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<p>Since September 2016, the nine largest personal current account providers in the
UK are legally required to offer basic bank accounts to customers who do not have
a bank account or who are ineligible for a bank’s standard current account, provided
that the customer is legally resident in the EU.</p><p> </p><p>The industry produced
Joint Money Laundering Steering Group (JMLSG) guidance notes contain a list of documents
which are capable of evidencing identity for special cases, including refugees, who
either cannot meet their standard verification requirement, or have experienced difficulties
in the past when seeking to open accounts, and which will generally be appropriate
for opening a basic bank account. In the case of refugees the suggested non-standard
documentation includes an Immigration Status Document with Residence Permit.</p><p>
</p><p>To help refugees to prove their identity, when an individual is granted refugee
status by the Home Office they are issued with a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
as proof of the holder’s right to stay, work or study in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>The
treatment of customers by financial services firms, including banks and building societies,
is governed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in its Principles for Businesses.
The FCA’s Principles include a general requirement for firms to provide a prompt,
efficient and fair service to all of their customers and the government works closely
with the FCA to ensure that members of the public have access to useful and affordable
financial products and services.</p>
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