By: Money Navigator Research Team
Last Reviewed: 07/01/2026
FACT CHECKED
Quick Summary
Most UK business bank account applications ask for the same building blocks: personal ID, proof of address, and evidence of the business’s legal set-up and ownership. The exact list depends on whether you’re a sole trader, limited company, partnership/LLP, or charity, and whether there are multiple owners or complex control.
Banks request these documents to meet customer due diligence requirements under UK anti-money laundering rules (and related guidance), and to confirm who can legally operate the account and where key people live. See the legal framework in the Money Laundering Regulations 2017.
If an application is missing a key document, it usually doesn’t “fail” instantly – it more commonly pauses while the bank requests alternatives, which can be one of the reasons applications get held up (see our guide to why business bank account applications get delayed).
Why banks ask for documents in the first place
When a bank opens a business account, it must be able to identify and verify the people and the business involved, using reliable, independent sources (for example, official documents). That concept of verification is reflected in the UK framework around customer due diligence.
For limited companies and other entities, banks also need to understand ownership and control (who ultimately benefits and who can instruct the account). In practice, this often means providing information about directors, partners, trustees, and people with significant control (PSCs), depending on structure.
If you want the “why” behind these checks (and what banks typically do with the information), our companion guide What documents banks check for business bank accounts goes deeper on the verification side.
The core document categories most banks request
1) Personal identity documents (for people connected to the account)
Banks usually need ID for the individuals they must verify – commonly the account signatories, plus (depending on the set-up) directors, partners, trustees, and beneficial owners.
Typical examples include a passport or photocard driving licence (banks vary on what they accept and whether a digital check is used).
2) Proof of address (for the same people)
Banks commonly ask for a separate document to evidence a current residential address. UK Finance notes that you’ll usually need two separate valid documents – one for identity and one for address, though requirements vary across banks and may be provided digitally.
3) Business identity and legal set-up
What you provide depends on the entity type (sole trader vs limited company vs partnership/LLP vs charity). For a limited company, banks commonly rely on Companies House information and may ask for the certificate of incorporation as evidence the company is registered.
4) Tax references and registrations (where relevant)
Some banks ask for tax identifiers such as a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) (HMRC explains how you get one and how to find it).
Depending on the business, banks may also ask about VAT registration or other registrations (if applicable).
5) Trading and activity evidence (sometimes requested)
Especially where the business is new, unusual, or operates in higher-risk sectors, banks may request supporting information about what the business does (for example, website, invoices/contracts, suppliers, expected transaction types). The exact request varies bank-to-bank.
For the wider context of what banks may look at beyond documents, see Why business bank account applications get rejected and Does turnover or profitability matter for a business bank account?.
What happens if something is missing
| Scenario | Likely outcome | Practical impact |
|---|---|---|
| ID provided for the signatory, but not for other required individuals (e.g., additional director/owner) | Bank requests more ID checks | Application pauses until all required people are verified |
| Proof of address is out of date or not accepted | Bank asks for an alternative address document | Back-and-forth messages and delayed account opening |
| Limited company details don’t match Companies House records | Bank asks for clarification / updated information | Delays; sometimes a re-submission is needed |
| Ownership/control is complex (multiple owners, overseas links, trusts) | Extra due diligence questions | Longer review time and potentially more documents |
| Business activity is unclear (no website, unclear description, mixed payments) | Bank requests trading details / supporting evidence | Additional questions and possible delays |
| Applying for an account type that isn’t a bank (e-money/payment firm) | Different safeguarding/verification approach | Your “documents list” may differ, and protections may differ too |
Documents checklist by business type
Sole trader (including freelancers)
Commonly requested:
Personal ID (the owner)
Proof of address (the owner)
Evidence of trading identity (business name and what you do)
Sometimes a tax identifier such as a UTR (depending on the bank and your status)
Related reading:
Limited company
Commonly requested:
ID + proof of address for the signatory and other required people
Company details (name, number, registered office)
Certificate of incorporation (often requested as evidence of registration)
Director and ownership/control information (who owns/controls the company)
Partnership / LLP
Commonly requested:
ID + proof of address for partners/members and signatories
Partnership agreement / LLP details (where applicable)
Business address and trading information (varies by bank)
Charity or voluntary organisation
Commonly requested can include:
Trustee details (identity and role) and authorised signatories
Governing document and basic organisational details (government guidance on charity registration references governing documents and trustee details)
Charity registration details (where registered)
UK Finance also provides a practical checklist for voluntary organisations that highlights identity and address documentation expectations, while noting requirements differ by bank.
What each document does (and who it usually relates to)
| Document / information | Who it usually relates to | What the bank is trying to confirm | Notes / common variations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo ID (e.g., passport/driving licence) | Signatories; often directors/owners too | Identity of the person being verified | Digital ID checks are common; acceptance varies |
| Proof of address | Same people as above | Current residential address | Often needs to be recent; format varies by bank |
| Company number + registered details | Limited companies | Legal existence and official details | Often checked against Companies House |
| Certificate of incorporation | Limited companies | Evidence the company is registered | Companies House notes it may be required for opening a bank account |
| Ownership/control information (e.g., PSCs/beneficial owners) | Companies; sometimes partnerships | Who ultimately controls/benefits | More complex structures can trigger more questions |
| Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) | Sole traders / companies (context-dependent) | Link to tax registration where requested | HMRC explains what a UTR is and how to find it |
| Trading/activity information (website, invoices, contracts) | The business | Nature of business and expected account use | Often asked where activity is unclear or new |
| Governing document (charity) | Charities / voluntary orgs | Authority, objectives, governance | GOV.UK charity registration guidance references governing documents |
A note on “business bank accounts” vs e-money accounts (documents may look similar, protections may not)
Some providers marketed as “business accounts” are payment or e-money firms rather than UK-authorised banks. Document requests can still be robust (ID, address, ownership), but the regulatory protections differ.
