Frequently Asked Questions

The Access Bank UK Limited provides: outstanding customer service; a range of banking services to meet your needs and a pricing structure which offers value for money and is both transparent and easy to understand.

Yes, many of our Accounts can be held in joint names, as well as individually.

The Bank offers three current accounts, starting at a flat fee of £10 per month for maintaining the account, up to £30 per month, depending on the level of service chosen. Please see the Product information and Fee Information Documents for each, below:

Access Personal

Access Premier

Access Exclusive

Interest will not be paid on Current Account balances however we offer competitive rates on your Notice Deposit Account. Please refer to the latest Interest Rate sheet.

We offer USD ($), GBP (£) and EUR (€) Current Accounts.

Yes, money can be sent outside the UK in USD ($), GBP (£) and EUR (€) to any Account in the same designated currency anywhere in the world through our Online Banking service or via telephone payment.

Your statements will be sent by post to your correspondence address unless you have requested otherwise.

We will send you statements every six months to your stated correspondence address on your account unless you have stated another preference.

Yes, the Bank has a duty to protect the confidentiality of its customers under the General Data Protection Regulation. However, in certain circumstances (such as if obliged by law) we may have to provide information. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for more information.

In order to ensure that the best possible service is provided, it is essential that all appropriate members of staff have the ability to access your details.

When you pay a cheque into your Account it is sent to the drawer’s bank for payment. This is known as the Image Clearing System, it enables images of cheques to be exchanged between banks and building societies, meaning that if you pay in a cheque on a weekday (before our cut-off time) you will be able to utilise the funds by 23.59 on the next weekday (provided that the cheque has not been rejected). You can find more information about cheque clearing cycles via the following link: https://www.wearepay.uk/what-we do/payment-systems/image-clearing system/

Yes, you will receive a letter informing you of any cheque that is returned unpaid. Also, if you check your Account statement online, you will see that you have not been credited for the value of the returned cheque.

A Direct Debit is an instruction to allow an organisation or an individual to collect regular payments from an Account – such as gas, electricity, rent, phone bills etc. Direct Debits may be for fixed or variable amounts.

The Direct Debit Guarantee Scheme protects you in the rare event that there is an error in the payment of your Direct Debit.

To arrange a new Direct Debit, you will need to sign a Direct Debit instruction provided by the organisation that you would like to pay.

A Standing Order is an instruction to pay a fixed amount to someone from your Account at regular intervals. The money is taken from your Account automatically on a fixed date.

To arrange a new Standing Order, you will need to complete a Standing Order Form.

A Bank Identifier Code (or BIC) is used to identify your bank when receiving payments, including when receiving money from outside the UK.

International Bank Account Numbers (IBANs) have been introduced to standardise the identification of bank accounts around the world. It does not replace your existing Bank sort code and Account number(s).

Your Account number and branch details are the primary way in which the Bank identifies your Account. Your IBAN is used when receiving money from outside the UK in your best interest to identify your Account in a uniform way. It allows the sending bank to validate that the IBAN data provided is in the correct format.

It is a legal requirement for all bank accounts in the EU and EEA to have an IBAN and for a BIC to be associated with the IBAN. Due to regulations, IBAN and BIC codes are required when sending money outside the UK and receiving money from outside the UK within Europe.

You should advise the beneficiary that the payment may be delayed or subject to additional charge if this information is not provided. Please note that, from 01/01/2007, the beneficiary’s bank is entitled to reject the payment if the IBAN and BIC codes are not specified.

The security of your financial information is very important to us, and every effort is made to protect you online. We use the latest technology to ensure that our online service is safe and secure.

If you suspect fraudulent transactions on your Account, you need to report this directly to us on 0333 222 4516. We will investigate immediately.

Our Relationship Managers are able to help. Please contact them on 0333 222 4516, otherwise email us at [email protected] for further assistance.

Our UK-based Relationship Managers will be pleased to answer any of your questions. You can contact them directly on 0333 222 4516 or on +44 1606 813020 (if you are calling from outside of the UK).

At The Access Bank UK Limited we always strive to offer the highest level of service. However if you have not been satisfied and you are a customer of The Access Bank UK Limited, you can contact our Relationship Managers directly on 0333 222 4516 or send your written complaint by either emailing us at [email protected] or writing to us at: Customer Services, The Access Bank UK Limited, 4 Royal Court, Gadbrook Way, Gadbrook Park, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 7UT.

