Anti Money Laundering changes - Effective 23rd February 2009

In December 2006, Australia passed new laws to bring us in line with international standards and guide our identification and mitigation of money laundering and terrorism financing. The Westpac Customer Identification Standards list the types of documents that can be used for identification when opening a bank account with us. Some forms previously available on this web site have been removed due to legislation changes.

Australian currency accounts

Guidelines

Transactional account Product Disclosure Statement (PDF 267KB)

Forms

Account opening form - Commonwealth Government (PDF 125KB)

Authority and indemnity for facsimile instructions (PDF 50KB)

Notice of authority - Commonwealth Government (PDF 235KB)

Annexure 'A' to notice of authority - Commonwealth Government (PDF 170KB)

Notice of authority (specific account) - Commonwealth Government (PDF 252KB)

Annexure 'A' to notice of authority (specific account) - Commonwealth Government (PDF 233KB)

Notice of authority for addition to persons authorised - Commonwealth Government (PDF 70KB)

Annexure 'A' to notice of authority for addition to persons authorised - Commonwealth Government (PDF 212KB)

What identification is required?

Individuals (Account Signatories/Verifying Officers)

Individuals transacting on an account may also be required to be Westpac identified. Should this be the case, please have them present their identification documentation at their local Westpac Branch. Once they have been identified, please contact your Client Enquiry Manager and provide them with the new Customer Number.

Certified Copy

A certified copy means an identification document that has been certified as a true and correct copy of an original document by an approved certifier (refer below for approved certifiers).
 
The approved certifier must certify that the photocopy is a true and correct copy of the original by writing on and signing the photocopy as follows:
 
I, [full name of approved certifier], a/an [select appropriate from list of approved persons below], certify that this [name of document] is a true and correct copy of the original. [Signature and date]
 
Example:

I, John Citizen, a Justice of the Peace, certify that this Trust Deed is a true and correct copy of the original.
John Citizen

Approved Certifiers

The following persons are approved by the Bank to certify identification documents:

1. 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 (however described)
2. A judge of a court
3. A magistrate
4. A chief executive officer of a Commonwealth Court
5. A registrar or deputy registrar of a court
6. A Justice of the Peace
7. A notary public (for the purposes of the Statutory Declaration Regulations 1993)
8. A police officer
9. An agent of the Australian Postal Corporation who is in charge of an office supplying postal services to the public
10. A permanent employee of the Australian Postal corporation with 2 or more years of continuous service who is employed in an office supplying postal services to the public
11. An Australian consular officer or an Australian diplomatic officer (within the meaning of the Consular Fees Act 1955)
12. A bank or building society officer with 2 or more continuous years of service
13. A finance company officer with 2 or more continuous years of service
14. An officer with, or authorised representative of, a holder of an Australian financial services licence, having 2 or more continuous years of service with one or more licensees
15. A member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, CPA Australia or the National Institute of Accountants with 2 or more years of continuous membership
16. A Commissioner for Declarations
17. A Commissioner for Affidavits.

Guidance Document for Customers

The document below has been prepared for customers to provide guidance on the process for certifying identification documents.

WIB Customer Guidance on Certifying ID Documents (PDF 24KB)

Nominating a Verifying Officer

Complete if your organisation wishes to nominate an employee of your company to become Verifying Officer in respect to all or specific accounts held with the Bank.

WIB Verifying Officer Nomination Form (PDF 108KB)

How does the organisation remove a Verifying Officer?

When your organisation needs to remove a nominated Verifying Officer (for its bank accounts/facilities) it must:

• Send written advice to the Bank detailing the name of the person to be removed as a Verifying Officer
• That advice must be on your organisation’s letterhead and be signed by those persons within your organisation who are able to provide authority instructions to the Bank eg. two Directors or one Director and secretary or authorised representative or delegate.
   

Sample forms

Sample account opening form (PDF 40KB)

Please return completed documents to your client Enquiry Manager

Closing accounts

Account Closure Request (PDF 431KB)

This form is a standard template requesting closure of an on-shore Australian dollar transactional account.

• This letter must be printed on your Company / Customer Letterhead and signed by the authorised account signatories.
• If the closing account is a drawing / debit account and/or a fee account for either a Merchant or Direct Entry facility, please contact your Client Enquiry Manager prior to completing an Account Closure Request form.
  

Please return completed documentation to your Client Enquiry Manager.

How do I open foreign currency accounts?

A Foreign Currency Account is an Australian based deposit account for foreign currency. They are available for most major currencies.

The Account Opening form and Notice of Authority must be completed to establish a Foreign Currency Account.

Foreign Currency Account Opening Form (PDF 1MB)

Notice of Authority (PDF 226KB)

Foreign Currency Account - Terms & Conditions (PDF 235KB)

Incorporates the Terms and Conditions of accounts.

Foreign Currency Term Deposits

Foreign Currency Term Deposits PDS (PDF 109KB)

Foreign Currency Term Deposit Application (PDF 158KB)

How do I close foreign currency accounts?

Please complete and return the Foreign Currency Accounts Request for Account Closure request (PDF 125KB) when requesting the closure of an on-shore foreign currency account. This document allows you to type details directly onto it and should be signed by authorised signatories.

Please return completed documentation to your Client Enquiry Manager.