How to find out when I opened my bank account?

Need to know how long you’ve had your bank account, or been with a particular bank? It might come up as a security question for ID verification purposes, or you might need to know because a fixed-period offer is coming to an end.

Whichever is the case, read on for easy tips on how to find out when you opened a bank account in the UK. We’ll include info for a few major UK banks, including Barclays, Nationwide, NatWest, Lloyds and HSBC.

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How to find out when you opened a bank account?

For most banks, you can usually find out when you opened an account by searching in your emails. Look for the confirmation email you received, or find your very first bank statement.

If you can’t find this, there are other ways to check - these vary by bank. We’ll run through tips for a few of the UK’s biggest banks below.

📚 Read more: How to open a bank account in the United Kingdom (UK)?

With Barclays

To check when you opened your Barclays account, you’ll need to register for online banking. You can then follow these steps:

1. Login to your online banking account
2. Head to ‘Profile’ or the account details page - you should find the account opening date here
3. If not, go to statements and look for the date on the very first one.

You can also contact the bank to find out this information. The easiest way to do this is by sending a secure message through online banking or the Barclays mobile banking app.

With Nationwide

To check when you opened a Nationwide account, you’ll need to register for online banking and login. Check the account details page to find the date you opened the account, or check your statements to find the date of the very first one.

If you’re still stuck, you can contact Nationwide by sending a message through online banking, or call 03457 302011.¹

With NatWest

There are two ways you can check when you opened a NatWest account. These are:²

1. Check your statements in online banking - if the account was opened within the last 7 years.
2. Visit a branch with photo ID and the debit card linked to the current account.

With Lloyds

You may be able to find the date you opened a Lloyds Bank account in online banking, by navigating to the account details or profile page.

Otherwise, you’ll need to check in your online statements, or contact the bank. The easiest way to do this is by sending a message through online banking or via the Lloyds Bank mobile app.

With HSBC

The first place to go to check when you opened an HSBC account is online banking.

Head to the account details or profile section to look for the date the account was opened. If you can’t find it, the next thing to try is your online statements, to see how far back they go.

If all else fails, you can always contact HSBC to find the information you need. You can send a message on the HSBC mobile banking app or in online banking, or call 03457 404 404.³ You can also visit a branch with your ID and the debit card linked to the account.

How to check how long you've been with your bank?

Been with your bank a long time, and had more than one account with them over the years? It can be tricky to work out how long in total you’ve been with the bank.

If you need to find the date you initially joined as a customer, there are a couple of ways to do it:

1. Dig out old bank statements - these may be paper copies or emails, or you can request statements from your bank going back 5-7 years (depending on the bank)
2. Contact your bank - you can call, send a message or visit a branch with some ID.

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And that’s it - our top tips on how to find when you opened a bank account. Statements or emails are your best bet, but you may also be able to find the information in your online banking.

If you get stuck, it could be simpler and more direct to just contact the bank and ask for the date your account was opened.

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Sources used:

1. Nationwide - Contact Us
2. NatWest - Support Centre
3. HSBC - Contact

Sources last checked on date: 27-May-2024