Does a bank assistant really need to know my employment status when requesting a postal bank statement ?

[Lardlizard]

So been in the bank this morning to request a postal statement as I want it for ID

Anyway she asked me if I’m still a homemaker?
I said well I’m doing voluntary work for a charity now but just keep it on there as homemaker incase of any changes

Then when she selected he time period to print off, so could obviously see my bank details, said oh you’ve got a lot of money for a home maker

Which was a bit cheeky and nosey

But really I can’t see why she asked what my employment status is just to post me a statement

Of course I could understand her asking that if I was apply for a mortgage or something

Money laundering. They have to be on the look out for suspicious activity so perhaps large sums of money for someone with no full time employment could be a trigger.

She wasn't being nosy really, just doing her job

Money laundering ?! What by requesting a statement

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/692/made

Of course you could ask her why shes asking ?

The only reason I can think of is that she was trying to find out some information about you to see if there’s any other products they could offer?

The comment that you’ve got a lot of money for a home maker is an odd thing to say though! I work in a similar role and would never say that to a customer.

www.lawsociety.org.uk/support-services/advice/articles/quick-guide-to-the-money-laundering-regulations-2017/

Also as plain said if you have a large amount of money with limited income etc. than that could of course be why!

Definitely just doing her job. Id be glad she was being vigilant.

"oh you’ve got a lot of money for a home maker" - yes cheeky

"But really I can’t see why she asked what my employment status is just to post me a statement" - agreed. I hate it when they ask for info. I always assume it's for marketing purposes

Asking for the statement obviously wasn't an attempt to launder money but it would mean that she had your account details open.

Actually data protection means that the bank keeps must be accurate, so they might just be checking to update.

FFS. The details the bank keeps.

I have never been asked about my employment.

My bet is trying to flog you insurance or pensions or such.

It’s most likely with a view to selling you something. Asking for a statement isn’t going to require any money laundering questions, but it might be a chance to sell you something .

Actually data protection means that the bank keeps must be accurate, so they might just be checking to update

Is that right? Surely every organisation that I've ever given my occupation to isn't expected to check that it hasn't changed are they?

I don't remember ever being asked by my bank for my occupation, I suppose they might have done when I opened the account maybe 20 years ago but they haven't since. What is a homemaker? Does it not pay very well, they were probably thinking out load about whether they could sell you something

They ask you your occupation every time you open an account.

She was probably asking the OP, either in relation to money laundering checks or a sales attempt.

Commenting upon the amount of money the OP had was inappropriate though. If she'd had said 'you'll earn more interest on this money in a savings account' that's fine, but the way she said it was too personal. What if the OP had a lot of money in her current account because she'd just received an inheritence or life insurance payout due to the death of her DH or other relative? Upsetting and too personal to comment upon.

She was clumsy in her attempt to up sell you some new products

Very unprofessional - likely after commission (or meeting targets) for selling you products. As you say, if a bank doesn't have any reasons to suspect potential money laundering until you draw attention to it by asking for a statement of past transactions tat have gone through them, they're a rubbish bank indeed.

Most people at branch level these days have very little authority - even the manager will have to call the central team to get anything OK'd. They have teams dedicated to possible money laundering and sophisticated algorithms to alert them. I very much doubt they rely on a nosey, indiscreet teller who's only handing over a record of already-approved transactions.

It will indeed be to do with money laundering. Bank cashiers are told to notice unusual behaviours in accounts and things that don’t tally with what the customer has said. I used to work in a bank. We spotted a particularly large money laundering scheme by the cashier asking what appeared to be inane “nosey” chit chat. The customer relaxed and slipped up and gave away info that didn’t add up. Cashier made a mental note, asked the customer to wait a second, got the manager, brought customer in, police called. It led to a lot of arrests and that avenue of laundering was shut down.

Lol I’m imagining the police charging and and me like oh I only wanted a bank statement for ID for somewhere I want to go to that needs two types of ID

they didn’t charge. They dandered in, spent 10 minutes in the office with manager and customer and then dandered back out again with customer. All very unexciting really. The police never charged to the bank. Even when we were held up at gunpoint. No charging. They just arrived like they were coming to make a lodgement (gunmen had fled by the time police arrived)

Love that expression dandered in

Yep i work in anti money laundering and yes it's to keep out information up to date so we can review if any suspicious activity

But if you are suspicious would you say OOOHHHH You've got a lot of money!!!! to the suspect?

I'm thinking not

I think she was either nosey or thinking about flogging you something.

Saying at the till something like that is inappropriate I think. I would be AOK with occupation quetion but not at comment OOH You've got a lot of money!!! at all. It's really unprofessional :/