How to get a bank account with no photo ID?

mrsplinter

For a basic bank account, HSBC accepts a letter from someone in a position of authority as proof of identity. It might help for the letter to include a photograph. Details below, you/he would need to go into a branch though:

Letter from a person in a position of responsibility that confirms your full name (dated within the last four months and must include the name of the firm or individual with the address and telephone number of issuer). examples include: • Hostel Manager • Social Worker • Armed service officer • Minister of Religion • General Practitioner.

jonesMUFCforever

My second post on here at 6.19 yesterday evening explains 100% what the Lloyds banking group will accept and easy to get at no cost.

Katiehound

There are a couple of photgraphic identity cards that he could get- some are accredited by the Home Office & NPCC under the PASS banner. some are regional & some national such as the Citizencard.
I remember a friend had to get one to fly to N.Ireland as verification for a flight (she had no passport or driving licence)
More details here:
https://www.pass-scheme.org.uk/card-suppliers/
hope that helps- might be useful for more than a bank a/c

Citizencard is £15- however provided free for some vulnerable people. Might be worth contacting them.

jonesMUFCforever

Katiehound said:

There are a couple of photgraphic identity cards that he could get- some are accredited by the Home Office & NPCC under the PASS banner. some are regional & some national such as the Citizencard.
I remember a friend had to get one to fly to N.Ireland as verification for a flight (she had no passport or driving licence)
More details here:
https://www.pass-scheme.org.uk/card-suppliers/
hope that helps- might be useful for more than a bank a/c

Citizencard is £15- however provided free for some vulnerable people. Might be worth contacting them.

This is not acceptable as bank identification.

cymruchris

HSBC now offer accounts for people without photo ID that are homeless - so if they can do that - they should be able to help you and your son achieve a basic bank account (He's obviously not homeless - but shows they can be flexible)

https://www.about.hsbc.co.uk/news-and-media/hsbc-uk-doubles-availability-of-accounts-to-help-homeless-people-get-access-to-banking

colsten

jsmith9 said:

Sorry, I was not clear @born_again. What I meant was the bank has to treat everyone fairly and take account of any special needs. They must make efforts to assist vulnerable people, which to be fair they may have done, hence my question about exactly what did the bank say. What they are not supposed to do is just say 'no' without considering the needs of the potential customer.

How are the bank to know that your son has special needs that prevent him from being able to prove who he is with a photo ID? "Because I told them so" is not a valid answer because you haven't provided them with proof for such an assertion.

born_again

jsmith9 said:

Sorry, I was not clear @born_again. What I meant was the bank has to treat everyone fairly and take account of any special needs. They must make efforts to assist vulnerable people, which to be fair they may have done, hence my question about exactly what did the bank say. What they are not supposed to do is just say 'no' without considering the needs of the potential customer.

I get what you are saying.
It's a hard getting a level playing field when security is one of the basic needs on bank accounts. Covid (and it is not a excuse) is making life hard at the moment as face to face meetings which in many cases would solve this issue are very hard to get, even if you can.
Banks are investing a lot to protect vulnerable customers. We have a special team that deal with them and nothing else. So the support is there, it's just a case at the moment that life is very hard in many ways that it was not a year ago.

pinkdalek

You could use a letter from DWP stating what benefits he is entitled to, he may have been issued with a P110 tax code letter.  Some banks will accept letter of introduction from a GP or if he has a social worker.
You said you are appointee, you can open an appointee account for his benefits to go into, this may then let him open an account at a later time as he would be an account holder?
Does your son have mental capacity, you might want to look into power of attorney.  Once registered with OPG this can be used as ID.  There are ways you can open accounts without photo ID and there is no reason why any bank should not be offering and helping you with what can be accepted.

FFS2020

They should be able to create the checks required to prove someone's identity online.  I opened a new current account a few months ago and I didn't have to provide any ID whatsoever-- they verified me electronically.  
I've noticed that the newer banks like Monzo, Starling etc absolutely insist on photo ID and you having to perform some kind of selfie video, even when they could easily just ID you electronically.

colsten

FFS2020 said:

They should be able to create the checks required to prove someone's identity online.  I opened a new current account a few months ago and I didn't have to provide any ID whatsoever-- they verified me electronically.  
I've noticed that the newer banks like Monzo, Starling etc absolutely insist on photo ID and you having to perform some kind of selfie video, even when they could easily just ID you electronically.

Without a photo ID, anybody who knows your name, DOB and address (all not hard to find out) could easily pretend they are you.