Opening an account for a vulnerable person with CIFAS Marker

JustME_3-2

Hi there,

A bit of background, I am a support worker for a women's DV/SV organisation. I am current working with a young person who has been a victim of several grooming gangs and within that abuse this person's bank account (HSBC) was used for money laundering by the perpetrators and the account was closed down.

We are in the process of trying to set up a new account. So far Santandar and Nationwide have rejected the application and they are in desperate need of a bank account so they can receive benefits and financial support. I am assuming that this person has a CIFAS marker attached to them hence not being able to open an account anywhere.

So, some questions,

1. IN the short term, are they any bank accounts that people in a similar situation (CIFAS MARKER) have been successful in opening an account with?

2. Long-term, is there a process we can go through to have the CIFAS marker removed?



Thank you!

18cc

You could try applying for a prepaid bank account

in terms of getting the Marker removed you will need to apply to the court. To do this first ask cfias to tell you who put the marker on and then contact that organisation and ask them to remove it because the person is vulnerable

if they refuse then apply to the court for it to be removed I believe this is a matter of filling in a form

xylophone

I am assuming that this person has a CIFAS marker attached to them

Check the exact situation.

Have you and the young person actually made an appointment to see a senior person at the bank to discuss the situation?

Do you have a Co-op Bank nearby? If so, perhaps the Cashminder account might be a possibility?

anniecave

Ensure the application is for a "basic" bank account, with no overdraft required. The mainstream ones (with perks) are likely to be credit scored.

Mr.Saver

Since she has been declined a Nationwide current account, she should be eligible for a Nationwide FlexBasic account

FlexBasic is only for those who’ve been made bankrupt or who aren’t eligible for any of our other current accounts.

pmduk

Mr.Saver wrote: »

Since she has been declined a Nationwide current account, she should be eligible for a Nationwide FlexBasic account

It would depend on the reason for the decline if there is a CIFAS marker I doubt Nationwide will consider any accounts I'm afraid.