Everything you need to know about Strong Customer Authentication (SCA)

The way you manage your online account is changing

The regulations that govern how we help you keep your savings safe are changing in September. All banks will be introducing extra security measures called Strong Customer Authentication, which will enhance the controls already in place to protect your money.

What is Strong Customer Authentication?

Before Strong Customer Authentication, your login details (username and password) were enough to make changes to your online account.

You’ll still require these details but there will now be one further piece of information that you’ll need to provide before you can change your Nominated Account (the UK bank or building society account that you send your savings from and where we return them to when you make a withdrawal).

What our existing customers need to know

If you want to change your Nominated Account, we’ll send you a unique code in the post. You’ll need to log in and enter this code to verify the change.

Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to make deposits into your savings account using your existing Nominated Account until you have verified your new one.

If you’re happy with your existing Nominated Account you don’t need to do anything.

What our new customers need to know

As a new customer, this will form part of the application process so when your account is open, we’ll write to you so that we can verify your Nominated Account.

You’ll do this by logging in to your online account and following the instructions, so that when the time comes, you’ll be able to withdraw your savings without delay.

You won’t need to verify your account to make your deposits but, so that we can make sure your savings are as safe and secure as possible, you’ll need to verify your Nominated Account before you can make a withdrawal.

What’s next?

From 4th September, when you log in you’ll find prompts to guide you through the simple process of getting your Nominated Account verified.

In the meantime, if you’d like more information about managing your account, you can find further details on the FAQs page on our website.