What you need to open your bank account

Your benefits letter must:

• Be from the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP), Job Centre Plus or Universal Credit.
• Be addressed to you.
• Be dated within the last 12 months and confirm it is for a current/ongoing benefit.

Please note, e-statements, PDF's or internet printed statements can only to be used if you have acceptable proof of ID.

To get a benefits agency document choose from the following options:

1. Universal Credit letter

• Online - if you applied for Universal Credit online, you can login to the universal credit portal by visiting universal-credit.service.gov.uk and add a note to the 'journal' requesting your  benefits letter to be sent to in the post to your home address.     
• Telephone - If you applied for the benefits over the phone, call 0800 328 5644 and request for this to be sent in the post to your home address.

2. Job Centre Plus letter

• Call 0800 169 0190 and ask for this to be sent out in the post in to your home address.  

Your HMRC letter must be either: 

1. HMRC Notice of Tax Coding Letter.
2. National Insurance Confirmation Letter.

1. HMRC Notice of Tax Coding Letter

If you're using this letter, then the letter must: 

• Be the original mailed letter.
• Have personal details matching the application form:
  • Name
  • Address.
• Include either Date of Birth or National Insurance Number (NINO).
• Be for the current or previous tax year.

2. National Insurance Confirmation Letter

If you're using this letter, then the letter must: 

• Be the original mailed letter.
• Include personal details matching the application form:
  • Name
  • Address.
• Include either Date of Birth or National Insurance Number (NINO).

Please note: The letter does not need to be dated but if it is then:

• It must be within the last 12 months.
• If the letter isn’t dated then this is still acceptable.

How to get an HMRC letter: 

To get a letter from HMRC choose from the options below:

1. Tax code letter
   To get a copy of your tax code letter, call 0300 200 3310 and ask for it to be posted to you.
2. National Insurance number
   Internet - visit www.gov.uk and search ‘get your National Insurance Number’ and click on ‘apply by post’(using form CA5403) and follow the steps. Telephone - call the National Insurance Helpline on 0300 200 3500.

It can take 15 working days  (3 weeks) to receive the letters by post.

Your travel pass must:

• Be a pass providing free or preferential travel rates on public transport issued by a government, local authority or council.
• Prove that you are over 60 or have reached pensionable age, or have an eligible disability.
• Be valid and in date.
• Display a name and date of birth that match those used your application form.
• Have a photo that resembles you.

You can obtain a OAP/Concessionary Travel Pass from the relevant authority (government, local authority or council).

Your registration card must :

• Be dated within the last 6 months.
• Include your name and date of birth, which must match the details given on your application.
• Have a photo that resembles you.

This card is only available for asylum seekers. 

You must not use a Grant of Status Letter (certificate of application letter), and must be able to provide a supporting travel document or immigration status document.

For help with your card, please contact the Home Office helpline: 020 7035 4848. 

Your ID card must:

• Be valid and issued by the Northern Irish Electoral Office.
• Include your name and date of birth, and must match the details given on your application.
• Include a photo that resembles you.

For assistance with your ID card, please contact the Northern Irish Electoral Office. 

To use a military I.D. card, the card :

• Must be valid and issued by the British Armed Forces.

• Must include your full name, including any middle names, and that this is the same name used for your application with us.
• Must include your date of birth, and that the date of birth given is the same as used for your application with us.
• Must include a photo that resembles you.

Acceptable documents:

Provide one of the following documents: 

• Full or Abbreviated Birth/Adoption Certificate
• Certified copy of an Entry from the General Registry Office (England, Wales & Northern Ireland)
• Certified Copy of an Entry in the Register of Births (Scotland)
• A Birth Certificate registered at an overseas Embassy, consulate of Military Barracks (Only if issued pre-2014)
• Certified copy of an Entry from the Adopted Children Register.

To obtain any of these documents, please contact the relevant authority.

Requirements for your document: 

To use a UK Birth/Adoption Certificate you must be 20 years old and under with no other form of I.D. 

If you are over 20 years old and you have no other form of I.D. and you are: 

• In a Care Home
• In Sheltered Housing
• In permanent Care
• In a Children's Home
• Living in Care at home.

Your certificate must also: 

• Have the same name and date of birth as the details used in your application. 

Acceptable documents: 

Provide one of the following cards: 

• Young Scot Card
• Transport Scotland Card
• Citizen Card
• Portman Group card
• Validate UK Card.

Requirements for your card: 

In order to use a PASS/Young Scot card as an ID document, you must be 20 years old or under with no other form of ID.

If you are 20 years old or under and have no other form of I.D. your card: 

• Must have a 'PASS' hologram on it.
• Must have the same name and date of birth as the details used in your application.
• Must have a photograph that resembles you.

To use a letter of introduction as proof of address, you'll need to apply in Branch.

The letter must:

• State that you are attending school and are 18 years old or younger.
• Be addressed to us (Royal Bank of Scotland).
• Be on the school's headed paper or stamped by the school.
• Include your full name, including any middle names, and is the same name used for your application with us.
• Include your address, and that the address given is the same address used for your application with us. 

We can accept a Care/Foster Care Agreement as proof of address if:

• You have a different document to prove your ID.
• You are currently in Foster/Care and 18 or under.
• Your name and date of birth match your application for an account with us.

We'll need to confirm this information with social work either over the phone or in Branch.

To use a letter of introduction as proof of address, you'll need to apply in Branch. 

You also must currently be in Care/Foster Care and be 18 years old or younger.

The letter must:

• Be addressed to the branch you go to for your application. The address must be the full branch address. 
• Be dated.
• Include a reference from a local authority.
• Include your full name, including any middle names, and that this is the same name used for your application with us.
• Include your address, and that the address given is the same address used for your application with us.