Help needed with opening new account please!

jmd355

Hi,

I have a young friend who is only 21years old and she is in the process of reclaiming her bank charges from Nationwide. Today she has been to Natwest to open a parachute account only to be told that, as she doesn't have a passport or a driving licence, they won't open the account for her, this would seem to be the same for most High Street banks. Can anyone suggest anywhere that she can go to open a new account that won't need a driving licence or passport as proof of ID please?

Thanks

Edinburghlass_2

I'll move your post over to the Budgeting and Current Account board for more help.

Voyager2002

jmd355 wrote:

I have a young friend who is only 21years old and she is in the process of reclaiming her bank charges from Nationwide. Today she has been to Natwest to open a parachute account only to be told that, as she doesn't have a passport or a driving licence, they won't open the account for her, this would seem to be the same for most High Street banks. Can anyone suggest anywhere that she can go to open a new account that won't need a driving licence or passport as proof of ID please?

The rules about proving your identity are laid down in the law, and so will be the same for all banks and financial institutions. However, some places are better at staff training than others, so while you may be fobbed off with the lazy answer (passport or driving license), more professional staff, or even staff who are not very busy, are more likely to show you the complete list of documents that are acceptable as identification. This list includes official documents like a Notice of Coding from the Inland Revenue, as well as certain documents issues by the DSS, so it is probable that your friend will have something that meets the requirement.

However, there is no chance at all of being able to open an account without providing acceptable proof of identity.