Can I open an account in my maiden name? I have not used my maiden name for quite some time, but am going through a divorce.
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What follows is based on banking practice in the U.S. Your email address suggests that you live in the U.K., so you need to check local banking practice where you live.
In theory, you are entitled to adopt any name you wish unless you do so fraudulently. However, in practice, banks need and require that you provide evidence of your identity before you can open an account. There are two key places you will have to change your name before most banks will accept your new identity -- the Social Security Administration and the state driver's license bureau.
Banks need assurance that the name on your account and your Social Security number will pass the so-called "Name/SSN" match test. The only way for that to happen is for you to update your Social Security record with your new name. The bank may even ask to see that name on your Social Security number card.
The most commonly accepted documentary evidence of identity is a photo ID issued by state or federal government agencies, and by far the most common ID is a state driver's license or state ID for non-drivers. Most banks will require that the name on your license agrees with the name you use on your deposit account.
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What follows is based on banking practice in the U.S. Your email address suggests that you live in the U.K., so you need to check local banking practice where you live.