Eligibility and document checks

Basic eligibility criteria

The following criteria applies to all the people who join Bank Australia.

• People living in Australia as a permanent resident or with a relevant work visa
• People aged 13+

Businesses have their own criteria. 

Children aged under 13

Young people aged under 13 need a parent or guardian’s ID to get started with a Bank Australia MySaver or Term Deposit account. Please note these are the only accounts available for account holders aged under 13.

The account is opened as an ‘in trust for child’ account, meaning the parent or guardian is the trustee to the child's account. 

See the checklist of documentation and application form for details.

Pension and concession card cardholders

• Pension Access – for aged, veterans or disability pensions 
• Basic Access – for health care and concession card holders

First Nations Peoples

For our customers who identify as First Nations Peoples, we will accept a written reference from a community leader.

A community leader can be the following:

• A person who is recognised by the members of the community to be a community Elder
• If there is an Aboriginal council that represents the community - an elected member of the council
• A member of a Regional Council established undersection 92 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989
• A member, or a member of the staff, of a local land council established under section 21 of the Aboriginal Land Rights(Northern Territory) Act 1976
• A director of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander corporation within the meaning of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989

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A member of the staff of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission

Non-resident of Australia or do not meet basic identification requirements?

We can accept alternate methods of ID for non-residents, which will need to be presented in-branch or submitted as certified copies by post to our Contact Centre with the relevant application form. Currently, there is no option for foreign residents to join Bank Australia online. If an individual cannot be identified via any of the Category A, B, C or D documents they may be able to be identified by the following documents:  

• A passport or a similar travel document issued by a foreign government, the United Nations or an agency of the United Nations that contains a photograph and the signature of the person in whose name the document is issued (where relevant with English translation prepared by an accredited translator) and one of the following
• A document from either Category, B, C or D or
• A foreign drivers licence (where relevant with English translation prepared by an accredited translator) or
• A current Australian employment contract that contains the customers residential address

Gender-diverse Customers

Supporting documentation is not required to change your title or gender details. Simply send us a message via Secure Mail, visit your branch or call our Contact Centre to change these details. If you are initially becoming a customer, you can set these details when you set up your accounts. If you are an existing customer and wish to change your name, we require evidence of name change (deed poll, birth certificate or marriage certificate) accompanied with the Change of Details form located here - https://www.bankaust.com.au/support/bank-australia-forms

Transitioning but still in the process of legally changing your name?

We can add a preferred name to your profile in the meantime, and our staff will use this name when assisting you. Please note, your legal name will still need to be quoted to staff for the purpose of verifying your identity.

Loans and credit cards

The application criteria includes people with a regular source of income and healthy credit history. Read more about applying for home loans.

How do I provide ID documents?

There are three options for providing us with your ID documents:

• Go to the online ID form.
• Bring an ID form into one of our branches. 
• Download the ID certification form and post it to us.

What ID documents do I need?

If you are verifying your ID online, you need your Medicare card and driver’s licence or passport. 

If coming into a branch or sending your docs in via post, you need to provide 1 or 2 documents – either via Option A or the Option B or C document combinations below. 

Option A

Provide 1 document from the Category A list

Option B

1. Provide 1 document from the Category B list 
2. And 1 document from the Category C list

Option C

1. 1 document from the Category D list
2. And 1 document from either the Category B or C list

Category A list

• A current driver's licence or permit issued by an Australian State or Territory that contains the person’s photograph.
• A current passport issued by the Australian government (or one that has expired within the last 2 years).
• A card issued by an Australian State or Territory for the purpose of proving the person’s age, which contains a photograph of the person in whose name the document is issued.

Category B list

• A birth certificate or birth extract issued by a State or Territory.
• A citizenship certificate issued by the Australian government.
• A pension card issued by Centrelink that entitles the person in whose name the card is issued, to financial benefits.
• An electoral enrolment card.
• A Medicare card, Department of Veteran’s Affairs entitlement card, or any other current entitlement card issued by the Australian government.
• Loan documents held by Bank Australia.
• Records relating to a mortgage granted to the person by another financial institution other than Bank Australia.
• Land Title Office Records.