Please note that we are unable to answer any complaints for Access Bank Plc or Group, and you will need to contact them directly to ensure the matter is dealt with. Please follow the link below for more information:

www.accessbankplc.com/help/complaint-channels

We would be delighted to hear from you to discuss our range of products and services and show you how they may be of benefit to you.

Our experienced team will be happy to assist if you have any queries or require further information relating to our services.

Please contact our Relationship Managers on:

0333 222 4516 or +44 1606 813 020 (if you are calling from outside of the UK)

Alternatively you can email us: [email protected]

Switching your current account to The Access Bank UK Limited is easy, please click here for more details.

Background 
On 13th January 2018 the second Payment Services Directive (PSD2) came into effect and replaced the original Payment Services Directive 2009 (PSD1) for the regulation of payment services in the EU.

PSD2 was introduced to bring regulation up to date in respect of developments in the market for payment services and promote further innovation. It also aims to improve consumer protection, make sending money within the UK and sending and receiving money from outside the UK, within Europe safer and more secure, and drive down the cost of services.

The changes include the following:

Increased transparency to payment fees and charges
For European Economic Area (EEA) transactions in EEA and non-EEA currencies, the payer will only pay their bank’s charges and the payee will pay the beneficiary bank’s charges.

The amount customers are liable for in respect of an unauthorised payment transaction arising from the use of a lost or stolen payment instrument has been lowered.

Enhanced consumer protection and security
PSD2 introduces measures for strong authentication in order to increase security in relation to payment services.

Regulation of Third Party Payment Providers (TPPs)
PSD2 introduces new ways of sharing data and sending money both within the UK and outside the UK, within Europe direct from online ‘payment accounts’. This is to allow customers to have more control in respect of their information and the way money is sent both within the UK and outside the UK within Europe.

If you have a payment account that is accessible online, you can authorise certain types of regulated businesses to access and collate information regarding your accounts, or initiate payments to third parties from your account without the requirement to provide payment card details. These businesses are referred to as ‘Third Party Payment Service Providers’ (‘TPPs’).

Further information in respect of PSD2 can be found in a factsheet published on the European Commission website: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-15-5793_en.htm?locale=en.

The Access Bank UK Limited – Open Banking

Applying to use our APIs

If you are an Account Information Service Provider (AISP) and/or Payment Initiation Service Provider (PISP) you can apply to use the Bank’s APIs.  Prior to commencing your application to access and use the Bank’s APIs, please ensure that you have registered with the FCA as an Account Information Service Provider (AISP) and/or Payment Initiation Service Provider (PISP).

Contact [email protected] to express your interest in using the Bank’s APIs and provide details of your FCA registration. We will then contact you to progress your application.

What we provide

In accordance with the Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2), the Bank provides access to a Sandbox environment which delivers mocked responses for each of the APIs that have been made available. This will allow you to test that your API calls receive the documented response. Please note the Sandbox is not transactional.

The Bank provides API access to the live banking system in line with the PSD2 directive.

Full documentation in respect of the Bank’s APIs can be accessed at:

Accounts:                          https://accounts65.docs.apiary.io/

Account Consents:     https://accountaccessconsents3.docs.apiary.io

Domestic Payments:  https://domesticpayments2.docs.apiary.io

Payment Consents:     https://domesticpaymentconsents2.docs.apiary.io

When someone dies it can be hard to think of the practical things. We have created a step-by-step guide to read when you are ready. It helps explain things you might need to do and answers some questions you may have.

Bereavement guide

We are aware that sometimes you may find yourself in difficult situations, but we are here to support you through your financial worries, and we have prepared the below list of some organisations that may be able to help with certain difficulties that you may be experiencing. Please follow the link below to access the ‘Where you can go for help’ guide.

Please follow the link to our leaflet for some useful information about ‘How to protect yourself from debit card fraud’. By using the mobile banking app and following these simple steps we can reduce the risk of debit card fraud. If you have any questions about your debit card, please call the Customer Support Team on +44 (0)1606 537 800 between the hours of 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.