Frustrated by bank account requirements? Banks promise changes

Opening a bank account isn’t what it used to be for many Saint Lucians.

What was once a simple process requiring just an ID, a small deposit and a visit to the bank has, over the past decade, evolved into a system that often requires appointments, proof of address, proof of income, letters, long lines and multiple forms of identification. For some, the process can take weeks. For others, months.

“Opening a bank account turned out to be a lengthy and frustrating process,” said a 21-year-old college student who recently tried to open her first account.

She explained that the process began with scheduling an appointment more than a month in advance, only to be told upon arrival that additional documents were required.

“As a young person who does not have the traditional source of income and is still attending college, it would naturally be difficult to have bills in my name,” she said, explaining that even after providing alternative documents, she was still required to provide proof of income.

She said not having a bank account has made some things more difficult.

“While cash is still widely used, it limits my ability to make certain transactions, especially online purchases and other digital payments.”

Her frustration is shared by those in the private sector.

Business owners say the process can be even more demanding when opening business accounts. One businessman who has operated both in Saint Lucia and overseas said his first account locally took five months to open.

“It’s a lot more difficult in Saint Lucia… but after the first account, the others were easier as you get to know the bankers. Most accounts overseas are open online and get approved in three to five business days,” he said, noting that business accounts require full company documentation and verification from the Registry of Companies.

But according to the President of the Bankers Association of Saint Lucia, Ron Leon, the stricter requirements “did not necessarily originate with the banks”, but rather with international anti-money laundering regulations that were later written into law across the region in the past decade. Because of this, he explained, banks are required under those regulations to verify customers’ addresses and sources of funds.

At the same time, Leon told St Lucia Times that the banks are aware of the public’s frustration and have recently begun placing greater focus on a part of the legislation that allows financial institutions to assess the level of “risk” each customer poses before deciding how much documentation is required. Leon explained that risk, in this case, refers to the likelihood of money laundering or suspicious financial activity.

“If the risk is high, you ask for more. If it’s low, you ask for less. That is giving us some additional flexibility in how we deal with the average man,” he said. 

He also pointed to the introduction of First Step Accounts, which allow some individuals to open an account with just one form of identification.

“It requires one form of ID for anybody who is earning less than $36 000 a year… and for anyone who does not have an existing bank account already. You present your ID, and you get a bank account. We’ve made it that simple,” Leon said. 

Some customers, however, say that even when simplified options are offered, the process can still become complicated.

“I also attempted to open an account through an option that indicated it could be done using only an ID… I was later required to submit the same extensive set of documents to fully complete the process. All in all, the situation felt overly complicated for what should have been a straightforward process,” the college student said.

As banks work to balance international regulations with local realities, many Saint Lucians say they understand the need for security, but hope the system can become easier for ordinary people simply trying to open a savings account.