Apply for an account

To apply for an account you must follow the three steps below.

1. Verifying your identity

Every party to an account is called a 'Principal'. We have to verify the identity and residential address of each Principal before an account can be opened. When applying for accounts for corporate structures there are additional requirements to be met. These are individually detailed below.

Once we have received your application we will send you any other forms that you need to fill in to complete your application.

Our Requirements - Individuals/Principals

Each Individual/Principal must provide us with one of the following pieces of acceptable evidence of identity:

1. Certified copy of your current and valid passport
2. Certified copy of your current and valid driving licence which bears your photograph
3. Certified copy of your National Identity Card
4. Certified copy of an Armed Forces Identity Card

Find out who can certify copy documents. Alternatively, if you are visiting our offices in person we will accept originals of the above documents.

Plus, either of the following acceptable pieces of address verification:

1. Two up-to-date, original utility bills (electricity, water, etc.) from different providers less than 3 months old. Where these documents are not written in English or major European languages a translation will be required
2. One up-to-date original utility bill plus an original bank or credit card statement. These must be the most recent

If you are on a UK electoral roll or in a UK or Guernsey telephone directory we will also obtain copies of these for our records. In some cases this can be used as acceptable evidence on your account.

• Our Requirements - Companies
• Our Requirements - Trusts
• Our Requirements - Partnerships
• Our Requirements - Pension Schemes
• Our Requirements - Clubs, Charities, Church Bodies, Associations and Institutions
• Our Requirements - Nominees
• Introduced Business

If you are unable to supply any of the above documentation, please contact us on +44(0)1481 710150.

Once we have received your application we will send you any other forms that you need to fill in to complete your application.

Copies can be certified by any of the following:

• An Embassy, Consulate or High Commission of the country of issue of the documentary evidence of identity
• A senior Civil servant, a serving Police or customs Officer
• A lawyer or Notary Public
• An Actuary
• A Doctor
• An Accountant holding a recognised qualification
• A Director, Officer or Manager of a regulated financial service business (e.g. bank, building society, insurance company)

Such a person will certify that he or she has seen the original documentation and that the copy provided (which he or she certifies) is a complete and accurate copy of the original using the following wording "Having seen the individual and the documents at the same time, I certify that this is a true copy of the original and a reasonable likeness of (name)"

The Certifier will also sign and date the copy document, printing his or her name clearly in capitals, indicating his or her position and affixing any relevant official stamp, together with a contact telephone number in case of any problems.

top of the page

Our Requirements - Companies

All the Principals of a company have to be verified in accordance with the requirements described in "Our Requirements - Individuals/Principals"

The definition of a Principal in this context is as follows:

The beneficial owners of accounts, those who have control of any account and those with a beneficial interest in any relationship established, including any shareholders with a 25% or more interest in the company.

In addition to supplying the required verification documentation for each Principal of the company, certified copies of the following documents should also be supplied:

• Certificate of Incorporation
• Memorandum and Articles of Association
• Names and addresses of the beneficial owners of the company and/or the person or persons on whose instructions the signatories on the account are empowered to act. These people are classed as Principals and should therefore supply verification documents as described in "Our Requirements - Individuals/Principals"
• Board Resolution authorising account opening
• List showing names, addresses and specimen signatures of all authorised signatories - this should be signed by all directors required in making up a quorum. These people are classed as Principals and should therefore supply the verification documents as described in "Our Requirements - Individuals/Principals"
• A signed Director's statement as to the nature of the company's business

top of the page

Our Requirements - Trusts

All the Principals of a Trust have to be verified in accordance with the requirements described in "Our Requirements - Individuals/Principals"

The definition of a Principal in this context is as follows:

The Trustees (if a company, then details are required as described in "Our Requirements - Companies"), the beneficial owners of the Trust, the settler and any protectors of the Trust and any named beneficiaries.

For some Trusts it may be difficult to identify all the beneficiaries at the outset. If the Trustee in our opinion is classed as an acceptable introducer, they can provide certified copies of the verification documents they hold in relation to the Trust. However, the account cannot be opened until all relevant details regarding the Trustees and Principals of the Trust have been received.

In addition to supplying the required verification documentation, the following documents should also be supplied:

• Certified copies of the following pages from the Trust Deed,
  1. Front page:
  2. Page(s) detailing all Principals:
  3. Page(s) detailing the Powers of the Trust:
  4. Signature page

• Original or certified copy of the Deed of Appointment of Trustee where appropriate
• Names and addresses of the beneficial owners of the Trust, the settler(s), protector(s) and/or the person(s) on whose instructions the signature on the account are empowered to act. These people are classed as Principals and should therefore supply the verification documents as described in "Our Requirements - Individuals/Principals"

top of the page

Our Requirements - Partnerships

Along with the Partnership itself, those partners with a beneficial interest in the Partnership of greater than 25% and those persons exercising control over the Partnership are classed as Principals and should therefore supply the verification described in "Our Requirements - Individuals/Principals"

top of the page

Our Requirements - Pension Schemes

All the Principals of a pension scheme have to be verified in accordance with the requirements described in "Our Requirements - Individuals/Principals".

The definition of a Principal in this context is as follows:

The Administrator or trustees (if a company, then details are required as described in "Our Requirements - Companies") the beneficial owners of the pension scheme (where a group scheme this should be stated).

In addition to supplying the required verification documents, original or certified copies of the following documents should also be supplied:

• Pension or Trust Deed, which will be returned
• Deed of Appointment of Trustee or Administrator where appropriate
• Certified copy of the Approval Letter from the relevant tax authority where appropriate

top of the page

Our Requirements - Clubs, Charities, Church Bodies, Associations and Institutions

Those individuals exercising control or influence over the organisation's assets are classed as Principals and therefore have to be verified in accordance with the requirements described in "Our Requirements - Individuals/Principals".

In addition to supplying the required verification documentation, original or certified copies of the following documents should also be supplied:

• Constitution documents
• Official Charity Registration Number where applicable
• Extract from the minutes authorising the opening of the account
• List of Executives quoting names and addresses (these are to be classed as Principals and should therefore supply verification documents as described in "Our Requirements - Individuals/Principals"
• Signing powers where appropriate

top of the page

Our Requirements - Nominees

Where it is proposed to place a deposit in the name of a group (e.g. pension scheme), the nominee has to be verified as a company in accordance with the requirements described in "Our Requirements - Companies".

Where it is proposed that a nominee will open a deposit account where the account represents a deposit from a single client or clients (if in joint names), then:

• the client(s) must be verified in accordance with the requirements described in "Our Requirements - Individuals/Principals"
• the nominee must be verified in accordance with the requirements described on "Our Requirements - Companies"

top of the page

Introduced Business

As a minimum, we require written confirmation from the introducer that he has verified the customer to standards adopted by The Guernsey Financial Services Commission.

This confirmation should be a certificate detailing the necessary information and documentation held by the introducer.

The certificate should confirm that copies of the documentation held will be made available to us on request without delay. A specimen copy of the certificate is available from us on request.

top of the page