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Opening a bank account

Acceptable Identification When Opening a Personal Bank Account

When you're opening a personal bank account, you need acceptable identification. You can use:

any two pieces from List A or List B below, one of which must be from List A; or
one piece from List A below, if your identity can be confirmed by a client in good standing with the bank or by an individual of good standing in the community where the bank is located.

It's important to note that this identification must be original, valid and in good condition.

List A

Acceptable pieces of identification are:

a valid driver's licence issued in Canada;¹
a current Canadian passport;
a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship or Certification of Naturalization;
a Permanent Resident card or Citizenship and Immigration Canada Form IMM1000 or IMM1442;
a birth certificate issued in Canada;
a Social Insurance Number (SIN) card issued by the Government of Canada;
an Old Age Security card issued by the Government of Canada;
a Certificate of Indian Status issued by the Government of Canada;

a provincial health insurance card;² or
a document or card with your signature and photograph on it issued by:

the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia;
Alberta Registries;
Saskatchewan Government Insurance;
the Department of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations;
the Department of Transportation and Public Works of the Province of Prince Edward Island;
Service New Brunswick;
the Department of Government Services and Lands of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador;
the Department of Transportation of the Northwest Territories; or
the Department of Community Government and Transportation of the Territory of Nunavut.

List B

Acceptable pieces of identification are:

an employee identity card with a photograph from an employer well known in the community;
a signed automated banking machine (ABM) card or client card issued by a member of the Canadian Payments Association;
a signed credit card issued by a member of the Canadian Payments Association;
a signed Canadian Institute for the Blind (CNIB) client card with a photograph; or
a current foreign passport.

¹ A Quebec driver's licence may be used if you offer it, but it can't be required by financial institutions for identification purposes.
² Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba prohibit the use of health insurance cards as identification. Quebec's health insurance card cannot be required by financial institutions for identification, but you can offer it if you wish to do so.

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		Last Modified: 2005-08-04	Important Notices