Bank account in married and maiden names

[Squarepegina]

Married 31 years and typically changed my name. Now about to start a small business and want to do so in my maiden name but the bank refuses to allow it. I have birth certificate and marriage certificate to prove I am who I am but they insist that I can only have an account in my married name.

I can’t quite believe it and I’m very angry. Why on earth can I not have two names? If I can prove it is my maiden name then where is the problem?

The problem will be ID I'd guess. Most people who have accounts in both names also have passports or similar I would think?

Why don’t you open the account in your married name as per your identification but call your business your maiden name? If you ever did receive any cheques they could address them to your maiden name with no issue. I work in a bank & like previous posters suggested the issue is your identification being in another name. Bank accounts get super checked where I work by another department who your unable to speak to over the phone & everything has got to match up or the account will be blocked & cause both problems for yourself & the advisor who opened your account

But Jenny they could be linked as one and the same person. On my passport I have my married name but then otherwise known as my maiden name.

Yes Always it looks like a business account might get round it. But I’m starting small, dipping my toe in the water in case it doesn’t take off so I’m hesitant.

It seems fairly obvious to me that going by two names wouldn't be allowed. You could open two bank accounts with two massive overdrafts, apply for loans and mortgages in both names etc etc.

I go by two names and it isn't a problem at all
When I go into my Experian file, it lists both names, so clearly the bank know I'm one and the same and I can't apply for two separate mortgages

As DH and I bought our house before we were married, our mortgage and the deeds are in my maiden name
When we remortgaged after our wedding, the bank said it wasn't worth changing it over, so I've kept it in my maiden name

Our joint account is in my married name and my personal account is in my maiden name
All are with Barclays and they don't seem to think I'm about to defraud them

I retain my maiden name for professional purposes, and have gradually been changing my name on accounts and documents. The tipping point seems to come when you change it on government issued id such as driving license and passport. I’ve retained one credit card account in my maiden name just in case, plus my work credit card and I routinely carry a copy of my marriage certificate now with my passport when travelling for work, in case anyone questions it. No problems so far.

Unfortunately I have an issue with HR, who like a pp seems to insist that my id at work is my “legal name” and does not accept that I can legally call myself by both my maiden or married name as I have no intent to defraud. I tried to get them to record that i am also known as... outside work but it caused so many issues I had to drop it.

I think the OP’s issue will be that she has not continued to use both names since marriage, and to restart using maiden name now without a big life event such as divorce will be unusual. Banks don’t like unusual.

I have both. No issues for any legal paperwork etc. Work is in maiden name. Anytime it comes up I produce birth and marriage certificate and no issue with mortgage/anything really.

My dd has a professional name using my maiden name instead of her actual surname. (Someone in her profession was already using her actual birth name.) she has to ensure that any cheques made out to her have her birth name as that is the one for her bank account and they will not accept cheques in her professional name.

If you have both a passport and a drivers licence, I wonder if it's possible to change the name on one only, so you always have photo-id in two different names?

Hmm good point Firesuit....I was just mulling that one myself. I looked at the passport name change and I can only do that if I forsake any other name and call myself only by my maiden name. Off to check the driving licence.

If I can offer any advice to anyone coming through the ranks....be very very wary of giving up your maiden name, or at least understand the ramifications.

I have bank accounus in my proper name and one in my "married name".
comes in very handy for matched betting!

I opened new bank account in my maiden name a few years ago when I was divorcing. All my ID was in my married name so I thought I might have problems - however, Nationwide were happy to open the account with copies of my birth certificate, decree nisi and utilities bill. I pay in cheques made payable in both names and never have any problems. I do wish I’d never changed my name though!

I have both. I kept my maiden name on marriage but had a joint account and some things in married name.

The first two responses are wrong, there is no such thing as legal name.

You can use whatever name you want and get a deed poll for it, as long as its not for fraudulent purposes.

Would cheques not be made outnto the business name?

My passport is in married name so I match my children when travelling and my driving licence is in my maiden name. Means I have two ids for whatever bank account and name I'm using.

My credit reports all list both names and I have no problem accessing credit if needed.

I can't see that it's a problem for anyone.

I was known by my maiden name at work, and married name otherwise. Bank (LLoyds) insisted I change the name of the account I used for work/work expenses expenses to married name but they do allow payments to maiden name to be paid into the account.

It seems fairly obvious to me that going by two names wouldn't be allowed. You could open two bank accounts with two massive overdrafts, apply for loans and mortgages in both names etc etc.

The problem is with the second bit, not the first - having two names is fine. Using two names to do bad things is not fine.

lots of women have two names. Lots of women use their married name privately and their maiden name professionally. It is not beyond the wit of banks to deal with this completely normal aspect of British society - it's just finding one that understands this.

I work for a bank. You can't have 2 accounts with the same bank in different names. You could have an account in your maiden name with a separate bank BUT you'd need the right ID in your maiden name to open the account I.e passport or driving licence in maiden name which you won't have as they'll be in your maiden name, marriage cert is irrelevant.
So that's really your sticking point.

Op change your driving licence and maybe one utility bill to your maiden name and then open your new bank account.

I understand why you are doing it OP for a business, but seems like such a lot of effort. Whats wrong with just using your married name? What ramifications are you talking about?

I have both with Santander

change your driving licence to single name and use it as ID

You are allowed to use whatever name you want (as long as you don't do it for malicious purposes). That includes having two or more names.

Other way round for me, never changed my name but kept getting cheques from relatives to "Mrs Dh". Quick call to the bank and a copy of the marriage certificate fired off and I can cash cheques in either "Dockray my name" or "Dockray dh's". Bank was First direct- they were incredibly supportive and suggested this as an option so may be worth talking to them?

I have 2 accounts with Nationwide. Have dobe for 20 years. One in my maiden name and one in my married name. My driving licence is in my married name and my passport my maiden name. I get paid into the one with my maiden name. Never had any is due with it.