Ever more difficult for foreigners to open bank accounts and savings accounts!

masonic

QrizB said:

It might (or might not) be worth remembering that the UK doesn't have such a thing as a "legal name". You can call yourself whatever you like, as long as it's not for fraudulent reasons.

So if eg. I was Elizabeth Tudor-Pole, I could choose to call myself:

- Elizabeth Tudor-Pole 

- Liz Tudor-Pole (a common contraction of Elizabeth)

- Betty Tudor-Pole (also a contraction of Elizabeth)

- Beth Pole (a contraction of Elizabeth and dropping half my surname)

- James Stuart (an entirely different name)

In principle I could get bank accounts in any of those names, although James Stuart might need a little more effort.

The UK Deed Poll Service has opined on that view: https://www.deedpoll.org.uk/introduction/

In practice, any name that cannot be verified using credit reference agencies (electoral roll, council tax records), or official documentation, cannot reliably be used to open a bank account. If it is successfully used on one occasion, it may create problems for you later on.

In addition to the need for documentary evidence, it is common to be asked for previous names during an account application, so simply choosing to call yourself something different is not the simple solution it appears.

chico

Musk and Grimes knew banks favour short names and so named their son X Æ A-X12 then X Æ A-Xii.

eddy

chico said:

Musk and Grimes knew banks favour short names and so named their son X Æ A-X12 then X Æ A-Xii.

Certainly reduces the risk of their son being turned down for a bank account.