What you will need to open an account

We may need to carry out identification and verification checks on any person who owns or controls more than a certain percentage of business shares or voting rights (usually 25%), as well as anyone else who will be authorised to operate your account.

You will usually need to show us two separate, valid original documents – one to prove your identity and one to prove your address. In some cases, one document may be acceptable or we may be able to get hold of this information electronically.

One document to prove your identity
You can choose one document from:

• full and valid UK or foreign passport;
• national identity photo card (EEA or equivalent);
• full UK paper driving licence; or
• full UK or foreign photo card driving licence issued by a member state of the EU or EEA.

One document to prove your address in the UK
You can choose one document from the following:

• full UK paper driving licence; or
• full UK or foreign photo card driving licence issued by a member state of the EU or EEA.
• bank or credit-card statement. (This must be less than six months old and can be printed from the internet. This includes EU banks and those in certain non EU countries)
• mortgage statement. (This must be less than 12 months old and can be printed from the internet. This includes EU banks and those in certain non EU countries)
• Council Tax bill (or rates bill in Northern Ireland). (This must be less than 12 months old and can be printed from the internet.)
• utility bills, including contract mobile phone bills and broadband and internet providers (This must be less than six months old and can be printed from the internet.).

For limited companies you may also be asked to provide the following (where applicable):

Certificate of incorporation
Companies House registration documents

For example, articles of association.

Registration forms
If any of your directors, members or the company secretary have been appointed recently, you will need to provide copies of the forms registering their appointment.

Evidence of the company trading address

If you do not have any of the items listed here we may be able to accept other items. Just ask a member of our branch staff or call 0800 056 0056.

Depending on the identification documents that you provide, we may be able to get some of the following information ourselves.

Business name
This is the legal name that you gave your business when you started. If your business uses a different name, we will need to know that as well.
For example, your legal name may be registered with Companies House as ‘Joe’s Barbers Limited’, yet also trade on the high street simply as ‘Joe’s’.

Business start date
The date your business started, or plans to start, trading.
We will want to know the date you started operating so we can find out about your banking activity so far.

Company registration number
You can find your company registration number on your certificate of incorporation, or any other documents or official letters issued to you by Companies House.

Date of incorporation
The date on which your company was formally registered or incorporated by Companies House if in the UK.

Country of incorporation
The country in which your company was formally registered or incorporated, if not the UK.

Business address
This is where your business operates from. It could be your home address, or the address of an office you rent or own.

Business correspondence address
This is the address where you would like us to send any correspondence. It may be the same as your business address.

Registered address
The address at which your business is registered at Companies House or any other body. We will need to carry out various credit checks and other searches so it is important we have your current business and registered address so we can identify you correctly and not confuse you with any other business of a similar name.

Contact details
Your personal and business email address, phone number and any other methods in which you would like us to contact you.

Previous banking details
Details of any existing banking accounts you hold. This will help us understand the information that will be needed if you are switching your business account from another bank.

• If you already have a personal account with us, we may want to look at the way it has been run when considering your application.
• If you are switching an existing business account from another bank, we may ask to see your most recent bank statements and financial accounts to see how your business has been operating.
• We will also want to know if you want to transfer the old account or leave it open

Main business activity
A description of your main business activity and any products and services you offer, as well as details of what the account will be used for.
There are some industries where we will need to understand in greater detail the nature of your business, as they are more complicated.
If your business is one of the sectors regulated by a UK professional body, for example, solicitors and estate agents, we will ask if you hold the licences you need to trade and will want details of your licence names and numbers.

Number of employees
A breakdown of how many employees you have and their employment status.
We may want to know how many people work for your business in any capacity. This includes full-time, part-time or non-contract workers.

For any businesses who trade with customers and suppliers outside the UK
A breakdown including:

• the countries they are based in; and
• the rough share of business turnover or the amounts per customer or supplier.

This could also include activity using e-traders – for example, if you use Amazon or eBay for business purposes – that involves payment either into or out of the UK.

