What you’ll need to prove your identity and address

We know paperwork isn't the most exciting part of opening an account, but it’s important and we’re here to make it as simple as possible.

Why we ask for ID

As part of UK money laundering regulations, we need to confirm who you are and where you live. It’s a standard requirement for all customers and helps keep your money safe.

What you might be asked for

We’ll usually try to confirm your identity electronically, using secure checks on trusted databases. Don’t worry, this won’t affect your credit score.

If we can’t verify your details this way, we might need you to send us paper documents. We’ll let you know exactly what we need – whether it’s proof of your name, address, or both.

If you’re already a customer, you might not need to send anything else, we’ll tell you if more is needed.

If you’re not a UK National

We’ll need a copy of your passport, plus evidence that you have indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

Sending certified copies

We can accept certified documents, but they need to be signed off by a solicitor or someone at an FCA regulated firm (like a bank).

Please make sure the certifier’s name, address, and contact details are clearly shown. We might need to get in touch with them to check.


Approved documents: A quick overview

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    Bank statements and utility bills must be current and active (they need to show some recent activity).

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    If we ask for both name and address, the documents must come from different sources (e.g., not two bank statements).

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    If your name has changed recently (like through marriage), we’ll need official proof – such as a marriage certificate – to link your old and new names.

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    For children under 18 in full-time education, we can accept proof of address in a parent or guardian’s name (see List B).

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    You can use PDF statements or utility bills as long as your ID is also provided

Proving your linked bank or building society account

We’ll try to verify your nominated account (the one you link to your Manchester account) electronically. If we can’t, we’ll ask you to send us something that shows the account is yours – like a statement or letter (see List C for details).

 Need a hand?

If you’re struggling to provide the right documents or don’t have a regular bank account, don’t worry – we’re happy to help. Just pop into your local branch or give our head office a ring, and we’ll talk through your options.

Where to send your documents

You can drop your documents into our King Street branch, or post them to:

Manchester Building Society
1 Cobalt Park Way
Wallsend
NE28 9EJ

Documents to prove your identity, address

View the PDF version of this content, Documents to prove your identity and address (PDF, 164kB).