Order of our names changed on joint bank account

[Maresmaid]

Many years ago my husband and I opened 2 joint bank accounts. One was set up in joint names with his name first and the other in joint names with my name first so that we could easily identify which account was which. The account with his name first received our salaries and transferred a regular amount to the account with my name first which then paid out all the various household dd’s. I recently needed to set up a new standing order to the account with my name first and discovered that the names have been switched round by the bank without our knowledge so both accounts now show my husbands name first.

I am fully aware that this makes no difference to my legal claim to the money in the account and it’s just really an admin issue, but it’s made me feel like making a fuss and insisting they change it back. I deal with the family finances, I use the mobile and banking app, when something needs paying husband asks me to log on and do it, so technically I am the primary user and i feel like making a stand about the sexism of automatically showing husbands name before wife’s.

Am I being unreasonable if I complain to the bank?

I worked for a bank that put account holders names in age order. Eldest first.

Don’t get my started on sexism in the banking system. I’ve so many examples. Please complain, they aren’t going to stop doing this short of shit if people won’t speak up.
when I complain I’m always told it is “the system” - update your antiquated sexist IT system then!

"The account with his name first received our salaries and transferred a regular amount to the account with my name first which then paid out all the various household dd’s."

Totally off topic ,but why do you do this? Why not just one account?

Btw, you wouldn't be unreasonable at all to try complaining.

That's annoying, implying sexism even if the reason is simply that the name on the first joint account has now been used for subsequent accounts for the bank's convenience. . Which is a likely explanation.
I am first named on both our joint accounts because I opened the accounts and put our names in that order on the application form. DH was the higher earner at that time.

This happened to me but many years ago. I had my bank account for about 10 years before I met my husband. When we got married, I added his name to it and we used it as our joint account. At some point the order of the names got swapped. I think at the time we were moving/ had young children and lots of other things to sort out. It is straight forward sexism.

Well in that case I am going to contact them and ask them to change it back because I’d be furious if they did that.

Bblimey that's awful. Hopefully it doesn't happen now!

These are odd examples as a joint account is equal not ‘main account and second account holder’ -

Because when we only had one account it was difficult to keep track of how much money to leave in the account to accumulate for annual payments like insurance (which is cheaper if paid annually rather than monthly). I worked out the annual total of all utilities, insurances, telephone bills, car tax etc etc and added an estimation of car repairs and a little extra as a contingency then divided by 12 to give a monthly figure to cover those bills. This means that whatever is left in the main account is available for food and anything else. I find it a very easy way to instantly see how much money is available to spend. Money in the ‘budget’ account is considered as already spent.

When I had similar with my exh, I was told that it was because he was oldest 🤷‍♀️

Is it one of the banks that has merged together? As that may explain the change, a different system doing a data transfer with an automatic way round of how the names are listed.

If you bank with Halifax, Lloyds or Bank of Scotland they just bung all your stuff together, you don't get any say in it. All their data is merged together.

You need to revise your Titanic history. Those "rich, misogynistic men" were held back at gunpoint by the captain and crew to stop them from grabbing all the lifeboat seats for themselves.

Oh and OP, it can make a difference whose name is first on the account, as PP have indicated, so I would definitely ask for an explanation and require them to change it back.

It definitely should not matter who is named first on a joint account. They are equal. Unless PP are talking about credit cards or insurance policies. Joint bank accounts, current accounts do not have a main account holder and a secondary account holder they are joint and equal.

How would they know who the higher earner is?

This is wrong of them. The name of an account is very specific and it is not the place of the bank to change it for you unless you ask them to. I would contact them and ask them why they've done it, tell them that it will cause confusion and tell them to stick to the original title. When we married, I remember being asked very specifically how we would like the account to be titled. It was 1983 so it's ridiculous to say the man's name automatically goes first, because it didn't, even then. It was obviously in the days of having to actually go to the bank to open an account though so you could discuss things face to face, which does make a difference. You were literally seen and heard.
To all the people who say "Nah, it doesn't matter", it might do. I remember strings of numbers quite easily (account numbers, phone numbers etc) but my husband does not. Our minds work differently. So I would be able to know which was which by the number; he wouldn't, at least not on first sight.

Our bank used to send cheque books addressed to us both but paying-in books just to me, even though both had both names in the books.

Very annoying I have to say. All you can do is have a word with them though.

DH and I have one joint account for everything - all living costs/bills etc... We also have a savings account. Both accounts in both names.

EVERY letter/statement the bank sends, comes addressed to Mr PrettyLittleRose. Not only is his name first, but mine isn't even fucking on there.

I just CBA to do anything about it. Both names are still on both accounts.

I just cannot believe it though, that even in 2026, men are still prioritised.

I earn more than he does! Always have!

I do just feel it’s subtle sexism. I understand that there is a cultural default - but that cultural default is based on sexism from a time that assumed women could not take care of their own finances and needed their husbands to endorse a bank account if they wanted one. When I looked up when women were given the ‘right’ to their own financial independence without having to involve their husband I was shocked at how recently women were financially handicapped by the system. There is actually no real reason that we should be defaulting to list a male name first on any document, contract, bank account or letter.

So his name deff isn’t first alphabetically?

It is first alphabetically, but the account operated with my name first for many many years.

So it might not be sexism then

Good point.

Do computers do sexism?

So why is his name first?

Could be because the names are now listed alphabetically. OP is better off phoning and asking before raging about it really