Name change on bank account

magickmagpie

This is weird and I have only just noticed it. I have an HSBC current account I have had for over 40 years. Up until March of 2022, the name on the account and on my bank statements was Miss Name Name Name Surname (I have 2 middle names). The name shown on my cheque book and debit card is Miss Initial Initial Initial Surname. Since March 2022, the name on my statements (and the name of the account) is now Miss Name Surname. I noticed this had changed when an automatic verification of account was tried when I was setting up an ISA with another provider, meaning I had to send in actual bank statements for them to verify the account manually - it was at this point I noticed that the name on the statements had changed. I rang HSBC who were not really able to explain why this was but confirmed that I should be using Miss Name Surname as the name of the account in future. My cheques and debit card (with the old version of name) all still work - although I presume that the next issue of my debit card will show the new version as the current card was issued in 2021 and runs out next year. I am unimpressed that HSBC have done this and not bothered to inform me of the fact or are able to explain why. I presume there has been some kind of update to their systems which means they don't want to use initials or middle names in future. However, with the changes that mean you need to verify an account name to do a bank transfer now this is rather annoying. Luckily I've not had to give out my account details for any new transfers in the interim and those I set up prior to the change (pension payments) are still working. One would think that using someones full name would be more secure than just the first name and surname and prevent confusion in identification. Has anyone else noticed anything similar with their bank or is it just HSBC who seem to have gone a bit crazy???

eskbanker

magickmagpie said:

However, with the changes that mean you need to verify an account name to do a bank transfer now this is rather annoying.

I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the Confirmation of Payee checks are the reason behind moving towards a more standardised <first name> <surname> model, rather than expecting payers to have to ascertain middle names, etc, and opening up more validation failures.

mebu60

I am Name1 Name2 Surname where both the first names are used, no hyphen or anything. Was always thus on my banking. Suddenly I am now half the person I was, my bank (not HSBC) has reduced me to Name1 Surname. Rather confused my brother when he tried to send me some money. All due to COP I expect. Wonder what happens to those who are unhyphenated Surname1 Surname2! 

Brie

Could be worse.  When first married I asked a store card to add my new hubby to MY account and give him a card.  They changed the whole account into his name and sent me a card with Mrs HisSurname.  I hadn't changed my name and had no intention of doing so. 

20 years later my employer did something similar when they requested a copy of our marriage certificate to update their records.  I'd been working for them for about 5 years at the time and still had no desire to change my name.

DasTechniker

I’ve two NatWest bank accounts, joint with my wife and a sole account. My joint account has my name as Mr Initial 1 initial 2 surname and my sole account as Mr name surname. I’ve used both accounts to open building society accounts and never had any problems, only with email addresses as I use two.