Business investment
The amount of funds you have invested – or plan to invest – in your business.
For existing businesses, this will cover what you have invested in your business over the past five years. This includes cash funds or investments in other major assets, such as property or large-scale equipment.
For new businesses, we will want to know the source of your funds and, if they will be paid into your account, how much from each source. Banks have to understand this information to meet regulations relating to financial crime.

Expected turnover
An estimation of how much money your business expects to receive from business trading over the next 12 months.
You will have to provide an estimated figure, which could be based on your previous year’s turnover (if this applies), your business plan for the coming year (if you have one), or your realistic estimate.

How much money you expect to pay into your account
An estimate of how much money you expect to be paying into your account over the next 12 months, the way you plan to do it (for example, in cash, cheques or electronic payments, and in what currencies, if not sterling) and how often you expect the payments into your account to be.
This is needed because banks need to monitor expected activity versus actual activity to highlight any unusual activity on your account.

Your tax status
We will have to find out the tax status of you or your business and so may ask for more tax information if necessary. This may also include the tax identification number.
If you are a limited company you will have a ‘unique tax reference’ number (UTR).
Depending on the information you give and your type of business, we may have to report your tax status to the relevant tax authorities.

Sources of income
We will want to know where your income comes from.
For example, what percentage of your income comes from selling goods and services, or from other sources such as subscriptions, donations, royalties and interest?

As a Limited company, your chosen bank will ask for details of your shareholding or voting arrangements. If your business is owned by a company or partnership, the bank will ask for information on their country of incorporation or registration. You will need to provide the following information for each of your business’ owners, directors or partners:

Preferred title
For example, Mr, Mrs, Ms, Mx.

Legal name
As well as any previous names.

Date of birth

Nationality
Including any dual nationalities. You can find this information on your passport.

Citizenship
The country in which you are registered as a citizen.

Country of residence
The country where you have usually lived for the last three years.

Country and place of birth

Current home address

Date you moved to your current address
If you have lived in your current address for less than three years, you will also be asked to provide details of any previous addresses you’ve held during this period.
We will carry out various credit checks and other searches on you, so knowing your address and any previous addresses plays an important part in helping us identify you and confirm your identity.

Authorised account users
Details of anyone who will have the authority to operate your account on your behalf, including their:

• legal name;
• home address;
• date of birth; and
• nationality (including dual nationalities).

As well as needing information on your business’ owners, directors and partners, we will also need to know the information and ID and verification of any other people who will be involved in operating your account or controlling your business. This is needed to make sure your account operates smoothly and to meet regulatory requirements.

We may need to carry out identification and verification checks on any person who owns or controls more than a certain percentage of business shares or voting rights (usually 25%), as well as anyone else who will be authorised to operate your account.
You will usually need to show us two separate, valid original documents – one to prove your identity and one to prove your address. In some cases, one document may be acceptable or we may be able to get hold of this information electronically.

One document to prove your identity
You can choose one document from:

• full and valid UK or foreign passport;
• national identity photo card (EEA or equivalent);
• full UK paper driving licence; or
• full UK or foreign photo card driving licence issued by a member state of the EU or EEA.

One document to prove your address in the UK
You can choose one document from the following:

• full UK paper driving licence; or
• full UK or foreign photo card driving licence issued by a member state of the EU or EEA.
• bank or credit-card statement. (This must be less than six months old and can be printed from the internet. This includes EU banks and those in certain non EU countries)
• mortgage statement. (This must be less than 12 months old and can be printed from the internet. This includes EU banks and those in certain non EU countries)
• Council Tax bill (or rates bill in Northern Ireland). (This must be less than 12 months old and can be printed from the internet.)
• utility bills, including contract mobile phone bills and broadband and internet providers (This must be less than six months old and can be printed from the internet.).

