Immigration status checks for bank accounts

Banks and building societies have started carrying out checks on the immigration status of all personal current account holders under government measures to encourage those in the UK illegally to leave, the Home Office has announced.

The checks will be done against the details of known illegal migrants which the Home Office is sharing with Cifas, an anti-fraud organisation.

Once a bank or building society has found a personal current account that is being operated by an illegal migrant, the Home Office will double check the details before instructing the bank or building society on action to take, which may include closing the account, and may consider legal action.