How to keep your bank account secure from an abuser

If someone is controlling your money, watching your spending or running up debt in your name, you can take steps to protect your account even before you decide what to do about the relationship. Banks are not allowed to speak to unauthorised third parties about your account, and the bank should help if you suspect financial abuse¹. You can change your password, PIN and security question answers to stop anyone else getting in², and you can ask your bank to send letters somewhere safe³.

The practical steps fall into a few groups: spotting the signs early, locking down access to your existing account, understanding what you can and cannot change on a joint account on your own, opening an account in your own name if you need one, and telling your bank so it can put protections in place. Free, confidential help is available from charities and from the police.

Signs someone is controlling or watching your money

Financial abuse often shows up as unusual activity on your statements before anything else changes. Checking bank statements regularly for transactions you do not recognise is one of the clearest ways it comes to light, and any unrecognised transaction is reported to the bank immediately⁸. The same applies to credit card statements and to the credit report, which is monitored for suspicious activity⁹. Bank alerts set up in an app show when a card has been used, and ATMs are worth checking for signs of tampering⁹.

Setting up bank alerts in your app so you know when your card has been used gives you a real-time signal if someone else has your card details¹⁰. If you use cash machines, check them for signs of tampering¹¹. If someone knows your personal information, that alone does not mean they are genuine, so treat unexpected contact about your money with care¹².

Some patterns point to coercion rather than ordinary fraud. If someone asks you to pay by bank transfer in a way that feels pressured, that can be a sign of a scam¹³. The Payment Systems Regulator has looked at how criminals exploit consumer vulnerabilities, including through authorised push payment fraud, where a person is persuaded to authorise a payment themselves¹⁴. Romance fraud is one route into this, and the advice if you are targeted is straightforward: contact your bank, they are there to help¹⁵.

Securing your existing bank account: passwords, PINs, cards and app access

The first practical move is to change the things that let someone else in. If you have been a victim of fraud, changing your password, PIN and the answers to your security questions helps prevent future access by criminals². Banks use several methods to keep an account safe, including a memorable word, a PIN and a password, so all three need to be things only you know¹⁶.

Use strong and unique passwords to protect your online accounts¹⁷, and set strong, separate passwords for your accounts along with up to date anti-virus software¹⁸. If you bank on your phone, make sure you have different passcodes and PINs for your lock screen and your banking app, and that they are completely unique from anything else you use¹⁹. When you enter your PIN in public, always shield it²⁰.

If your card or phone is lost or stolen, or you think your online bank account or cheque book has been hacked, speak to your bank or building society straight away²¹. Reporting a lost or stolen card is a separate process with its own steps, and it is worth knowing how it works before you need it.

Joint accounts and shared credit: what you can change on your own

A joint account gives shared access to your money, and either person can withdraw whatever money they want from it²³. That is the core risk: you cannot control what the other account holder does with the balance. Opening a joint account with someone you trust matters because it could damage your credit score if they have poor credit, and you could be responsible if they run up debt²⁴.

You can close a joint account at any time, but any overdraft will need to be repaid first. Some banks need permission from all account holders, while others let one person close it unless a dispute is registered⁵. Closing the account will not remove the link to the other person from your credit file, but you can ask credit reference agencies for a notice of disassociation if there is no other financial connection between you⁵.

There are limits on what a bank can move between accounts. The right of set off allows transfers from your sole bank account to a debt only in your name, from your sole bank account to a debt you have jointly, and from your joint bank account to a joint debt if the same two people are named. It does not allow transfers from your joint account to a sole debt in your name, or from your joint account to another joint account you have with a different person²⁵.

If a partner loses mental capacity, the joint account could be frozen unless there is a power of attorney in place⁵. In Scotland, a bank arrestment freezes the full amount in a joint account apart from the protected minimum balance, and the argument that the creditor is not entitled to the full amount can be made²⁶. If a joint bank account is held and one of you goes bankrupt, it will be frozen, and the bank may close it and refund half the money to the other person or remove your name from the account²⁷.

Opening an account in your own name, including without a fixed address

An account in your own name only is the cleanest way to keep your money separate. Some accounts, such as NS&I Direct ISA, can be opened in your own name only²⁸, while others such as NS&I Direct Saver can be opened in your own name or jointly with one other person²⁹.

Not having a fixed address is not a barrier. A basic bank account can be opened even with no fixed address⁶. Some banks have special schemes for people with no fixed address and work with a local homeless charity to help confirm identity³⁰. Where ID documents are missing, or do not match your gender, someone from a homeless charity or an LGBTQ+ organisation can go to the bank with you³¹.

To open an account you usually fill in an application form in a branch, online, or sometimes over the phone, and provide proof of identity including your full name, date of birth and address³². If you are opening an account to receive Universal Credit, there are specific things to look for in the account you choose²⁴.

What your bank can do if you tell it about abuse

Telling your bank is the step that unlocks most of the practical protections. The bank should help if you suspect financial abuse³⁴. Contact your bank and all other banks where you hold accounts, whether current accounts, savings or lending, so measures can be put in place to protect your money². If there are unusual transactions on your statement, inform your bank, building society and credit card company⁹.

Some banks have dedicated support. Bank of Ireland UK offers practical support to help you take back control of your money if you have experienced domestic, financial or economic abuse, including confidential support with personal data and contact details kept private, and a support form that tells the bank how to contact you safely³⁵. Al Rayan Bank can update your address to send mail to another secure location and help you access your account information through its secure Digital Banking app³. HSBC UK branches offer a Safe Space for people experiencing domestic abuse¹.

If you have fallen victim to a scam, contact your bank immediately to report it³⁷. If you are worried about your account security, contact your bank directly using the number on your card or by calling 159⁷. Banks will not speak to unauthorised third parties about your account⁴.

Where to get help: banks, charities and the police

Report financial abuse to the police³⁴. If your concern is about an adult at risk, talk about your concerns with your local council's adult social services department³⁸. The Sanctuary scheme can help, and the people who can confirm your circumstances include a health care professional, the police, a support worker or social worker, a housing officer, or any public, voluntary or charitable organisation that has had contact with you about the domestic abuse³⁹.

For debt and money problems, StepChange can make sure no letters go to your home if that is something you are concerned about⁴⁰. Victim Support is a specialist charity for victims of crimes, including fraud⁴¹. If you are homeless or at risk of homelessness, Shelter has guidance on keeping a bank account³¹.

If a complaint about your bank is not resolved, the Financial Ombudsman Service can look at it. Businesses and consumer advisers can contact the Business Support Hub on 020 7964 1400 for information on how a particular complaint might be looked at, or guidance on rules and how the Ombudsman works⁴². Writing a clear complaint is often the step that moves things forward.