What is a main bank account?

RG2015

I have just applied for a credit card and was asked for the sort code and account number of my main bank account. They further advised me that this was to help identify me.

I have two problems with this. First, that I have several bank accounts and don't know what criteria would apply to identify a main bank account.

And second, if I had to choose it would need to be the account I opened in 1983 which does not appear anywhere on my credit report because it pre-dates the Ts & Cs that allow banks to disclose my information. How can it help to identify me if the credit agencies cannot see it?

agrinnall

I doubt if there's any strict definition, I use the one that my salary is paid into but I'm sure one of my other accounts would be just as acceptable. If you tell them an account that isn't reported on then it won't help them to identify you and they'll need to obtain other information from you, so it might be best to tell them one that is reported.

[Deleted User]

It’s used later used to setup the DD with usually.

And it helps with identification

18cc

There is no criteria whatsoever in what defines a main bank account in fact the term is meaningless

RG2015

Thanks

It has also just struck me that the bank I am applying to will have no way of seeing the transactions on any of my existing accounts. Hence they could not know if it did comply with whatever (mythical) criteria that they may use.

enthusiasticsaver

I would not have thought it mattered but I would define a main bank account as the one a salary went into and bills came out of. Whether they could check that I don't know. I would use the one you will be paying the monthly payments from.

RG2015

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

I would not have thought it mattered but I would define a main bank account as the one a salary went into and bills came out of. Whether they could check that I don't know. I would use the one you will be paying the monthly payments from.

Interesting that you would say that. I already have a current account with one of the banks to which I was applying for a credit card.

They actually pre-populated the main current account with the details of my existing account with them despite me never using it!

maxximus75

It's just a way of matching it against your credit reports with account details and date openeded etc to identify you.

RG2015

maxximus75 wrote: »

It's just a way of matching it against your credit reports with account details and date openeded etc to identify you.

My main account is so old that it is not on my credit report. Therefore I need to lie and quote a non main account for it to be of any use.

agrinnall

RG2015 wrote: »

My main account is so old that it is not on my credit report. Therefore I need to lie and quote a non main account for it to be of any use.

But it's not a lie because there is no definition of "main account".

RG2015

agrinnall wrote: »

But it's not a lie because there is no definition of "main account".

Agreed, there is no definition. But what if one account has fifty transactions per month and the other has only one. Is it truthful to say the account with only one transaction is the main account?