List of financial institutions that do not satisfactorily verify financial statements

For the purpose of verifying applicants' maintenance funds under the points-based system, the UK Border Agency maintains a list of financial institutions in some countries that do not satisfactorily verify financial statements. This page contains the list that we hold for each country.

The list will be kept under review, and additions or deletions made as appropriate.

We will include an institution on the list if we consider, on the basis of experience, that it does not verify financial statements to our satisfaction in more than 50 per cent of a sample of cases.

Further or alternatively, we may include institutions on the list if they do not participate in specified schemes or arrangements in the country of origin, where we trust the verification checks provided by banks that do participate in those schemes.

The following criteria provide an example of the minimum standard for banks in order for us to satisfactorily verify documentation:

• international banks; or
• national banks with a UK private banking presence; or
• regulated national/state banks that provide a core banking service.

We may award points to banks that do not meet these criteria, where they have a history of providing satisfactory verification checks.

The addition or removal of each bank to or from the list will be considered on its own facts.

An unsatisfactory verification check means that the institution does not respond to or provide a reliable response to our request for information, or we are unable to contact the institution. When a bank frequently provides unsatisfactory responses to verification requests, it is proportionate to include it on a list from which we will not accept documents, rather than verifying applications individually.

A points-based system applicant will score no points for maintenance if their supporting documents show that their funds are held in a financial institution on the list.

Our entry clearance officers will continue to verify financial information from other institutions on a case-by-case basis. We may refuse points-based system applications on the basis of these individual checks.

To assist applicants, we have also provided lists of financial institutions in each country from which we will accept financial statements.

Last Updated: 09 May 2012