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Divorce/separation

Here you'll find divorce help and support from other Mners. For legal advice, you may find Advice Now guides useful.

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Original poster

Changing name on bank account

13 replies

partystress · 06/12/2023 17:50

I have always used my maiden name for everything except banking. Passport has married and maiden name. Driving licence is maiden name. HMRC, maiden name. Banking is only in married name due to STBXH having had a staff account at one time.

The bank won’t let me change the name on my accounts or credit card until I have a divorce certificate, which is 4-5 months away. I have suggested I take my dual named passport and other docs into a branch to prove that this is a switch to a name in use already, but they are adamant their policy doesn’t allow any change until divorce.

Has anyone successfully changed name with their bank before divorce? I will just close it down and have my salary transferred to a different account, but I could do without further admin hassle really.

OP posts:

Fourmagpies · 07/12/2023 08:16

Does it really matter? I know it's a bit annoying but if they've said they need the divorce certificate then you'll need to wait. That time passes surprisingly quickly. My divorce is finalised but I still have one bank in my married name as I haven't got round to filling the forms in (the other bank was all done online).

Sweetladyjane · 07/12/2023 08:18

I was able to change mine with a deed poll, it was relatively easy - just had to fill in a form and send the deed poll which they posted back to me.

keye · 07/12/2023 08:20

@Fourmagpies

Does it really matter?

Yes, it does, OP wouldn't be asking otherwise.

OP I second the deed poll for speed

RedToothBrush · 07/12/2023 08:23

partystress · 06/12/2023 17:50

Go to another branch. Take your passport. They are being sexist and talking bullshit.

You can change your name without all this nonsense. Your legal name IS the one on your passport.

Any problems, state discrimination. You have proof of your identity. That's sufficient.

Name and shame the bank please.

Fourmagpies · 07/12/2023 12:22

Your legal name IS the one on your passport.

No, it isn't. There is no need to update your passport until it is renewed. My legal name is X and my passport is Y.

CornishGem1975 · 07/12/2023 12:26

Just change your name by deed poll. Lots of people do that before divorce is finalised.

dementedpixie · 07/12/2023 12:30

Do your own deed poll as it doesn't cost anything

Original poster

partystress · 07/12/2023 18:40

Thanks all. A deed poll isn’t appropriate for this because my name is not my married name. My name is my maiden name on everything except my bank cards. My passport has both names because of the hassle of taking children out of the country if they have a different surname. Otherwise my married name appears nowhere.

And yes it matters because I have to say it and spell it every time I call the bank and I have to type it in every time I order something online, and every time I do it is a reminder of things I want to forget.

I won’t name and shame just yet because they have now written to say they are treating it as a formal complaint, so I will see if that leads to anything first.

OP posts:

Penelope1703 · 07/12/2023 19:57

I don't understand why a deed poll
Wouldn't work? Could you explain again?
I took out a deed poll when we separated but not yet divorced so that everything that needed to could be changed to the name I wanted to be known by.

Penelope1703 · 07/12/2023 20:04

If you took a deed poll to your bank they'd change the name on your accounts Even if if that's all you used it for.

CornishGem1975 · 07/12/2023 20:34

It doesn't matter what name you have - you just put what name you WANT on the deed poll. Even if it's a brand new one. I can't see why it won't work.

CornishGem1975 · 07/12/2023 20:35

You just get a deed poll for your maiden name surely. Or am I missing something here?

NuttellaAndPuppyLover · 07/12/2023 20:53

I was in your exact situation. And I also work for my bank so this was doubly annoying.
A deed poll will help you as they need what is called a linking document. All you need to do is say you're giving up the married name (the name you currently have in your bank) and want to be known as the name in your passport. Take both to your bank and they all amend your name for you.
It's frustrating but the rule is that there needs to be a trail as to why the name was changed - marriage / divorce / deed poll, plus evidence of the new name in an id document. Good luck.

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