Frequently asked questions

How do I...

How do I...

Change my address?
Simply complete the change of address form and take to your local branch or send to our Head Office. We will also need your passbook (where issued) to complete the process. This will of course be returned to you, detailing your new address. Identification may be required.

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Advise you of my change of name?
If you have changed your name as a result of a marriage, civil partnership, divorce or via Deed Poll, we will need to see the original legal documentation.

We don't recommend that original documents are posted to us so if you are not able to take these to a local branch, a copy which has been certified by a solicitor on all pages will be acceptable. We will also need your new signature so a Change of name form (PDF 32KB) should be completed too.
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Transfer funds into my Chelsea Building Society account from another organisation?
Not all accounts can receive payments. Please refer to your account terms and conditions before making a payment to make sure that it's possible. Funds can be transferred directly to your Chelsea Building Society account by any of the methods below:

  • by BACS (Banks Automated Clearance System)
    This money transmission service enables cleared funds to be received, usually on the third working day after its sent. To arrange this transfer, the organisation sending the payment will need to quote sort code 08-60-72, your Chelsea Building Society account number and your full name
  • by telegraphic transfer (CHAPS)
    This money transmission service enables cleared funds to be received on the same day. However, the organisation sending the payment may charge you. These charges may vary and you should therefore agree with them before opting for this service.
    To arrange this transfer, the organisation sending the payment will need to quote sort code 08-02-55, your Chelsea Building Society account number and your full name
  • by telegraphic transfer (SWIFT) from overseas
    This money transmission service enables cleared funds to be sent from financial organisations outside the UK directly to your Chelsea Building Society account. To arrange this transfer, the organisation sending the payment will need to quote: sort code: 08-00-51
    Account number: 50048371
    Account name: Chelsea Building Society
    IBAN: GB06CPBK08005150048371
    BIC Code: CPBKGB22
    Reference: Your personal Chelsea account number
    Amount: The actual amount to be sent, stating currency
    Account number that funds will be added to: Chelsea Building Society's account that will be credited
    Account name: The full name of the account holder
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Transfer my account to another Chelsea account?
To find out if your account can be transferred immediately or if a period of notice is required, please refer to your account terms and conditions, contact your local branch or contact us on 0845 744 6622.

Once you have chosen the account you want to transfer to, just complete, sign and return the application form related to your selected account either to your local branch or our Head Office. Please also complete and sign a transfer form and provide us with your passbook, where issued.

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Change my interest or BACS withdrawal instructions?
Please give the following information to your local branch or our Head Office in writing (please include your signature).

  • bank/building society name and address
  • bank/building society sort code (usually 6 digits ie 12-34-56)
  • bank/building society account number (usually consisting of 8 digits ie 12345678)
  • bank/building society reference (if funds are to be transferred to a building society account a reference number may be required)
This information may be found on a statement or the bottom of a cheque book.
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Request a replacement Chelsea card or replacement PIN (Personal Identification Number)?
 The Chelsea card facility is only available with specific accounts and is subject to the terms and conditions of issue. Please check your terms and conditions to ensure that this facility is available.

If you are applying for a replacement Chelsea card (subject to approval) as your original card has become damaged, or you need a new PIN please complete a Replacement of damaged Chelsea card and/or replacement PIN request form (PDF 49KB) and return it to your local branch or our Head Office.

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Inform you that my Chelsea card has been lost, stolen, retained in a cash machine or not received?
 Please contact your local branch or contact us immediately by telephoning the emergency number 0845 603 5066. Or for outside office hours call 0845 704 5111, quoting the cardholders name and savings account number.

Please also complete the Not in possession of Chelsea card form (PDF 48KB) and send it to our Head Office or hand it in at your local branch within three days of the card being out of your possession.
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Change the PIN (Personal Identification Number) issued with my Chelsea card?
 Your PIN number can be changed at any time at selected ATM sites. For up to date information of your nearest PIN change location, please contact us on 0845 744 6622 or visit your local branch to obtain further details.

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Make regular payments from my Chelsea account (standing order)?
 This facility is offered to Capital and Classic Account holders only.

If you wish to arrange for regular payments to be made from your Capital or Classic Account, please ask your local branch (Capital Account holders only) for a standing order authority form (PDF 60KB) or complete the online version.

All standing order instructions must be in writing, signed by the saver and received by Chelsea no less than 7 days before the first payment is due.

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Make regular payments in to my Chelsea account (standing order)?
 Funds can be transferred automatically from a bank or building society account into your Chelsea account on a regular basis, with a standing order.

To do this, just give your bank or building society the following information:

  • Chelsea sort code: 08-60-72
  • your Chelsea account number: eg 12345678 (This information can be found on your passbook or on your statement)
  • amount and frequency: The amount of the payment and the frequency that the payments should be made eg Monthly

Alternatively, obtain a standing order form (PDF 38KB) which should be completed and forwarded to your bank or building society.

Please note that not all Chelsea accounts can receive additional payments. Please refer to your terms and conditions before arranging the standing order payments.

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Change the amount or cancel the standing order being made from my Chelsea account?
 This facility is offered to Capital and Classic Account holders only.

