Bank Account Records

BillGem

I have an urgent requirement to prove that a cheque  was written and paid out in 1996 -- do banks actually keep such records even if they imply they don't ?

MovingForwards

Probably not, they only have to keep it for 6 years.

BillGem

Thanks 
But I suspect that there are all sorts of reasons, relating to tax purposes etc for statutory purposes etc , but banks do keep information about accounts etc -- for instance when first opened etc .Hence my question ,in the hope that they do ?

eskbanker

It'll be fairly well defined how long banks need to keep records for tax/statutory purposes (typically seven years), and they'll inevitably have opening date as a data attribute of the account itself, but low-level transactional detail from 24 years ago is extremely unlikely to be retained!  I think that, especially since GDPR, banks are obliged to publish their data retention policies, so check the website of the one you're thinking of, typically under 'privacy'....

https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/systems-information/retention-schedule.pdf

jonesMUFCforever

You may be able to get a copy statement but this will only show the cheque number, date and amount it was debited to account.
This will not prove who the cheque was paid to - unfortunately.

BillGem

Thanks guys --even though it looks as though it will be a non runner ,though even a reference to a cheque for a particular amount ,on a particular date would be useful.

jonesMUFCforever

BillGem said:

Thanks guys --even though it looks as though it will be a non runner ,though even a reference to a cheque for a particular amount ,on a particular date would be useful.

Assuming you have some legal dispute here - you take the statement to court - the first thing the other side would ask is - what is this? Can you prove that? -- Of course you can't with any certainty - so you would lose your case.
Even getting a copy statement after 24 years might be impossible.