Bank Statements

[rozmercer]

What is the legal limit for keeping paper bank statements please?

[barry1010]

You can keep them forever but you should keep them for 6 years at least

[johnk]

If you mean yourself you can keep them as long as you want.

[satprof]

It's far less trouble to let your bank keep them in e-banking. I used to keep them filed but they take up quite a lot of space in the normal domestic filing system.

[emmie]

i have mounds of them, they are no use, i was asked by DWP for 5 years worth once, i got them from the bank who were happy to oblige.

[barry1010]

Be aware that some banks do charge to supply old statements. If you change your bank you will lose access to your old online account so print them off before you close the account - the old bank almost certainly will charge.

[barry1010]

Also, if you do bank online it is easy to download your statements and store them on your PC. If you still have paper statements you can scan them (or take a photo with your phone/tablet) and store them digitally that way.
Takes up no room at all and easily accessible

[emmie]

i got them free of charge barry, i explained what i needed them for and he rolled them all off,

[barry1010]

I know you did, emmie, you said, but many banks would have charged you.

[barry1010]

Most banks charge you for duplicate copies, even if you bank online and don’t receive paper statements.
Online bank account provider Smile will charge £2.50 per sheet for a duplicate copy, if the statement is less than one year old, and a whopping £10 fee if the statement goes back longer.
Barclays, Co-operative Bank, Halifax, Nationwide, NatWest/RBS and Santander charge paper-free customers £5 for each copy of a statement. First Direct, Bank of Scotland, HSBC and Lloyds TSB don’t charge at all.

https://www.which.co.uk/news/2012/02/high-charge-to-access-old-bank-statements-finds-which-279375/