"Poverty Mentality" What are the signs?

[PC]

It lists the verboten "R" word.
Responsibility.

[sidinz]

Over the past few months, after refinancing to a new bank (twice), I've had to open a deduction account and been given a wee info pamphlet that lists the requisites for opening an account. Such requisites include a passport. Not as one of a few options. No. They want your passport and your drivers' licence, although the licence can be substituted with a firearms licence, a NZ ID card (whatever that is) or an over-18 card.
As I don't currently have a passport, this threw them into something of a tizzy, trying to figure out what accommodation could be reached in my case.

But it got me thinking. Clearly, if a passport is their default ID and they assume that anyone opening an account has a passport, then every man and his dog must have one. International travel, once a luxury after everything else is paid, including a home bought, now is commonplace for most people opening a bank account.

Prioritising travel over getting ahead is a sure way to not do so. Although I love to travel and traipsing around ruins is my happy place, I haven't done so in years, as I've been putting my money into property.

[AlFa]

Over the past few months, after refinancing to a new bank (twice), I've had to open a deduction account and been given a wee info pamphlet that lists the requisites for opening an account. Such requisites include a passport. ...

Weird. I think I only needed a passport to open ASB account 10 years ago just because I haven't had any other ID. Once I've got NZ driver's license none of other 4 banks asked me for it

[Perry]

Then came the AML (anti-money-laundering) legislation and now much more is needed.

[AlFa]

Then came the AML (anti-money-laundering) legislation and now much more is needed.

Driver's license and utility bill. So all the same

[Perry]

Is it not a bit more than that for conveyancing, now?

[AlFa]

Is it not a bit more than that for conveyancing, now?

Nope, met the lawyer just today

[Perry]

Coincidentally, so did I. I had to provide a suitable account / bill, driver's licence and bankcard of some sort.*

Interestingly, he told me that all those docs (and ID copies) would be scanned then shredded. PoAs and Wills were among the few paper items that they retained nowadays, in their fire-proof deed room.

I said why the paper? Why not tablets with signable screens?

It's coming, he replied.


* It's going to get hard for older people who no longer drive or have a passport. A bank officer once told me that senior citizens should be told to retain their drivers licences, even after they stop driving, as they could still be used for ID purposes.

[AlFa]

Coincidentally, so did I. I had to provide a suitable account / bill, driver's licence and bankcard of some sort.*

Interestingly, he told me that all those docs (and ID copies) would be scanned then shredded. PoAs and Wills were among the few paper items that they retained nowadays, in their fire-proof deed room.

It's weird mate. The only thing I noticed since new AML that RE agent now require this set of docs. Lawyers have been asking this stuff for ages