Opening a bank account

Rudyson

EarthBoy said:

pridehappy said:

EarthBoy said:

pridehappy said:

Do you have your birth certificate or a valid driving license even from Ireland? This should be valid for most banks.

However, if you continue to struggle, you could try a basic account which would be easier to get accepted for and then upgrade when you have the necessary documentation.

2 accounts I'd recommend:
https://uk.virginmoney.com/current-accounts/m-account/
https://www.nationwide.co.uk/current-accounts/flexbasic/

Birth certificates are not valid for any banks.  Also, even for a basic account the banks will still need to verify your identity. 

I recently opened a Skipton Building Society account in-branch and they accepted my birth certificate as evidence. 

Well they shouldn't have done, unless you're under 18, because birth certificate isn't on the Skipton's list of accepted ID.  Even under 18, a birth certificate isn't accepted except in conjunction with other documents.

https://www.skipton.co.uk/-/media/skipton-co-uk/pdf/savings/proving-your-identity.ashx

It's possible they did an electronic check and the birth certificate was irrelevant

pridehappy

EarthBoy said:

pridehappy said:

EarthBoy said:

pridehappy said:

Do you have your birth certificate or a valid driving license even from Ireland? This should be valid for most banks.

However, if you continue to struggle, you could try a basic account which would be easier to get accepted for and then upgrade when you have the necessary documentation.

2 accounts I'd recommend:
https://uk.virginmoney.com/current-accounts/m-account/
https://www.nationwide.co.uk/current-accounts/flexbasic/

Birth certificates are not valid for any banks.  Also, even for a basic account the banks will still need to verify your identity. 

I recently opened a Skipton Building Society account in-branch and they accepted my birth certificate as evidence. 

Well they shouldn't have done, unless you're under 18, because birth certificate isn't on the Skipton's list of accepted ID.  Even under 18, a birth certificate isn't accepted except in conjunction with other documents.

https://www.skipton.co.uk/-/media/skipton-co-uk/pdf/savings/proving-your-identity.ashx

I did query this if I’m being honest - although the branch manager was adamant it was acceptable.

amanda1024

It's probably worth going into a bank in person to try to have an actual conversation about what you have got versus what they need. Online you're more likely to get 'computer says no'. Eg do you have any Irish ID (passport/driving licence/ID card)? I've heard Nationwide building society are reasonably flexible on this - and have quite a few branches, with actual staff and everything... 

GeoffTF

amanda1024 said:

It's probably worth going into a bank in person to try to have an actual conversation about what you have got versus what they need. Online you're more likely to get 'computer says no'. Eg do you have any Irish ID (passport/driving licence/ID card)? I've heard Nationwide building society are reasonably flexible on this - and have quite a few branches, with actual staff and everything... 

An Irish passport seems to be acceptable for bank ID purposes. I have an expired UK passport that I could renew and I am eligible for an Irish passport. I was wondering which one would be most useful to me.