For partnerships you may also be asked to provide the following (where applicable):

• Partnership agreement
• Contract of co-partners
• Certificate of formation
• Evidence of the partnership trading address

If you do not have any of the items listed here we may be able to accept other items. Just ask a member of our branch staff or call 0800 056 0056.

Depending on the identification documents that you provide, we may be able to get some of the following information ourselves.

Business name
This is the legal name that you gave your business when you started. If your business uses a different name, we will need to know that as well.
For example, your legal name may be ‘Joe’s Barbers’, but it may trade on the high street simply as ‘Joe’s’.

Business start date
The date your business started, or plans to start, trading. We will need to know the date you started operating so they can find out about your banking activity so far.

Date of formation
The date on which your partnership formally began.

Country of formation
The country in which your partnership formally began, if not the UK.

Business address
This is where your business operates from. It could be your home address, or the address of an office you rent or own. We will need to carry out various credit checks and other searches so it is important we have your current business address so we can identify you correctly and not confuse you with any other business of a similar name.

Business correspondence address
This is the address where you would like us to send any correspondence. It may be the same as your business address.

Contact details
Your personal and business email address, phone number and any other methods in which you would like us to contact you.

Previous banking details
Details of any existing banking accounts you hold. This will help us understand the information that will be needed if you are switching your business account from another bank.

• If you already have a personal account with us, we may want to look at the way it has been run when considering your application.
• If you are switching an existing business account from another bank, we may ask to see your most recent bank statements and financial accounts to see how your business has been operating.
• We will also want to know if you want to transfer the old account or leave it open.

Main business activity
A description of your main business activity and any products and services you offer, as well as details of what the account will be used for.
There are some industries where we will need to understand in greater detail the nature of your business, as they are more complicated.
If your business is one of the sectors regulated by a UK professional body, for example, solicitors and estate agents, we will ask if you hold the licences you need to trade and will want details of your licence names and numbers.

Number of employees
A breakdown of how many employees you have and their employment status.
We may want to know how many people work for your business in any capacity. This includes full-time, part-time or non-contract workers.

For any businesses who trade with customers and suppliers outside the UK
A breakdown including:

• the countries they are based in; and
• the rough share of business turnover or the amounts per customer or supplier.

This could also include activity using e-traders – for example, if you use Amazon or eBay for business purposes – that involves payment either into or out of the UK.

Business investment
The amount of funds you have invested – or plan to invest – in your business.
For existing businesses, this will cover what you have invested in your business over the past five years. This includes cash funds or investments in other major assets, such as property or large-scale equipment.
For new businesses, we will want to know the source of your funds and, if they will be paid into your account, how much from each source. Banks have to understand this information to meet regulations relating to financial crime.

Expected turnover
An estimation of how much money your business expects to receive from business trading over the next 12 months.
You will have to provide an estimated figure, which could be based on your previous year’s turnover (if this applies), your business plan for the coming year (if you have one), or your realistic estimate.

How much money you expect to pay into your account
An estimate of how much money you expect to be paying into your account over the next 12 months, the way you plan to do it (for example, in cash, cheques or electronic payments, and in what currencies, if not sterling) and how often you expect the payments into your account to be.
This is needed because banks need to monitor expected activity versus actual activity to highlight any unusual activity on your account.

Your tax status
We will have to find out the tax status of you or your business and so may ask for more tax information if necessary. This may also include the tax identification number.
If you are a partnership, you will have a ‘unique tax reference’ number (UTR).
Depending on the information you give and your type of business, we may have to report your tax status to the relevant tax authorities.

Sources of income
We will want to know where your income comes from.
For example, what percentage of your income comes from selling goods and services, or from other sources such as subscriptions, donations, royalties and interest?

If your business is owned by a company or partnership, we will ask for information on their country of incorporation or registration.
You will need to provide the following information for each of your business’ owners, directors or partners.

Preferred title
For example, Mr, Mrs, Ms, Mx.

Legal name
As well as any previous names.

Date of birth

Nationality
Including any dual nationalities. You can find this information on your passport.

