Which Banks Certify Documents?

who can certify documjents

Which Banks Certify Documents?

Which Banks Certify Documents?

(Last Updated On: February 20, 2024)

Are you a bank account holder or planning to apply for one soon? If so, you’ll need to provide certified true copies of your documents. This ensures that the copies are accurate representations of the originals. But who certifies these documents? That’s a common question many people have. Getting your documents certified is crucial for the application process, especially for items like your mortgage statement or photocard driving license. It’s often required by banks and various agencies like the Benefits Agency. A certified true copy is a verified duplicate, authenticated by a professional or an authorized entity, such as a translation company or a legal advisor specializing in certification services. In places like Northern Ireland, where specific rules may apply to public documents, ensuring the true likeness of copies is particularly important. Without accurate certification, delays in verifying your documents could hold up the approval of your account. This article aims to provide comprehensive guidance on this crucial process.

What is document certification?

Document certification involves verifying copies of documents by a qualified authority, ensuring accurate translation if needed. This certification is crucial for various legal procedures, such as opening a bank account or applying for a mortgage. When applying for a foreign visa, certified documents must not only be accurately translated but also meet the requirements of the destination country. Any issues with certification could impede processes like bank account setup or visa acquisition. Therefore, it’s vital to handle this process meticulously to avoid complications. If you need further guidance or legal advice regarding document certification, it’s advisable to seek professional assistance.

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certifying documents during covid

Who can certify your documents?

In the case of making true copies of your original documents, therefore, make sure to certify your document from someone professional who has previous experience in this field. It is better if the person you choose for your certification is not in any relationship with you. Some of the main people who have the legal authority to certify documents include:

  • Bank or building societal officials
  • Minister of religion
  • Councilors in offices
  • Chartered Accountant
  • Notaries or Solicitor
  • Health professionals like Doctor or Dentist
  • Teacher or Lecturer

However, the process of certification of documents of two countries can vary based on their laws. For example, in Hong Kong documents can only be certified by notaries, lawyers, public accountants, or a company secretary. While in the U.S. any professional person having good standing in the community is authorized to certify documents. The person certifying the document may charge you some fees.

Which documents need certification?

The choice of documents depends upon the purpose for which you want them to be certified. The certification asks you to get true copies of your documents by the signatures of notaries. These include:

  • Foreign Passport
  • Letters from a hospital or a doctor
  • Photocard driving license
  • Letters from the government department
  • Copies of Diplomas and national identity card
  • Credit Card statements or Building society/ Bank statement
  • Social security cards, national identity card, and insurance card
  • Gas, Electricity, or Council tax bills through mobile phone bills are not acceptable
  • Description of Transactions often banking transaction

How notarization helps in certifying your documents?

If you want to avoid certification charges, consider a simple and free solution available at your nearest bank branch. Notarization typically involves a third party, known as a notary, verifying your identity, witnessing your signature on the document, and sometimes having you swear an oath regarding the accuracy of the information. This process applies to various legal documents, such as proof of identity, proof of address, photocard driving licences, photocopies of documents like birth certificates, school records, and even criminal records. Additionally, notaries handle documents for professional bodies or public records, including letters of indemnity or statements from building societies.

Bank representatives often hold notarization authority for numerous documents such as national identity cards and social security cards. Some employees within the bank fulfill the role of notaries and may provide free notary services to customers. However, for certain certificates, there might be fees imposed on customers. To bypass these charges, one can visit their bank or opt for online request services. It’s important to note that paper requests may sometimes be rejected for processing due to regulations that restrict their use by certain entities. For documents requiring certified copies or authentication for use in foreign countries, consider exploring our Nationwide Apostille Services. Additionally, for assurance in credit-related matters, we also liaise with credit reference agencies for authentication purposes. Explore our Notarized Translation Services for further information.

barclay certify documents
barclay certify document

How does it work?

