I wanted to open an account with Rabodirect. I got the usual bill, passport copy and so forth and even through in a letter from the Revenue with my address on it. They sent back and stated that they wanted a certified copy of my passport. I checked that this wasn't because I hadn't sent a cheque, as a personal cheque normally removes the requirement for certified documents. It seems that they require certified docs for everyone. This is a recent requirement as their website implies otherwise. I spoke to them and clarified that this was their own requirement. I said that I didn't especially want to go along to a Garda station and I suggested that the need to do so didn't quite reflect their marketing which talks about "No one wants obstacles thrown in their way before they've even made it off the blocks". They said that I could get the docs stamped at another financial institution, but I couldn't quite see why some other bank with real offices should do their work for them, they said that I shouldn't tell them why I needed this done.
Two things
The likes of Rabo should do a deal with An Post so you can bring docs along there, if they want to require all of this, rather than getting other people to do the work for nothing.
In general there is a great need for a mature approach to ID requirements here and the Central Bank need some sort of central database that allows a person in good standing with banks and the Revenue open a new account without all this palaver. This is possible in many countries.
Two things
The likes of Rabo should do a deal with An Post so you can bring docs along there, if they want to require all of this, rather than getting other people to do the work for nothing.
In general there is a great need for a mature approach to ID requirements here and the Central Bank need some sort of central database that allows a person in good standing with banks and the Revenue open a new account without all this palaver. This is possible in many countries.