Open joint account for paying in cheques

RickyB2007

Hi,

My in-laws have received some cheques which have been made out to both of them. They don’t have a joint account - both their banks say that they won’t accept it into a single account. 

They are both in their 80s so I want to keep it simple, but is there an online account that is really easy to open that is either a joint account or a single account that will accept joint cheques?

Thanks in advance!

Brie

Have they actually tried to deposit these in person at one of their banks?  It might work easier if they try to deposit it more discretely - i.e. through the post office or similar.  And ATM that accepts deposits might work. 

I had a cheque refused by my bank because it had my OH's surname on it instead of mine - and this despite it being a joint account.  So our account was Brie Jones & A Smith and the cheque was payable to Brie Smith.  And my name is unique enough that there shouldn't be any confusion.  My local bank refused to accept it for deposit but another branch across town that had an ATM for deposits didn't think it an issue.  Either they were using logic or didn't look at it that closely.  I know this isn't quite the same problem as your folks are having but it might work.

Also - not part of your question at all - but do your folks both have 3rd party authority to deal with each others accounts?  And does someone else have that as well??  Just asking in case there aren't POAs set up and they might find a time when they need to access funds in one or the other account.  

RickyB2007

Hi Brie,

thanks for your reply. I don’t think they have 3rd party authority. The branch wouldn’t accept it but I might help them try the app instead. 

Thanks!

retiredbanker1

Forget trying to pay them into a sole account - it will not work.
If the cheques cannot be reissued in one name a joint account will be needed.

RickyB2007

Thanks retiredbanker. Is there one that is easy to set up? I’d use Starling, but it’s a bit of a faff to set up the single accounts first and then a joint one. 

Nebulous2

We bank separately - always have done, but keep an old Bradford and Bingley joint account for this purpose. Santander occasionally write to us to say that it is dormant and they are going to close it if we don't use it and I'll pay in a tenner to keep it going. 

All we need now are some joint cheques! 

retiredbanker1

RickyB2007 said:

Thanks retiredbanker. Is there one that is easy to set up? I’d use Starling, but it’s a bit of a faff to set up the single accounts first and then a joint one. 

I would go with one of the high street banks - are there any nearby? Try to open online only using a branch if you run into trouble.

xylophone

both their banks say that they won’t accept it into a single account. 

How easily can they open a joint account with either of these banks?

Type "open joint account online" into Google and see what comes up from various providers.