Opening bank account for 13 year old son with limited ID

busymummyof2

My son has decided he wants a bank account with debit card but i am struggling to find one that we can open.  I have tried both the Natwest and Halifax and have been unable to open an account for my son due to no id.
He doesn't have a passport and i don't really want to pay for one at present as we are very unlikely to be going on holiday.
He has a northern Ireland birth certificate and despite it being part of the UK it is not accepted as ID. 
Does any one know of any banks or building societies that would accept his birth certificate, or even a prepaid card?

Thanks

xylophone

He has a northern Ireland birth certificate and despite it being part of the UK it is not accepted as ID. 

You have actually been told this by Natwest?

Is he back at school? Letter of introduction? See below.

https://personal.natwest.com/personal/current-accounts/adapt_account.html

https://personal.natwest.com/personal/current-accounts/what-do-you-need-to-open-a-current-account.html

To be accepted, the following criteria must be met:

 

Be for an existing pupil of the school providing the letter

Be addressed to the Bank on headed paper or stamped by the school

Match the name on the application exactly

Match the date of birth on the application/request and be for a customer who is 18 years old or under.

Match the address the application

Be issued by a known school

 

Please note that one letter is sufficient to cover both proof of identity and proof of address for the same application.

colsten

If all else fails, he could try Ulster Bank NI. They are bound to accept an NI birth certificate. They are essentially the same as Natwest and RBS. I have never been to Northern Ireland but have held an account with them for a few years. Just last week, I opened a current account with them - all done in a jiffy. Though they were able to verify my ID online. For your son, it would take a little longer as he'd have to send proof of ID per post.

https://digital.ulsterbank.co.uk/personal/young-people/adapt-teenage-current-account.html

jonesMUFCforever

OP which bank are you with?
Do they have an account which would be suitable for your son?

busymummyof2

Thanks for your replies.
Yes I went into Natwest a few years ago to try to open him an account and couldn't, opened one for my daughter (with an English birth certificate) no problem.  I bank with Natwest and more recently first direct, I don't think first direct have a children's account but will look.
I applied for and emailed copies of his id to Santander yesterday, if that account doesn't get opened I'll look at getting a letter from his school or possibly using Ulster bank.

busymummyof2

Quick update; I've manged to open him a Santander account online, i simply scanned his birth certificate and my driving license and attached them to the application.  

jonesMUFCforever

busymummyof2 said:

Quick update; I've manged to open him a Santander account online, i simply scanned his birth certificate and my driving license and attached them to the application.  

Don't celebrate too soon. If you are not a Santander customer they might come back to you wanting more information and ID - for example Lloyds need ID and proof of address (2 separate docs) and for you to complete aform confirming that your son lives with you at your address as well as the child's ID.