Keeping you safe

To detect criminal activity our global systems rely on having your most up to date information. We use this information to provide your account with world-class protection against crime.

We need this information so that we can protect you and M&S Bank from financial crime.

Knowing who our customers are and understanding how they use their accounts ensures we can do this. To protect us both, we have to ensure that the information is accurate, up to date, and complete.

Financial crime can affect anyone and everyone. Your support will go a long way to help us make banking safer.

Constant changes in technology and the way companies do business has affected the whole banking industry and, in turn, how we protect it. Fraud and financial crime are becoming even more sophisticated and globally organised - so we need to be more vigilant than ever. With your help, in providing us with up to date information, we can stay one step ahead of financial crime.

No, it won't. The work to protect your account happens behind the scenes at M&S Bank, so it won't change the way you bank. However, if we don't receive your up to date information we may not be able to provide you with all of our services.

If we require further information or documentation, we will contact you to discuss the steps you should take. We will only be in touch if we need you to confirm or provide new information or documentation. If you don't hear from us, you won't need to do anything.

This is to understand where your funds are coming from and going to as part of our ongoing efforts to protect you, and us, from fraud and financial crime.

Utility bills are considered to be one of the safest ways to confirm address details. Online statements can be manipulated, so while we appreciate it can be inconvenient to produce original documents (or certified photocopies) we need these documents to protect your account from potential misuse.

It's important we can verify your identity. A passport is often one of the simplest and most readily available documents you can provide. We will require a certified photocopy of your document (not the original) when you send it to us in the prepaid envelope.

Ultimately, if we don't receive your up to date information we may not be able to provide you with all of our services. We need to ensure you're fully protected from financial crime and fraud - if we don't have the right information, we can't do this.

As soon as we receive your information, we'll update our records.

We'll give you sufficient time to provide the information. If you're having trouble gathering information please do let us know as soon as possible so we can help wherever we can. It may, for example, be possible for us to use alternative documents in your possession.

As more of our customers live, travel and trade internationally, we're always looking for better ways to help you bank safely - wherever you are in the world. Our global systems and processes work by sharing data and customer information across borders to prevent financial crime. You may only bank in one country but we have a commitment to protect your account globally. We need to share customer data across parts of HSBC Group.

We'll use this information to protect you, and ourselves, from financial crime. We take our obligation to protect your data very seriously. All the information you provide will be subject to HSBC Group's data and security standards to ensure its protection. We'd like to reassure you that your information will only be used for your protection and won't be passed to any third parties for marketing purposes.