or Housing Association tenancy agreement confirming residency at the time of verification (private tenancy agreements aren't acceptable)
- Disclosure and Barring Certificate (must be the paper certificate)
How to get your documents certified
Copies of documents will need to be certified, which means a professional person has checked the originals and confirmed they’re genuine copies.
Who can certify:
- Solicitor or legal professional
- Chartered accountant / surveyor
- Civil aviation authority
- Merchant navy captain
- Teacher
- Bank / building society / post office official
- Judge / magistrate / civil servant
- Armed forces personnel
- Minister of religion / nun
- Vet / doctor / pharmacist / police officer
- Financial adviser
They'll need to:
- Write 'I confirm that I have seen the original document and certify this is a true copy' on the front.
- Sign and date each copy.
- Include their full name, job title, business address and phone number.
Opening an account for a child
If you want to open an account for a child who’s 15 or under, you must provide proof of the child’s identity. A signatory will need to manage the account and this must be a parent, relative or guardian.
The table below shows what’s needed to open the account - refer to the ‘What ID you'll need to provide’ section above for examples of acceptable documents:
| Scenario | Proof of identity for the signatory | Proof of address for the signatory | Proof of identity for the child | Proof of address for the child |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| If the signatory lives at the same address as the child. | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| If the signatory lives at a different address to the child. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
If you're a signatory and an existing customer, you may not need to provide proof of identity or address. If you're unable to provide the required documents for a child, please get in touch and we'll let you know about alternatives that may be acceptable.
Power of Attorney accounts
If you’re opening an account with a Power of Attorney, we need to confirm the identities of everyone involved, this means all Attorneys and the Donor, if they’re new to us. We also need to have registered the Power of Attorney at the same time.
We'll also need proof that the Attorney is allowed to act for and on behalf of the donor.
The names and addresses on their ID must match the Power of Attorney. You can show us the original document, or a certified copy of Power of Attorney. If the Donor can’t come to a branch, give us an extra proof of address for them.
If you have a general Power of Attorney that’s over two years old, please send us a short letter from the Donor confirming it’s still good to use.
Sending us your documents
If you're opening an account online
Follow the instructions on screen. We might ask for more information after you apply.
When uploading proof of your identity and proof your address online, please use PDF or JPEG files and show both the front and back of the document.
If you're opening an account in a branch
Bring one original proof of ID document and one original proof of address document along with you.
If you're opening an account by post
Send one proof of ID document and two proof of address documents. We don’t recommend posting originals. Please send certified copies instead.
If you're already a member, we usually won’t need more proof, but sometimes we may ask for extra documents.