BUSINESS BANKING

Identification and verification guide

To help us verify your identity, please bring this guide, a valid form of identification (ID)
and proof of address to a Bank of Scotland branch.

Why do we need Identification Certification of documents

To protect all our customers, and to prevent money laundering,
we must request proof of identity and address for certain
parties before you open a new business account. This is
required by law. If you make any changes to an existing account,
we will need to identify new signatories and all Key Account
Parties. We may also carry out a search with fraud prevention
and credit reference agencies.
These procedures ensure we’re not only complying with the law,
but we’re doing our best to protect all of our customers. Please
Where possible please visit a branch to have your documents
certified.
For our colleagues in-branch
1 To certify a document, first make a copy, stamp the first page with the branch certification
stamp. Write ‘Original seen’ with full name and employee number before signing and dating
the document. Ensure all information is legible and that photos are clear and identifiable.
2 Complete the header sheet (available on the Business Banking support site) quoting

help us prevent financial crime. reference number: OB-RBB-1138792

Documents accepted as both proof of ID and proof of

3 Scan and send all documents using the Business Banking (Branch Activities) link, accessed
from the ‘Tools’ tab on ‘My Homepage’.
address
Where branch certification is not possible, the following people can certify a document: Approved
If you have a current passport, a current full or provisional Solicitor, Lawyer, Notary, Barrister or Accountant. This professional should be independent of the
business relationship.
driving licence or a current signed national identity card from
one of the countries below, you won't need to provide proof of For non-UK residents: Consulate, Embassy or High Commission employee of the country of issue
(acting in their official capacity)
address.
Make sure ‘Certified to be a true copy of the original seen by me’ is visibly written on the
document.
Australia Austria Belgium Canada For identity documents, also write visibly ‘I certify that this is a true likeness of Mr Muhammad
Waqar’
Denmark Finland France Germany
It needs to be dated and signed, with the print names under each signature.
The occupation, address and telephone number need to be added as well.
Greece Iceland Ireland Italy

Japan Netherlands New Zealand Norway For multi-page documents where the document is page numbered, you only need to certify the first
and last pages. If there is no page numbering then certify the front page and sign and date each
subsequent page.
Poland Portugal Spain Sweden

UK* USA

*Including Guernsey, Isle of Man and Jersey

For more options please call us on 0345 878 0052

BUSINESS BANKING

Identification and verification guide

Documents appearing on both lists can only be used once for either ID or proof of
address

Providing proof of ID Providing proof of address

You can provide one of the documents below as proof of ID. You You can provide one of the documents below as proof of
may also need to provide proof of address. address. You may also need to provide proof of ID.
If you’re a non EU/EEA national, we’ll need a certified copy of
your valid visa or residence permit.
Valid proof of ID
Current signed passport.
Current UK/EU/EEA full photo driving licence with signature.
Current UK provisional photo driving licence with signature.
Current full UK paper Driving Licence – only valid if issued up to and including 30/06/1998.
Current Young Scot Card.
Current Northern Ireland Voters Card (aka Electoral Identity Card).
Current EEA (or equivalent country) National Identity Card signed with photo
Current biometric residence permit issued by the Home Office to NON EU/EEA Nationals.
HMRC Tax Notification e.g. statement of account, notice of coding relating to the current year and
less than 12 months old . Must include 10 digit tax reference or NI number. P45/60s are not
acceptable. Working/Tax Credits are considered a benefit. Therefore letters relating to these
credits should not be used in conjunction with a document from the Benefits/State Pension
Notification Letter section.
Current blue disabled driver’s pass (UK only).
Birth Certificate (Under 18s only).
Current UK Medical Card (Under 18s only). The following details must be printed and not
handwritten: Name, address, date of birth, health authority name and NHS medical
number/reference.
UK National Insurance Letter (Under 18s only).
UK Benefits/State Pension Notification Letter dated within 12 months or current benefit/pension
*
period showing the right to benefits and amounts received.
For more options please call us on 0345 878 0052
Valid proof of address
Original Utility bills, Utility bills printed from the internet and bills from broadband and internet
providers dated within 6 months . Reminders/arrears letters are not acceptable.
Council Tax letter or statement dated within 12 months . Reminders/arrears letters are not
acceptable.
Current UK/EU/EEA full photo driving licence with signature.
Current UK provisional photo driving licence with signature.
Current full UK paper Driving Licence – only valid if issued up to and including the 30/06/1998 .
Original or printed internet copy of a Bank or Building Society statement issued by a Bank or
Building Society in the UK, EU or an equivalent country, dated within 6 months and which shows
some transactions. Statements showing only interest or forward balances and ISA statements are
not acceptable.
Original or printed internet copy of a credit card statement issued within 6 months .
Original or printed internet copy of a Mortgage statement issued by a Bank or Building Society in
the UK, EU or an equivalent country dated within 12 months .
HMRC correspondence which includes the 10 digit tax reference or NI number dated within 12
months. P45/60s are not acceptable.
Local Council Rent Statement dated within 3 months issued by the Local Council Authority
detailing the customer’s name, residential address and rent payments made within 3 months
previous. Credit card styled/sized rent cards are not acceptable.
UK Benefits/State Pension Notification Letter dated within 12 months or current
benefit/pension period showing the right to benefits and amounts received.*
*
The Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), Local Authority, HMRC and Job Centre are to be
treated as a single source. Therefore if a Tax Credit letter is used for ID, then a DWP letter can not be
used for proof of address.