Identification Requirements
Applying for a new account
We and the other members of The Co-operative Group may use, analyse and access your information to maintain and develop our relationship with you. Information shared with the credit reference and fraud prevention agencies may be accessed by other organisations and used by us and them to prevent fraud and money laundering. By asking for this information it is harder for criminals to provide false information and to launder money through the financial system. It is also a major defence against other types of financial crime including identity theft.
Our 
ID Requirement Guide tells you how many pieces and what type of identification is required to open a savings account for adults, children, joint accounts and also to take out a mortgage. You'll notice some items of ID appear in both lists, however please note, you cannot use the same item to confirm both your name and address.
Important points to note if opening a savings account
- Applying in branch
Please bring along original forms of identification, not photocopies, in case they're needed.
- Applying by post
You will need to include identification documents as part of your application. However, for your security, we don’t recommend sending original copies of sensitive identification like passports or driving licences by post.
As an alternative, you may send us certified copies of sensitive identification, which can be certified at a Britannia branch, a UK solicitor or another bank or building society. If the ID is not certified at a Britannia branch, the person certifying the identification will need to use the following wording: “This is a true copy of the original which I have seen”, they’ll also need to sign, date, print their name and include their company stamp on the document. Please note that colour certified copies are not acceptable, due to UK crown copyright. You'll still need to send original copies of other documents. We will return your identification documents to you soon as we can.
Where to send your forms:
If you are opening a 3 Year Fixed Rate Bond, DirectSaver, DirectSaver Reserve, Britannia Capital Bond, Britannia Capital Bond Cash ISA, 5 Yr Minimum Return Capital Bond or 5 Yr Minimum Return Capital Bond Cash ISA account please send your documents to:
Britannia, FREEPOST (RRXY-XZZT-LXTR), Dept CO229, Tower Wharf, Cheese Lane, Bristol, BS2 0JJ.
If you are opening any other type of Britannia Savings Account, please send your documents to:
Britannia, Freepost (15796), C033, Leek, Staffordshire Moorlands ST13 5RG.