The FCA notes that funds held by payment and e-money firms are not directly protected by the FSCS; instead, firms must safeguard funds, which can still lead to delays in funds being returned if a firm fails (the FCA has issued changes to safeguarding rules taking effect in 2026).
If FSCS protection is a key concept you’re comparing, our explainer Is money in a business bank account protected by the FSCS? covers the practical differences.
Compare Business Bank Accounts
If you’re comparing providers while you gather documents, start with our hub Business bank accounts, then use these guides to compare key “admin” factors that affect onboarding:
How long does it take to open a business bank account? (timelines and what affects them)
What fees do business bank accounts charge? (common fee categories to look for)
Business bank accounts with no monthly fees (how “no fee” structures typically work)
For provider-specific reading, you can also see Starling review, Tide review and Tide vs Starling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Often, banks verify at least the people who will operate the account (signatories). Depending on the business type and ownership, banks may also need to verify directors, partners, trustees, and/or beneficial owners as part of customer due diligence under the UK anti-money laundering framework.
In practice, this means an application can expand from “just the person opening the account” to “several individuals connected to the business”. That’s especially common where there are multiple owners, changes in control, or where the bank needs to understand who ultimately controls the business relationship.
Banks typically treat proof of address as a separate requirement from photo ID. UK Finance notes you usually need two separate, valid documents: one to prove identity and one to prove address – and they may be originals, copies, or uploaded digitally depending on the bank.
What is accepted varies, and banks can differ on how recent the document must be. If a document is not accepted, the more common outcome is a request for an alternative rather than an immediate decline.
Yes, it’s common for banks to rely on Companies House information for newly formed companies and to ask for incorporation evidence. Companies House explains that a certificate of incorporation is evidence the company has been registered and may be required for opening a business bank account.
Even when a bank can view information online, it may still ask you to provide a document (or confirm details) to keep its onboarding file consistent. This is one reason applications can involve document uploads even where the underlying data is publicly available.
Not always – requirements vary by provider – but some banks request a UTR or related tax registration details as part of onboarding questions. HMRC explains that you receive a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) when you register for Self Assessment or set up a limited company.
Where a UTR is requested, it’s typically used as part of the bank’s understanding of the business’s tax footprint and identity, alongside other information (like the legal structure and the people connected to the account).
Some businesses open accounts before they have meaningful turnover, but banks may ask more questions about expected activity when there’s little or no trading history. That can include the nature of the business, how you expect to be paid, and supporting context (for example, a website or contracts).
If you’re navigating this scenario, our guide Can you be declined with no trading history? explains common friction points and why some applications need extra review.
Sometimes. While many straightforward businesses can open accounts with basic ID and entity documents, banks may request trading evidence where the business activity is unclear, the sector is higher risk, or the bank needs to understand expected incoming/outgoing payments.
This typically shows up as follow-up questions rather than a fixed “required upload” list. If you’re seeing multiple requests, it can be consistent with banks meeting customer due diligence duties under the UK framework.
For partnerships and LLPs, banks usually need to identify and verify the individuals involved (partners/members and signatories) and understand the structure of the business relationship. That often means ID and proof of address for multiple people, plus details of who can operate the account.
Depending on the provider and set-up, an agreement or formal documentation that shows the partnership/LLP arrangement may be requested, especially where signing authority or profit share needs clarifying for account mandates.
Charity and voluntary organisation accounts often involve trustee information, signatory authority, and governance documents. Government guidance on setting up and registering a charity references trustee details and governing documents as part of formal charity administration.
Banks still typically need identity and address evidence for the people who will run the account. UK Finance’s voluntary organisation banking checklist also highlights the usual identity-and-address approach, while stressing requirements differ across banks.
Some providers do, and some don’t, and the type of check can vary depending on the product features (for example, whether overdraft or credit is involved). Credit checking is a separate topic from “documents required”, but it can affect what the provider asks for during onboarding.
If you want the detail on how this tends to work in the UK, see:
If an ID document expires mid-process or your address/company details change, banks commonly request updated documentation or confirmation. The practical effect is usually delay: the bank needs to keep its verification file consistent and current.
This is also why applications sometimes get “stuck” after an initial approval step – the bank may be waiting on an updated upload, a corrected detail, or a response from every person who needs to be verified. If you’re in that loop, our guide Why business bank account applications get delayed breaks down the common triggers.
The hidden mechanism behind “documents needed” is that banks are not only opening an account for a business name – they’re building a verification chain that links:
- Real people > real addresses > a real legal entity > a clear ownership/control picture > an understood account purpose.
Most friction happens when one of those links is unclear (for example, multiple owners, mismatched company details, incomplete signatory authority, or an activity description that doesn’t map cleanly to expected payments). In other words, it’s less about a single missing PDF and more about whether the bank can evidence a complete, auditable onboarding file under its due diligence obligations.
Sources & References
Companies House: what a certificate of incorporation is used for
GOV.UK incorporation guidance: certificate of incorporation as evidence
UK Finance voluntary organisation banking guide: account opening checklist
FSCS: what it covers (deposits) and current protection limits
Bank of England explainer: what the FSCS is and the £120,000 limit change
FCA: payment safeguarding rule changes and FSCS not applying to e-money funds