Citizenship
The country in which you are registered as a citizen.

Country of residence
The country where you have usually lived for the last three years.

Country and place of birth

Current home address

Date you moved to your current address
If you have lived in your current address for less than three years, you will also be asked to provide details of any previous addresses you’ve held during this period.
We will carry out various credit checks and other searches on you, so knowing your address and any previous addresses plays an important part in helping us identify you and confirm your identity.

Authorised account users
Details of anyone who will have the authority to operate your account on your behalf, including their:

• legal name;
• home address;
• date of birth; and
• nationality (including dual nationalities).

As well as needing information on your business’ owners, directors and partners, we will also need to know the information and ID and verification of any other people who will be involved in operating your account or controlling your business. This is needed to make sure your account operates smoothly and to meet regulatory requirements.

We may need to carry out identification and verification checks on any person who will be authorised to operate your account.

You will usually need to show us two separate, valid original documents – one to prove your identity and one to prove your address. In some cases, one document may be acceptable or we may be able to get hold of this information electronically.

One document to prove your identity

You can choose one document from:

• full and valid UK or foreign passport;
• national identity photo card (EEA or equivalent);
• full UK paper driving licence; or
• full UK or foreign photo card driving licence issued by a member state of the EU or EEA.

One document to prove your address in the UK

You can choose one document from the following:

• full UK paper driving licence; or
• full UK or foreign photo card driving licence issued by a member state of the EU or EEA.
• bank or credit-card statement. (This must be less than six months old and can be printed from the internet. This includes EU banks and those in certain non EU countries)
• mortgage statement. (This must be less than 12 months old and can be printed from the internet. This includes EU banks and those in certain non EU countries)
• Council Tax bill (or rates bill in Northern Ireland). (This must be less than 12 months old and can be printed from the internet.)
• utility bills, including contract mobile phone bills and broadband and internet providers (This must be less than six months old and can be printed from the internet.).

For clubs and societies you may also be asked to provide the following (where applicable):

Appropriate formation document
This can be a charter, constitution, terms of membership, agreement documents or equivalent

If you do not have any of the items listed here we may be able to accept other items. Just ask a member of our branch staff or call 0800 056 0056.

Depending on the identification documents that you provide, we may be able to get some of the following information ourselves.

Organisation name
This is the legal name that you gave your organisation when you started. If your organisation used to have a different name, we will need to know that as well.
For example your organisation may be officially ‘Joe’s Barbershop Quartet’ but also known as ‘Joe’s Group’.

Organisation start date
The date your organisation started, or plans to start.
We will need to know the date you started operating so we can find out about your banking activity so far.

Organisation address
This is where your organisation operates from. It could be your home address, or the address of an office you rent or own.
We will need to carry out various credit checks and other searches so it is important we have your current organisation address so we can identify you correctly and not confuse you with any other organisation of a similar name.

Organisation correspondence address
This is the address where you would like us to send any correspondence. It may be the same as your organisation address.

Contact details
Your personal and organisation email address, phone number and any other methods in which you would like us to contact you.

Previous banking details
Details of any existing banking accounts you hold. This will help us understand the information that will be needed if you are switching your business account from another bank.

• If you already have a personal account with us, we may want to look at the way it has been run when considering your application.
• If you are switching an existing business account from another bank, we may ask to see your most recent bank statements and financial accounts to see how your organisation has been operating.
• We will also want to know if you want to transfer the old account or leave it open.

Main organisation activity
A description of your main activity, as well as details of what the account will be used for.

Number of employees
A breakdown of how many employees you have and their employment status.
We may want to know how many people work for your organisation in any capacity. This includes full-time, part-time or non-contract workers.

For any organisation who engage in activity outside the UK
A breakdown including:

• the countries they are based in; and
• the rough share of organisation turnover for these countries
  This could also include activity using e-traders – for example, if you use Amazon or eBay for organisation purposes – that involves payment either into or out of the UK.
  