Category C list

• A notice issued to an individual by the Australian government, a State or Territory within the last 12 months that contains the name of the individual and their residential address and records the provision of financial benefits to the individual.
• A notice of assessment issued to an individual by the Australian Taxation Office within the last 12 months that contains the name of the individual and their residential address.
• A notice that was issued to an individual by a local government body or utilities provider within the preceding three months that contains the name of the individual and their residential address and records the provision of services to that address or to that person.

Category D list

• A current NSW photo Firearm, Security Industry or Commercial Agents and Private Inquiry Agents operator licence issued by the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority.
• A current photo identity card for a NSW Police Force Officer or Australian Defence Force Member.
• A current consular photo identity card issued by the Department of
• Foreign Affairs and Trade.
• Current foreign passport stamped with permanent residency status (with English translation as required).

Who can certify my documents?

Identity and other documents requiring certification can be certified by any of the following people. They will stamp, date and sign your documents. 

1. A Person who, under a law in force in a State or Territory, is currently licensed or registered to as a:

• Chiropractor
• Dentist
• Legal practitioner
• Medical practitioner
• Nurse
• Optometrist
• Patent attorney
• Pharmacist
• Physiotherapist
• Psychologist
• Trades marks attorney
• Veterinary surgeon.

2. A person who is enrolled on the roll of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory, or the High Court of Australia, as a legal practitioner.

3. A person who is a:

• Australian consular officer or an Australian diplomatic officer (within the meaning of the Consular Fees Act 1955)
• Bailiff
• Bank officer with 2 or more continuous years of service
• Building society officer with 2 or more continuous years of service
• Chief executive officer of a Commonwealth court
• Clerk of a court
• Commissioner of Affidavits
• Commissioner of Declarations
• Credit union officer with 2 or more years of continuous service
• Employee of the Australian Trade Commission who is:
  - in a country or place outside Australia; and
  - authorised under paragraph 3 (d) of the Consular Fees Act 1955; and
  - exercising his or her function in that place
• Employee of the Commonwealth who is:
  - in a country or place outside Australia; and
  - authorised under paragraph 3 (d) of the Consular Fees Act 1955; and
  - exercising his or her function in that place
• Fellow of the National Tax Accountants’ Association
• Finance company officer with 2 or more years of continuous service
• Holder of a statutory office not specified in another item in this part
• Judge of a court
• Justice of the Peace
• Magistrate
• Marriage celebrant registered under Subdivision C of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961
• Master of a court
• Member of Chartered Secretaries Australia
• Member of Engineers Australia, other than at the grade of a student
• Member of the Association of Taxation and Management Accountants
• Member of the Australian Defence Force who is:
  - an officer; or
  - a non-commissioned officer within the meaning of the Defence Force

Discipline Act 1982 with 2 or more years of continuous service; or

– a warrant officer within the meaning of that Act

• Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants or the National Institute of Accountants

• Member of the Parliament of the Commonwealth, or the Parliament of a State, or a Territory legislature, or a local government authority of a State or Territory

• Minister of religion registered under Subdivision A of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961

• Notary public

• Permanent employee of the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth authority, or permanent employee of a State or Territory or a State or Territory authority, or a local government authority with 2 or more years of continuous service who is not specified in another item in this Part

• Person before whom a statutory declaration may be made under the law of the State or Territory in which the declaration is made

• Police officer

• Registrar, or Deputy Registrar, of a court

• Senior Executive Senior employee of the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth authority, or a State or Territory or a State or Territory authority

• Sheriff or Sheriff’s officer

• Teacher employed on a full-time basis at a school or tertiary education institution

• Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

4. An officer with, or authorised representative of, a holder of an Australian financial services licence, having 2 or more years of continuous service with one or more licensees.