Believing in the value of belonging has shaped our organisation since opening our first store locally in 1919.

It is why we put purpose before profit every day of the week. It remains at the heart of what we do, today and tomorrow. 

Becoming a member

Becoming a member is simple and is open to individuals and charitable organisations . Anyone wishing to become a member should read and review the Society’s Member Rules and Membership Terms and Conditions

To apply for membership with the Society, please read this page for important information on what is required, then start your application on the form below or visit one of our instore Member Services & Post Office counters. 

Where to go:

View our opening hours

Photo ID:

1. Current valid passport
2. Current valid driving licence (if it contains your photo)
3. Current national identity card (if it contains your photo) 
4. Current identity card issued by the armed forces

Address verification:

Any one of the following dated within the past 3 months and which is either an original, or a suitably certified copy of an original

1. Utility bill
2. Letter from the States of Guernsey or Government of Jersey
3. Current, valid driving licence (if it contains your address) 
4. Bank letter or statement (not a credit card or store card statement) 

Our legal and regulatory obligations

The Channel Islands’ Co-operative Society Limited is regulated by both the Guernsey Financial Services Commission and Jersey Financial Services Commission and is subject to their supervision in respect of anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism. The Society has both legal and regulatory obligations to ensure continued compliance with the anti-money laundering and countering of terrorism finance legislative frameworks in each Island.

This means that on becoming a member we will require you to provide certain information to us, which is set out below.

Individuals

The Society has two types of individual members, namely:

1. “Dividend-only” - being those who subscribe for A Class withdrawable share capital only open an A share account with the initial £1 and enjoy the benefits of being a member; and
2. “Depositing” – being those who also subscribe for additional withdrawable share capital (excluding stamps) in either A Class or B Class shares.

Depositing members must first be accepted as a “Dividend-only” member. Deposits will only be accepted one month after the initial application has been approved.

Upon application all “Dividend-only” members are required to:

1. Provide their full name,
2. Any aliases, former names or maiden names
3. Date of birth
4. Nationality
5. Gender

Additionally, they must provide a proof of:

1. Identification including photographic image; and
2. Address including verification.

Suitable forms of each are:

1. Proof of identity
2. Current valid passport
3. Current valid driving licence (if it contains your photo)
4. Current national identity card (if it also includes your photo)
5. Current identity card issued by the armed forces

Address verification

Any one of the following dated within in the past 3 months and which is either an original, or a suitably certified copy of an original:

1. Utility bill
2. Letter from the States of Guernsey or Government of Jersey
3. Current, valid driving licence (if it contains your address)
4. Bank letter or statement (not a credit card or store card statement)

Where a utility bill is received electronically by way of email, this will be accepted only where the original email including the utility bill is forwarded to an email account held by a Society colleague, where the authenticity of the email can be verified.

Suitable certification

“Suitable certification” is a process where, rather than requesting a person to present evidence of identity directly to the Society, the person can present themselves to a trusted external party along with original documentation that supports that person’s identity (and which is current) specifically for the purpose of entering into a relationship with the Society.

Where certified documents are to be presented either by a member, an agent of a member or on behalf of a charitable or non-profit organisation, then a suitable certifier is considered to be:

1. a member of the judiciary, a senior civil servant, or a serving police or customs officer
2. an officer of an embassy, consulate, or high commission of the country of issue of documentary evidence of identity
3. an individual who is a member of a professional body that sets and enforces ethical standards, for example a Doctor, Advocate, Chartered Accountant or Solicitor
4. an individual that is qualified to undertake certification services under authority of the Certification and International Trade Committee (in Jersey this service is available through the Jersey Chamber of Commerce–not applicable in Guernsey)
5. a director, officer, or manager of a person carrying on a regulated financial services business in Jersey or Guernsey

Photographs of identity documentation must be clear, and any text must be legible.

The relationship between the certifier and the subject should be of a professional rather than personal nature.

A person cannot be a suitable certifier if they are related to the person being identified by birth or marriage, in a relationship or living with the person being identified.

The copy of the identification documentation must be signed and dated by the suitable certifier, confirming that the copy is a true copy of an original document (or extract thereof) that includes information on the identity and/or residential address of the individual.