Organisation investment
The amount of funds you have invested – or plan to invest – in your organisation.
For existing organisations, this will cover what you have invested in your organisation over the past five years. This includes cash funds or investments in other major assets, such as property or large-scale equipment.
For new organisations, we will want to know the source of your funds and, if they will be paid into your account, how much from each source. Banks have to understand this information to meet regulations relating to financial crime.

Expected turnover
An estimation of how much money your organisation expects to receive from organisation trading over the next 12 months.
You will have to provide an estimated figure, which could be based on your previous year’s turnover (if this applies), your business plan for the coming year (if you have one), or your realistic estimate.

How much money you expect to pay into your account
An estimate of how much money you expect to be paying into your account over the next 12 months, the way you plan to do it (for example, in cash, cheques or electronic payments, and in what currencies, if not sterling) and how often you expect the payments into your account to be.
This is needed because banks need to monitor expected activity versus actual activity to highlight any unusual activity on your account.

Sources of income
We will want to know where your income comes from.
For example, what percentage of your income comes from subscriptions, donations, royalties and interest?

You will need to provide the following information for each of your officers e.g. chair, finance person \ treasurer, secretary.

Preferred title
For example, Mr, Mrs, Ms, Mx

Legal name
As well as any previous names.

Date of birth

Nationality
Including any dual nationalities. You can find this information on your passport.

Citizenship
The country in which you are registered as a citizen.

Country of residence
The country where you have usually lived for the last three years

Country and place of birth

Current home address

Date you moved to your current address
If you have lived in your current address for less than three years, you will also be asked to provide details of any previous addresses you’ve held during this period.
We will carry out various credit checks and other searches on you, so knowing your address and any previous addresses plays an important part in helping us identify you and confirm your identity.

Beneficiaries of the Organisation (where applicable)
Details of any named individual or groups of individuals (e.g. Under 5’s in the local area) who may benefit from the organisation’s activities

Authorised account users
Details of anyone who will have the authority to operate your account on your behalf, including their:

• legal name;
• home address;
• date of birth; and
• nationality (including dual nationalities).

As well as needing information on your organisation’s directors, we will also need to know the information and ID and verification of any other people who will be involved in operating your account or controlling your organisation. This is needed to make sure your account operates smoothly and to meet regulatory requirements.

We may need to carry out identification and verification checks on any person who owns or controls more than a certain percentage of charity shares or voting rights (usually 25%), as well as anyone else who will be authorised to operate your account.

You will usually need to show us two separate, valid original documents – one to prove your identity and one to prove your address. In some cases, one document may be acceptable or we may be able to get hold of this information electronically.

One document to prove your identity

You can choose one document from:

• full and valid UK or foreign passport;
• national identity photo card (EEA or equivalent);
• full UK paper driving licence; or
• full UK or foreign photo card driving licence issued by a member state of the EU or EEA.

One document to prove your address in the UK

You can choose one document from the following:

• full UK paper driving licence; or
• full UK or foreign photo card driving licence issued by a member state of the EU or EEA.
• bank or credit-card statement. (This must be less than six months old and can be printed from the internet. This includes EU banks and those in certain non EU countries)
• mortgage statement. (This must be less than 12 months old and can be printed from the internet. This includes EU banks and those in certain non EU countries)
• Council Tax bill (or rates bill in Northern Ireland). (This must be less than 12 months old and can be printed from the internet.)
• utility bills, including contract mobile phone bills and broadband and internet providers (This must be less than six months old and can be printed from the internet.).

For charities you may also be asked to provide the following (where applicable):

• Governing document of the Charity
• Registered Charity number (where registered)
• Certificate of incorporation if being opened as a Limited Company Charity
• Trust Deed if being opened as a Charitable Trust

If you do not have any of the items listed here we may be able to accept other items. Just ask a member of our branch staff or call 0800 056 0056.

Depending on the identification documents that you provide, we may be able to get some of the following information ourselves.