The notarization process is pretty simple. Your requests for notarization and give a true copy of your original document to notaries and sign it in their presence. After that, the notary officially notarizes the document with the help of an official stamp, writes the date and his signature certification. Sometimes, the requester must fill the form and keep a copy of the original form with him. Notaries also ask you to show a photograph to confirm if you are the person whose signature they are notarizing on the document. Any document can be notarized on the demand of institutions like diplomas, powers of attorney, copy certificates, the designation for retirement accounts, and many more. Furthermore, the notary also compares the copy and original and attaches a notarial certificate which confirms that the copy is accurate and complete.

Moreover, a certification certifies that the attached document is a copy of the official record of the applicant. Keep this thing in your mind that no official records of your certified copies should be available to notaries. The record book summarizes all the vital records, medical records, and journal records. A copy of vital records is also necessary as it represents birth, death, and marriage certificates because the recording agency controls the originals. Using your insurance card, journal records can be removed from the record book. Your current passport or travel document (copies of passports should include all pages that contain a signature certification, passport number, and extension dates). The current passport application is useful when traveling foreign and often the notaries also copy the passport application.

Types of Notarization

There are several different types of common notarization including:

  • Signature witnessing – the notary witnesses your sign.
  • Acknowledgment – used for documents that provide powers of attorney and trust. You declare that the existing signature is yours is required.
  • Copy Certification – the notary makes a copy of an original document and certifies the copy.
  • Jurat – in this the notary public asks you to swear that the information in the document is true.

Which banks can certify documents?

It has become a custom for banks to keep a public notary on staff in most of their branches. There are many U.S. banks performing services of notarization on the requests of their customers. If it is not your actual bank branch, you can just contact the branch manager of the federal branch and he will direct you to a local branch of the bank that has a public notary on the premises. The lists of certainly all the money major central banks which provide certification of documents include:

Most of these banks, such as Lloyds Bank and Barclays Bank, provide free public notary services to their customers. You can certify your original papers, like copies of diplomas and academic records, marriage licenses, original birth certificates, and death certificates, at their branches. Additionally, they accept certified copies of vital records, including birth and death certificates, as well as naturalization certificates with your photocard driving license for identification purposes. These certified copies can be used for various purposes, such as mortgage applications or providing financial advice. If you need apostille documents, certain government agencies or the Office of Vital Records can assist. Many credit unions or building society officials can also assist in notarizing documents for their members. For specific English documents or organizational documents, the Clerk & Recorder’s Office or County Clerk’s office can provide services for certification or verification. Requests for notarization often require proof of residency, which can be established using copies of bills showing your current address or credit union statement

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean when a bank certifies a document?

When a bank certifies a document, it verifies that the photocopy of an original document is a true copy. A bank official will usually stamp, date, and sign the photocopy, indicating that they have seen the original document and that the copy is accurate and unaltered.

Which types of documents can banks certify?

Banks can certify a variety of documents, including but not limited to personal identification documents (such as passports and driver’s licenses), utility bills for proof of address, bank statements, and educational certificates. The specific documents that a bank can certify might vary depending on the bank’s policy and the country’s regulations.

Why would someone need a document certified by a bank?

Certified documents are often required for legal, financial, or administrative processes where verifying the authenticity of a document is necessary. This could include applying for a mortgage, setting up a business, legal proceedings, or international travel and visa applications.

Is there a fee for certifying documents at a bank?

Some banks charge a fee for certifying documents, while others offer this service for free, especially to their customers. The cost can vary depending on the bank, the type of document, and the number of documents that need certification. It’s best to check with the specific bank for their fees and policies.

How does one go about getting a document certified by a bank?

To get a document certified, you typically need to take the original document and a photocopy of it to the bank. An authorized bank official will examine the original to ensure it’s genuine and then certify the photocopy as a true copy. It’s advisable to contact the bank beforehand to confirm that they offer document certification services and to inquire about any specific requirements or appointments.



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