Proof of ID

What we need to know

Whether you’re a new or existing customer, we are required to verify your identity when you take out a new account.

Why we need this?

We have to check the identity of all our customers to comply with money laundering regulations. These regulations aim to stop criminals using financial products and services to launder money. They also protect you from criminals who might try to use your name without you knowing.

Applying at an Santander branch

The quickest and easiest way to supply us with some ID, is in person at an Santander branch.

All you need to do is show us one of the following items:

• Unexpired passport
• Unexpired UK photocard driving licence
• EEA or Switzerland national identity card
• Firearms certificate or shotgun licence
• Northern Ireland voters card
• UK issued ID card

These items must be originals.

If you are unable to show us one of the items mentioned, please provide us with the following items :

Existing customer – please provide an item from List 1 below

New customer – please provide an item from List 1, plus a separate item from List 2.

Please note - documents from the same source cannot be used twice.

List 1

• Unexpired passport
• Unexpired UK old style driving licence (not provisional)
• Unexpired UK photocard driving licence
• EEA or Switzerland national identity card
• Firearms certificate or shotgun licence
• Northern Ireland voters card
• UK issued ID card
• Notification of entitlement to state/local authority benefit*
• Notification of entitlement to tax credit*
• Notification of entitlement to pension from the DWP*
• Notification of entitlement to educational loan/grant*
• Notification of one of the following entitlements to other government/local authority grant*
• HMRC (Inland Revenue) coding/assessment/statement/tax credit *
• Birth certificate (under 18’s only)
• NHS medical card (under 18’s only)
• Adoption certificate (under 18’s only)
• Young persons PASS card (under 18's only)

List 2

• Unexpired passport
• Unexpired UK old style driving licence (not provisional)
• Unexpired UK photocard driving licence
• EEA or Switzerland national identity card
• Firearms certificate or shotgun licence
• Northern Ireland voters card
• UK issued ID card
• Council tax bill/demand letter*
• Notification of entitlement to state/local authority benefit*
• Notification of entitlement to tax credit*
• Notification of entitlement to pension from the DWP*
• Notification of entitlement to educational loan/grant*
• Notification of entitlement to other government/local authority grant*
• Instrument of a court appointment e.g. Probate or Court registered Power of Attorney
• HMRC (Inland Revenue) coding/assessment/statement/tax credit *
• Bank statement (not internet printed)**
• Credit card statement (not internet printed)**
• UCAS letter (students only)*
• Local council rent card or tenancy agreement*
• HMRC (Inland Revenue) correspondence including name, address &permanent NI number*
• Pension/benefit correspondence from the DWP*
• Utility bill (not mobile phone, satellite/cable TV or internet printed bills)**
• Birth certificate (under 18’s only)
• NHS medical card (under 18’s only)
• Adoption certificate (under 18’s only)
• Young persons PASS card (under 18's only)
• Confirmation from your work/school/college/university/care institution confirming your name, address and details of employment/student/residence status (students & under 18s only)*
• Parents ID document from list 2 (students & under 18s only)

* Must be the most recently issued document and less than 12 months old

** Must be the most recently issued document and less than 3 months old (except water bills - less than 12 months old)

Applying by post or internet

If you’re opening an account by post or internet, we’ll need to see the following items :

Existing customer – please provide an item from list 1 below

New customer – please provide an item from List 1, plus a separate item from List 2.

Please note - documents from the same source cannot be used twice.

Also, please provide unaltered black and white photocopies of identification. This must include photocopies of pages that contain the following - photographs, reference details, transactions and current UK entry/residence visas. Certified copies are not required.

List 1

• Unexpired passport
• Unexpired UK old style driving licence (not provisional)
• Unexpired UK photocard driving licence
• EEA or Switzerland national identity card
• Firearms certificate or shotgun licence
• Northern Ireland voters card
• UK issued ID card
• Notification of entitlement to state/local authority benefit*
• Notification of entitlement to tax credit*
• Notification of entitlement to pension from the DWP*
• Notification of entitlement to educational loan/grant*
• Notification of entitlement to other government/local authority grant*
• HMRC (Inland Revenue) coding/assessment/statement/tax credit *
• Birth certificate (under 18’s only)
• NHS medical card (under 18’s only)
• Adoption certificate (under 18’s only)
• Young persons PASS card (under 18's only)

List 2

• Unexpired passport
• Unexpired UK old style driving licence (not provisional)
• Unexpired UK photocard driving licence
• EEA or Switzerland national identity card
• Firearms certificate or shotgun licence
• Northern Ireland voters card
• UK issued ID card
• Council tax bill/demand letter*
• Notification of entitlement to state/local authority benefit*
• Notification of entitlement to tax credit*
• Notification of entitlement to pension from the DWP*
• Notification of entitlement to educational loan/grant*
• Notification of entitlement to other government/local authority grant*
• Instrument of a court appointment e.g. Probate or Court registered Power of Attorney
• HMRC (Inland Revenue) coding/assessment/statement/tax credit *
• Bank statement (not internet printed)**
• Credit card statement (not internet printed)**
• UCAS letter (students only)*
• Local council rent card or tenancy agreement*
• HMRC (Inland Revenue) correspondence including name, address & permanent NI number*
• Pension/benefit correspondence from the DWP*
• Utility bill (not mobile phone, satellite/cable TV or internet printed bills)**
• Birth certificate (under 18’s only)
• NHS medical card (under 18’s only)
• Adoption certificate (under 18’s only)
• Young persons PASS card (under 18's only)
• Confirmation from your work/school/college/university/care institution confirming your name, address and details of employment/student/residence status (students & under 18s only)*
• Parents ID document from list 2 (students & under 18s only)

* Must be the most recently issued document and less than 12 months old

** Must be the most recently issued document and less than 3 months old (except water bills - less than 12 months old)

For your protection, and to prevent the opportunity for postal interception or impersonation fraud, you shouldn’t send valuable pieces of ID like passports or driving licences through the post. Requests of this type should be treated with care.

If you can’t supply one of the items listed, we may still be able to help. Please call into a branch or contact us on 0845 7654321† for further advice.

When choosing from the lists above, please remember:

• When opening an account at a branch, you must provide original items.
• If you’re a trustee or acting as an attorney on an account for someone, please note we will need ID for you, and the person on whose behalf you are opening or operating the account.

Thanks for your help