Proving Your Identity

If you are opening a new account or product, Norwich & Peterborough may ask you to provide proof of your identity and address. Depending on the type of account being opened we may ask you to provide further documentation

THIS APPLIES TO BOTH NEW AND EXISTING CUSTOMERS.

Why do you ask me to prove my identity and address?

Since the introduction of the Money Laundering Regulations 1993, it has been a legal requirement for all providers of financial products and services to have identification procedures in place. The procedures are also to protect both you and us against financial crime.

Money laundering is the method criminals use to disguise the money they make from their crimes.

How does this affect me?

To launder money through a bank or building society, criminals will usually try to open an account or apply for a financial product using a false identity. A false name and address might make it harder for the authorities to track the criminals and their money down during
an investigation. This does not mean in any way that suspicion is falling on you but for this reason, we may ask you for proof of your identity and address i.e. prove who you are and where you live.

How do you verify my identity?

If you are an existing customer your identification may not need to be reverified.

If you are a new customer or if you are an existing customer and an identification exemption does not apply, we use an electronic identification verification system to verify your identity. This verifies your identity by searching data at a credit reference agency and the databases they have access to, including the Electoral Register. This only checks your name and address and does not affect your creditworthiness and the agency will keep a record of the search whether or not your application proceeds.

Electronic verification is undertaken for most customers but unfortunately it is not always possible to verify someone via this method e.g. you may have recently moved home, or have little or no credit. In this case we would need you to provide paper identification documents.

Please note: Electronic identification verification does not apply to minors i.e aged under 18, non UK residents or business accounts.

Acceptable identification documents

If paper identification documents are required you will be informed of the number of documents you will need to provide. Below is a list of the documents we will accept for personal identification and address verification. Please note internet documents are not acceptable.

Personal identification

• Current UK or foreign signed passport.
• Current EU member state ID card (issued outside UK).
• Current Foreign National Identity Card (issued from November 2008 onwards).
• Current EU or UK (full/provisional) photocard driving licence or full UK Driving Licence (old style) must contain current address.
• Current Residence permit issued by Home Office to EU National.
• HM Revenue and Customs / Inland Revenue letter dated in the last 12 months (not a P45 or P60).
• Current Firearms certificate.
• Letter/book from Department for Work and Pensions (DWP),Pension Service,Job Centre Plus, or Local Authority confirming rights to benefits dated in the last 12 months.
• Current Signed Employers photo ID card/Armed Forces ID Card.
• Current Disabled person’s blue badge

Address verification

• UK utility bill/book (not mobile phone or broadband) issued or dated within the last three months or a recent letter from a utilities supplier confirming agreement to supply utility or pre-payment agreement.
• Current Council tax bill.
• UK Bank/Building Society/National Savings and Investments bank statement dated in the last 3 months or current Building Society passbook for any account.
• UK Mortgage or ISA Statement from a recognised provider dated within the last 12 months
• UK Credit Card Statement showing current address dated within the last 3 months
• UK Credit Union Statement dated within the last 3 months
• Current EU or UK (full/provisional) photocard driving licence or full UK Driving Licence (old style) must contain current address
• Current Correspondence from Local Authority over tenancy/Local Authority Tenancy Agreement .
• HM Revenue and Customs / Inland Revenue letter dated in the last 12 months (not a P45 or P60).
• Letter/book from Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Pension Service, Job Centre Plus, or Local Authority confirming rights to benefits dated in the last 12 months
• Letter from UK Bank/Building Society confirming full details for an active account dated within the last 3 months
• Letter from UK commanding officer or military unit confirming residency in service quarters dated within the last 3 months
• Letter from UK college/university confirming in-house residency and dates dated within the last 3 months
• Letter from UK employer confirming residency in hospital accommodation (Medical Doctors Only) dated within the last 3 months
• Letter from UK solicitor confirming house purchase dated within the last 3 months
• Current UK Post Office Re-Direction Letter

Identification for minors

A minor (aged under 18) must provide identification documents. If the account is being opened in trust for a minor (aged under 18) named as the beneficiary no address verification is required for the minor.

Personal identification

• Any personal identification that is listed for anon minor.
• UK Birth certificate/adoption certificate.
• Letter from Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to parent/guardian confirming rights to benefits in relation to the minor dated in the last 12 months.
• Letter from Education Maintenance Allowance(EMA) confirming rights to benefit dated within the last 12 months.

Address verification

• Any address verification in the minor’s own name that is listed for a non minor.
• Any address verification in name of person who the minor resides with, that is listed for anon minor.
• Letter from Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to parent/guardian confirming rights to benefits in relation to the minor dated in the last 12 months.
• Letter from Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) confirming rights to benefit dated within the last 12 months.

We will take copies of any documentary evidence you provide to us and retain these for our records.

Do I need my identification documents to be certified?

If you are applying for an account via the post we would recommend you do not send original documents as we cannot accept any liability for the safety of these documents whilst they are in the post.

We require all paper identification documents to be certified by a solicitor, an accountant or bank/building society staff.

The words ‘certified true copy’ must be clearly written or stamped on each document, which should then be signed and dated by the certifying party. Certified copies must include the full name, qualification, job title, business name, address, telephone number for the certifying party.

You, your relatives or any other person named on the account cannot certify the documents.

Can I open an account if I don’t live in the UK?

If you are a non-UK resident you must apply for your chosen product or service in person at one of our branches.

As evidence of personal identification you must provide your passport or, for EU nationals, a national identity card.

For address verification you will need to provide the name and address of your bank in your normal country of residence that will be able to provide a reference for you.

We will not be able to provide any account or service until we have received a satisfactory reference from your bank.

Identification for non personal customers e.g. business accounts

This table sets out the documentation we will need to see and copy before processing an application.