Charity name
This is the legal name that you gave your Charity when you started. If your Charity used to have a different name, we will need to know that as well. For example your Charity may be officially ‘Joe’s Memorial Trust’ but also known as ‘Joe’s Trust’.

Charity start date
The date your Charity started, or plans to start.
We will need to know the date you started operating so we can find out about your banking activity so far.

Charity address
This is where your Charity operates from. It could be your home address, or the address of an office you rent or own.
We will need to carry out various credit checks and other searches so it is important we have your current Charity address so we can identify you correctly and not confuse you with any other Charity of a similar name.

Charity correspondence address
This is the address where you would like us to send any correspondence. It may be the same as your Charity address.

Contact details
Your personal and Charity email address, phone number and any other methods in which you would like us to contact you.

Previous banking details
Details of any existing banking accounts you hold. This will help us understand the information that will be needed if you are switching your business account from another bank.

• If you already have a personal account with us, we may want to look at the way it has been run when considering your application.
• If you are switching an existing business account from another bank, we may ask to see your most recent bank statements and financial accounts to see how your Charity has been operating.
• We will also want to know if you want to transfer the old account or leave it open.

Main Charity activity
A description of your main Charity activity as details of what the account will be used for.

Number of employees
A breakdown of how many people work for your Charity in any capacity. This includes full-time, part-time or non-contract workers.

For any Charities who engage in activity outside the UK
A breakdown including:

• the countries they are based in; and
• the rough share of Charity turnover for these countries

This could also include activity using e-traders – for example, if you use Amazon or eBay for Charity purposes – that involves payment either into or out of the UK.

Charity investment
The amount of funds you have invested – or plan to invest – in your Charity .
For existing Charities , this will cover what you have invested in your Charity over the past five years. This includes cash funds or investments in other major assets, such as property or large-scale equipment.
For new Charities , we will want to know the source of your funds and, if they will be paid into your account, how much from each source. Banks have to understand this information to meet regulations relating to financial crime.

Expected turnover
An estimation of how much money your Charity expects to receive from Charity activity over the next 12 months.
You will have to provide an estimated figure, which could be based on your previous year’s turnover (if this applies), your business plan for the coming year (if you have one), or your realistic estimate.

How much money you expect to pay into your account
An estimate of how much money you expect to be paying into your account over the next 12 months, the way you plan to do it (for example, in cash, cheques or electronic payments, and in what currencies, if not sterling) and how often you expect the payments into your account to be.
This is needed because banks need to monitor expected activity versus actual activity to highlight any unusual activity on your account.

Sources of income
We will want to know where your income comes from.
For example, what percentage of your income comes from subscriptions, donations, royalties and interest?

You will need to provide the following information for each of your officers e.g. chair, finance person \ treasurer, secretary.

Preferred title
For example, Mr, Mrs, Ms, Mx.

Legal name
As well as any previous names.

Date of birth

Nationality
Including any dual nationalities. You can find this information on your passport.

Citizenship
The country in which you are registered as a citizen.

Country of residence
The country where you have usually lived for the last three years.

Country and place of birth

Current home address

Date you moved to your current address
If you have lived in your current address for less than three years, you will also be asked to provide details of any previous addresses you’ve held during this period.
We will carry out various credit checks and other searches on you, so knowing your address and any previous addresses plays an important part in helping us identify you and confirm your identity.

Beneficiaries
Details of any named individual or groups of individuals (e.g. Under 5’s in the local area) who may benefit from the charity’s activities including:

• Names and country of location
• Who controls the charity
• Who/what will benefit

Authorised account users
Details of anyone who will have the authority to operate your account on your behalf, including their:

• legal name;
• home address;
• date of birth; and
• nationality (including dual nationalities).

As well as needing information on your Charity's directors, we will also need to know the information and ID and verification of any other people who will be involved in operating your account or controlling your Charity . This is needed to make sure your account operates smoothly and to meet regulatory requirements.