How can my elderly father open a new savings account without any photo ID?

CallieRose

My father has recently sold his property and moved in with me. He is trying to invest his capital in fixed rate bonds but is having terrible trouble opening new bank accounts as he needs to submit photographic ID and proof of address. Being 91 years old he no longer drives or travels abroad so does not have a driving licence or passport and together with having limited paperwork showing his new address he is being repeatedly turned down when he tries to invest his money.

There must be other people in this situation, does anyone have any advice as to how we can get around this problem?

Thank you.

SandraX

Take a picture and get a solicitor to verify it or doc could possible do and send it electronically and hard copy if required.

Robin9

Apply for a bus pass first

SandraX

ture, bus pass or Blue badge

dealer_wins

Apply for a passport, its free for him!!

dunstonh

Most banks require a photo ID as a first level identification. If that cannot be provided then two second level ID documents can be use (utility bill, council tax etc). Many banks use online verification. So, this may not be an issue at all.

Zanderman

Have come across the same problem for my elderly mum - no passport, no driving licence and recently moved, just to confuse matters further.

But it does vary with bank to bank. And on what you want to open.

I've yet to start with some of them - stashing the house sale proceeds is a new year project for me! - so it will be interesting to see how things work.

One recent one I tried and failed to solve was Revolut - I simply wanted a prepaid debit card for her - but their app registration needs a passport or d licence - I reached that impasse and decided to just gave up with them. I chose another card instead.

libra10

Sometimes a recent letter from Pensions office can help.

I recently wanted to open a fixed-rate bond with YBS. My husband has an account with them, I have had accounts with them in the past but no current driving licence or passport. I had taken current council tax bill, utility bill, bank statement etc but the assistant wouldn't budge!

We took the cheque to the Co-op (who were offering a slightly better rate of interest), and ID was electronically validated, with no problems at all.

Good luck

CallieRose

Thank you everyone for your advice, every bank has different criteria so that gives us a few options to try.

jamets

If it helps, I recently applied for a Barclays account online and it didn't require photo ID - just the usual questions to verify your identity based on credit report information. Obviously this will only work if there is any financial information over the last 6 years for them - use the free MSE credit club to check before applying.

Vortigern

Add father to the register of electors (electoral roll) at your address. No need to wait for the annual form to come, contact the council now.

Ensure father has paper statements from his current bank delivered to his new address. Advise the pension service and HMRC of his new address and keep their replies.

He could transfer his free TV licence to your address, but some banks will not accept TV licences, Bus Passes and Blue Badges because "they're not on our list"

Applying for a free passport is a great idea, if you can find somebody qualified to certify the photo.

ETA: If father is still mentally competent, he should give you power of attorney. It doesn't make opening new accounts any easier, but you'll be able to operate the accounts for him, when he's no longer able to do so.