If you wish to CANCEL an existing standing order, please ask your local branch (Capital Account holders only) for a Standing order cancellation form (PDF 40KB) or complete the online version.

If you wish to AMEND an existing standing order, please ask your local branch (Capital Account holders only) for a Standing order authority form (PDF 60KB) or complete the online version.

All instructions to amend or cancel a standing order must be in writing, signed by the saver and received by Chelsea no less than 7 days before the next payment date.

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Cancel a Direct Debit?
 You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time. Just give us your signed authority confirming cancellation of the relevant Direct Debit, before the next payment date. You can hand this in at your local branch or send it to our Head Office. Please also inform the originator of the Direct Debit, that you wish to cancel this agreement.

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Register to receive interest with no tax deduction?
 Please read the important information regarding income tax on page 4 of Chelsea's booklet entitled Information for Chelsea savers.

If you are eligible to receive interest 'gross' (tax free), please complete and sign the HM Revenue and Customs (formerly Inland Revenue) R85 form, with details of the Chelsea account that you should not be taxed on. You will need your account number. A form must be completed for each and every account you wish to receive gross interest on.

Important note - From the date of receipt of the HM Revenue and Customs (formerly Inland Revenue) R85 form, all future payments of interest will be paid without the deduction of tax, until notified to the contrary. (In the case of joint accounts interest may be paid gross but only where all account holders can provide us with a valid R85 Certificate). If the account is held jointly (by no more than two persons) and only one saver is eligible to certify to receive gross interest, interest may be paid half net and half gross.

If you want us to refund tax previously deducted in the current financial year, this request must be made in writing to HMRC.

Please contact HM Revenue and Customs (formerly Inland Revenue) if you are unsure of your entitlement to claim gross interest on your savings.

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Add someone to or remove someone from my account?

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Proving your identity
Before you open an account with us, we will ask for proof of your identity. This is no reflection on you - it’s to ensure compliance with the Money Laundering Regulations that apply to every bank and building society. Asking for proof of identity also makes it more difficult for criminals to use stolen identities, helping to prevent financial crime and protecting you from fraud.

Proving your identity is simple and can be done by post or in person at one of our branches. Once we have taken a record of the relevant information we will return any documents to you.

Existing customers may also need to provide us with additional information – we will let you know if this is the case.

Acceptable documents
If you are opening your account by post we’ll need:

  • the required item from section A and
  • one item from section B and
  • one item from section C.

If you are opening your account at a branch we’ll need:

  • one item from section B and
  • one item from section C.

We will need to see these documents for each new person opening an account and they must be originals. The same document cannot be used to confirm both your name and address.

Please ensure that your full name, including initials, is on all documents presented.

A

A completed cheque drawn on your personal current account (sole or joint) for the opening deposit or as part of the opening deposit. We are unable to accept building society cheques as proof of identity.+

B

One of the following Government issued documents to confirm your name:

  • current valid passport (foreign passports will take longer to process within the branch) (branch applicants only, please don’t post these to us)
  • current full driving licence (branch applicants only, please don’t post these to us)
  • HM Revenue and Customs Notice of Tax Coding or Demand (issued within the last 12 months)
  • evidence of entitlement to state benefit, state pension or tax credit (issued within the last 12 months).

If you can’t provide a document from the above list, the following documents are also acceptable:

  • bank or building society, credit card or credit union statement showing your current address (no more than 3 months old).

C

One of the following to confirm your address:

  • current full driving licence (branch applicants only, please don’t post these to us)
  • domestic utility bill – gas, water, electricity, telephone – NOT mobile (no more than 3 months old)
  • mortgage statement (no more than 3 months old)
  • council tax bill (current year)
  • bank or building society, credit card or credit union statement showing your current address (no more than 3 months old).

If you apply to open an account as a trustee, then as well as identifying you (see acceptable documents A,B and C), we will need to know the name of the settlor of the trust (ie the person who provided the funds to set up the trust) and also identify each beneficiary. If the beneficiary is over 16 we will need to see two documents (one from B and one from C).

D

Where the beneficiary of the trust is under 16, the following are required for the young beneficiary:

  • verification of the parent(s)/guardian(s) address (an original document from list C)

    and one of the following:

  • original passport (photocopy is acceptable for postal applications)
  • original birth certificate (photocopy is acceptable for postal applications)
  • photocopy NI card
  • photocopy NHS medical certificate
  • original Benefit or Child Tax document.

If you can’t supply one of the items listed, please call us as we may still be able to help. In some circumstances we may be able to accept other documents, or use an electronic verification system to prove your identity.

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How much is protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme?
Under the Scheme, 100% of the first £50,000 is protected. The payment is calculated by reference to all the saver's protected shares with, and deposits in, the society. Most savers are protected including individuals and small firms.
Further information of the Scheme is detailed in our Financial Services Compensation Scheme leaflet, ref MKS/306.

Head Office address:

Savings Department
Chelsea Building Society
Thirlestaine Hall
Thirlestaine Road
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL53 7AL

Find out your local branch address.

+If you're opening a joint account please ensure both applicants' names appear on the cheque

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