They must certify that they have met the person whose identity the document is verifying and that any photograph is a true likeness of that person.

The certifier must include their name, position or capacity, their address and telephone number, or email address, at which they can be contacted. Any certified documents presented will be retained by the Society.

What should you do if you do not have any of the above forms of identification?

We understand that there may be circumstances where it is not possible to meet the requirements as set out above.

Where a proof of identification is not held, then a birth certificate can be acceptable where it is supported by a bank statement, utility bill, government issued document or letter from JFSC/GFSC regulated entity, other reliable evidence of residential address.

In all such circumstances please contact member relations at customer.relations@channelislands.coop, who will confirm the acceptability of the due diligence.

The Society reserves the right to refuse to accept a form of identification or address verification.

Depositing members

Depositing members are required to provide the same information as for a “Dividend-only” member, as well as:

1. Place of birth
2. Occupation or profession
3. Government issued personal identification number or other government issued unique identifier (e.g. passport number / driving licence card number)
4. Information regarding source of funds (note: this will be required when subscribing for additional withdrawable share capital)

What does source of funds mean?

Source of funds means the activity which has given rise to the funds that used for subscribing for additional withdrawable share capital. Depending on the circumstances we may require you to provide appropriate documentary evidence to support the source of funds.

Politically Exposed Persons (“PEPs”)

We have a legal obligation to identify members who may be politically exposed persons (PEPs). A PEP is a person who holds a prominent position in Government, State, or State owned enterprise, is a close family member of such a person, or a close associate thereof. Where we identify a member is a PEP by virtue of position held, close family relationship or close association, we will contact the member and request additional information from you. Where a member confirms to us that they are a PEP then the member will be contacted by the Society to request additional information. Additional information will include determining the source of wealth for the member.

Please contact customer.relations@channelislands.coop for questions relating to PEPs.

What does source of wealth mean?

Source of wealth refers to understanding how a member has generated their wealth. Information in respect of source of wealth will only be requested in very specific circumstances including where a member is identified as a PEP and on a case by case basis.

Charity Accounts (including for social purposes)

Opening a share account is a great way for people to donate to your charity or non-profit organisations.

To apply for a charity account, please provide the documents below to us at customer.relations@channelislands.coop

1. An original copy of the organisation’s Certificate of Incorporation/establishment
2. An original copy of the organisation’s Regulatory Registration, including where applicable copy of the non-profit organisation certification (where applicable)
3. An up-to-date copy of the authorised signatory list
4. The organisation’s written resolution (or similar) authorising the opening of a Share Account

Where the above is certified by a Trustee, Committee member, or similar associated to the organisation, and whose due diligence is held or presented as part of the account opening process.

For Jersey, charities and social purpose entities, each authorised signatory and (where different) a senior member of the governing body or committee of the charity or an executive (where the governing body does not have day-to-day control over the charity’s affairs) must have their identities verified (in accordance with the requirements for individuals) in person at the Society’s financial services counters.

In Guernsey, the requirement is that only a senior member of the governing body or committee of the charity or an executive where the governing body does not have day-to-day control over the charity’s affairs must have their identities verified (in accordance with the requirements for individuals) in person at the Society’s financial services counters.

Authorised signatories will need to provide both proof of identification and address as required for individuals noted under Dividend-only above. Charity accounts will also be subject to the same provisions as any ‘Depositing member’ as outlined above should they subscribe to additional withdrawable share capital.

 Apply to open a Charity Share Account.

Joint Applications

If you would like a share account to be in joint names with someone else, the person who wishes to be the primary member should complete the online application form, the joint party will then be added when you finalise your application our Society financial services counters.

We are required to obtain due diligence on both parties to the Joint Account and this is the same as that noted above. As with accounts for individuals, no deposits will be accepted until one month after the application process for the share account has been completed. Please also note that only the primary member will have voting rights at any Society Annual Member Meeting or Special Member Meeting.

Ready to apply?

Simply complete and submit our online form below, then we’ll confirm once we have received your application and tell you what you’ll need to do next.