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Paying in large amounts of cash

What are high street banks policies regarding paying in large amounts of cash, say 10k plus?

Here's a ridiculous example. A mystery man wins the lottery and gives out 20k in cash to the first person he passes in the street, just for the hell of it. This lucky winner takes this money straight to the bank to try and pay it in.

Now because this person has no proof of where the money came from, and can't get any proof, will they just refuse to accept it due to their anti money laundering policies? If so, does the lucky winner just have to stash the cash under his mattress until he spends it all? What if he spreads it out and pays in 500 quid a month over the next 40 weeks?
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Comments

  • EssexExile
    EssexExile Posts: 6,496 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I've been paid £6000 for a car & had no problem, was while ago though before "money laundering" became a thing.
    Tall, dark & handsome. Well two out of three ain't bad.
  • System
    System Posts: 178,374 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    If it's HSBC:

    You'll need proof for any cash over £20 as they will presume you're a Colombian Drug Lord otherwise.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • henm2
    henm2 Posts: 723 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    The answer is don't give cash. Transfer it to the other person's account electronically. That way even HSBC won't give the recipient any hassle.
  • chambta
    chambta Posts: 2,770 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    You will be asked a question in all likelihood and you can offer an answer of some sort. If I wasn't doing anything illegal I wouldn't be concerned personally.
  • I've paid £4000 in before no questions asked. It was harder getting £1000 out recently.. Got a grilling.
  • Krash420
    Krash420 Posts: 151 Forumite
    A couple of solutions:
    1. If you have multiple accounts, just split it between them
    2. If you don't pay in some at a time, say 5k one month, 5k the next, etc...
    3. Declare it as a gift from someone, and I think you should be ok with that, but not 100% sure
    4. When paying off credit cards, instead switch to paying cash. Use this money
    5. Open Metro account, they're least likely to ask I think

    I should note that we've paid in large sums like this into normal accounts in the past, so you should just be able to put it in without worry. In terms of money laundering, we all assume you got the money legally, maybe from an abroad investment or something... How on earth are the banks going to know if its from that or the £100's you've withdrawn from their bank accounts over the last many years accumulated to that sum ;)

    Also if yo u have a Paying In book then you can deposit the money for some accounts in a Post Office as well which may avoid questions...

    Caveat: I assume the source of your money is legal ;)
  • GingerBob_3
    GingerBob_3 Posts: 3,659 Forumite
    I've paid £4000 in before no questions asked. It was harder getting £1000 out recently.. Got a grilling.


    Really? Why was that, and what did they ask? Sounds completely over the top.
  • jimjames
    jimjames Posts: 18,884 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Paid in £10,000 before with no problems. Other than the fear of being mugged walking down the street.
    Remember the saying: if it looks too good to be true it almost certainly is.
  • lisa110rry
    lisa110rry Posts: 1,794 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Mortgage-free Glee!
    I've paid in £1100 in cash in the past year, no problem (purchased some building materials on line for a friend, he repaid me in cash).
    “And all shall be well. And all shall be well. And all manner of things shall be exceeding well.”
    ― Julian of Norwich
    In other words, Don't Panic!
  • CKhalvashi
    CKhalvashi Posts: 12,134 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    henm2 wrote: »
    The answer is don't give cash. Transfer it to the other person's account electronically. That way even HSBC won't give the recipient any hassle.

    I transferred £40k from one of the company accounts to my personal account and got grilled by HSBC on the phone, despite it coming from an account that I have access to, to an account I have access.

    Don't be surprised if you get something similar.
    💙💛 💔
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