The account name of a single, joint or corporate account cannot exceed 50 characters (including spaces). Client names are taken from the application form and combined with an ampersand (&) where applicable to create an account name. The final name depends on the number of characters.
When client names are under 50 characters
If possible, the full names (given names, middle names and last names) of all clients on the application form are used to create the account name.
Single client
Name on the application form: John Alan Mark Doe
The full name is used as the account name since it is less than 50 characters.
Multiple clients
Names on the application form: John Doe, Jane Doe
The account name becomes “John Doe & Jane Doe”, which is less than 50 characters, so both full names are used.
When client names are over 50 characters
If the client names on the application form include more than 50 characters, initials will be used. The last listed middle name will become an initial first. If there are still more than 50 characters, the next middle name will use an initial, and so on.
Single client
Name on the application form: Alexander Francescus Frederik Petronella van der Valk-Geerwen
The last listed middle name is “Petronella”, so the account name becomes “Alexander Francescus Frederik P van der Valk-Geerwen”.
This is still more than 50 characters, so “Frederik” becomes an initial: “Alexander Francescus F P van der Valk-Geerwen”.
Now the name contains less than 50 characters, so this will be the account name.
Multiple clients
Names on the application form: Alexander Francescus Doe, Annamaria Petronella Doe
As “Alexander Francescus Doe & Annamaria Petronella Doe” is more than 50 characters, the last listed middle name becomes an initial.
“Alexander Francescus Doe & Annamaria P Doe” becomes the account name, since this is now less than 50 characters.
When last names approach or exceed 50 characters
Using initials for first names is generally avoided, unless there is absolutely no alternative. If the last names of joint account holders are already near the 50-character limit, middle and first names will be written as initials.
Initials for first names
Names on the application form: Alexander Francescus van der Valk-Geerwen, Petronella van der Valk-Geerwen
The account name would still exceed 50 characters after the middle name becomes an initial. Both first names must become initials in order to bring the name below the character limit, so the account name will be “A F van der Valk-Geerwen & P van der Valk-Geerwen”.
If all middle and first names are initials and the account name still exceeds 50 characters, the account name will be cut off at the 50-character mark (truncating the final last name).
Character limit still exceeded
Names on the application form: Alexander Francescus van der Valk-Wolfeschlegelstein, Petronella van der Valk-Wolfeschlegelstein
When all middle and first names are initials—A F van der Valk-Wolfeschlegelstein & P van der Valk-Wolfschlegelstein—there are still 70 characters in the name.
The account name will become “A F van der Valk-Wolfeschlegelstein & P van der Va”, cutting the name off at the 50-character mark.