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Organisations

Changing your name with your bank or building society

In branch with the deed poll, in the app with a photograph of it, or by post with a certified copy. Two banks, shown in detail.

Checked against the banks' own pages Updated

A drawing of a bank building

The short answer

Banks accept a deed poll as evidence of a change of name, and most take it three ways: in a branch with the document, through their app with a photograph of it, or by post with a certified copy. NatWest and Nationwide publish their routes; GOV.UK notes a few organisations may only accept an enrolled deed poll.

At a glance

What they want
Your deed poll, or the certificate that changed your name, plus your account details
Original or copy
In branch, the document itself; by post, a certified copy (Nationwide will not take originals by post); in an app, a photograph
How
App, branch, telephone banking or post, depending on the bank
Cost
Free
How long
NatWest says 2 to 4 working days; Nationwide sends new cards within 10 working days
Then
New cards and chequebooks in the new name

Banks and building societies's own guidance

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On this page 5 sections
  1. What every bank has in common
  2. NatWest
  3. Nationwide
  4. The enrolled deed poll question
  5. Order of work

What every bank has in common#

A bank has to know who its customer is, so it will not change a name on its say-so: it wants to see the document that changed it. For a deed poll that is the deed itself or a certified copy; for marriage it is the certificate; for divorce it is the papers that link the old name to the new one. Once the record changes, the bank reissues cards and chequebooks in the new name, and the name on your account then needs to match the name on your payslip, your benefits and anything paid in by standing order.

Two large lenders publish exactly what they do, and they are typical of the rest.

NatWest#

NatWest's change of details page offers three routes. The quickest, it says, is the app: log in, open your profile, choose personal details, select the arrow next to your legal name, pass biometric security and complete an eForm with the new name, then email an image of your supporting documentation to the change-of-name mailbox the form gives you, putting your current name and your account number and sort code in the subject line. NatWest says the name is updated in two to four working days and it will contact you if it needs anything more. The other routes are telephone banking, using your online banking login, and a branch.

Its list of documents is the most useful part. For "other change of name" it accepts a deed poll or a statutory declaration, and says the deed poll can be registered or non-registered, which it also calls a "make your own" deed poll: that is an unenrolled deed poll like ours. For marriage or civil partnership, the certificate. For divorce or dissolution, the decree absolute or final order with your birth certificate, or the marriage certificate alone if it links both names. For separation without divorce, the marriage certificate with your birth certificate. For adoption, a deed poll letter. A change of gender alone needs no document, and NatWest can update titles to gender-neutral ones such as Mx.

Nationwide#

Nationwide's page separates changing an adult's name from changing a child's, with different identification for each. In branch, you take proof of your name change and a member of staff updates your details. By post, you download and complete its change of name form and send it with a certified copy of the proof to Nationwide Building Society, Swindon SN38 1NW; Nationwide says it cannot accept original documents in the post or send originals back. Any cards or chequebooks are sent within ten working days of the change being processed, and it warns that some messages may still carry the old name for a short time.

A change of title is easier: Nationwide asks for no proof of ID for that, in branch or by post, and it will reissue your card and chequebook in the new title. It adds that not all of its accounts can currently be opened with a gender-neutral title such as Mx. Customers who also bank with Virgin Money have to contact both.

The enrolled deed poll question#

GOV.UK's deed poll guidance says that some organisations, such as some banks, mobile phone companies or energy providers, may only accept an enrolled deed poll, and to contact the organisation to check which it accepts. NatWest's published policy accepts an unenrolled one; if your bank's page does not say, ask before you order, and read enrolled and unenrolled deed polls for what enrolment does and does not change.

Order of work#

Change the bank before the organisations that pay into it, so that your salary, benefits and pension arrive under the name the bank holds. One certified copy per bank is the usual allowance; how many certified copies you need has the arithmetic.

Sources

Every fact above was checked against these on . If a source has changed since, tell us and we will correct the page.