Proving your identity

Whether you're a new or existing customer, we need to confirm your details when you apply for a new mortgage with us.

This is to meet UK money laundering regulations and help stop criminals from using financial products or services for their own benefit.

We’ll only ask for enough information to allow us to open your account and we’ll let you know what you need to provide when your mortgage application has been submitted.

We'll tell you if we need you to provide evidence of your name and address once we've received your application.

To confirm your identity, we need to verify your name and address. There are 2 ways to do this:

• We may be able to check your identity electronically by using credit reference agencies to search sources of information relating to you (an Identity search), or
• we may also ask you to provide paper ID proofs. You must provide certified documents only and should not send us the original documents.

A list of UK and non UK certifiers we accept is provided below. The certifier must confirm that the document is a true copy of the original. The certification must include the certifier's:

• full legal name
• contact details
• occupation, membership or qualification, together with the relevant membership or qualification number (where applicable).

UK Certifiers

• Lawyer - must be a solicitor or a member of the Law Society (or equivalent), or a Barrister registered with the Bar Council.
• Banker or Financial Professional - must be employed by a financial institution regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or equivalent.
• Accountant - must be a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) or equivalent.
• Independent Financial Adviser - must be employed by a financial institution regulated by the FCA or equivalent.
• Notary public - must be a member of the Notaries Society.
• Post Office staff
• Nationwide employees

Non‑UK Certifiers

• Lawyer
• Notary public

The certifier must be regulated by a relevant professional body.

You can send your certified ID documents by email, or go into a Nationwide branch with your original ID proofs.

If we cannot confirm your identity, we will not be able to continue with your application.