There has been a thread running in uk.legal: ( Is it correct for a Bank to ask you to post them your driving Licence) where the money laundering regulations have been referred to.
There seems to be a view that the Banks have sometimes implemented the requirements on them checking identities in very different ways - and there are some quite stupid examples. It has also been stated that an individual member of bank staff could be fined or imprisoned for not carrying out required checks - even if they were following the bank's procedures.
A few points for discussion Is it prescribed what means of identity banks must seek? Are there any guidelines issued to banks on procedures to be followed? Why do the banks do things so differently? To what extent are individual staff members responsible for failing to "catch" a fake identity?
Does anyone have any pointers to recommended info on these matters.