# The bank asks where your money came from: how to respond

Your bank wants proof of where your money came from? Check the request, prepare documents, explain transfers from abroad and know how to complain.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/banken-pengenes-opprinnelse-dokumentasjon
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-10-05T16:12:10.875+00:00
Modified: 2026-10-07T14:58:35.027505+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- Respond to the bank request Missing information can lead the bank to restrict or end services.
- Explain the source and transfer Connect the documents to how the money was received and how it reached the Norwegian account.
- Ask for an individual assessment The bank must assess your situation and whether limited services could be sufficient.

When the bank asks where your money came from, respond and document the specific transfer. First check that the request is genuine. Explain the source, the amount and its journey to the account. Ask for guidance if you are missing a document.

## Why does the bank ask these questions?

The bank must know its customers and understand how accounts are used. It may therefore ask for updated information even if you have been a customer for a long time.

This is called **customer due diligence** and follows anti-money laundering rules. Money laundering means hiding the criminal origin of money. A request for documents does not, in itself, mean you have been convicted or accused of anything.

Finanstilsynet, which supervises banks, explains both the bank's duties and [consumers' right to financial services](https://www.finanstilsynet.no/forbrukerinformasjon/Hvitvasking/hvitvaskingsregelverket-og-forbrukernes-rett-til-finansielle-tjenester/). The guidance was checked on 4 October 2026.

This guide concerns checks on an account you already have. SamfunnPrep has a separate guide to [opening a bank account as a newcomer](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/apne-bankkonto-norge).

## Check that the request comes from the bank

Open your online banking yourself or call the bank's known customer service before sending documents. Use contact information from the bank's own website, not an unfamiliar message.

Find out which transfer the bank is asking about. Ask for the date, amount, response deadline and secure submission channel. A short message saying only “send documentation” can be difficult to answer properly.

You can write: “I want to give you the information you need. Which transaction does this concern, and which documents do you want?” Note the reply and the name of the department handling the case.

Do not send passport copies or account statements to an address you have not checked. Do not give out your BankID password or approve a login somebody else started. Also read SamfunnPrep's [guidance on BankID fraud](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/bankid-svindel-norge) if the contact seems suspicious.

## Which documents can explain the money?

The documents should show how you or the sender obtained the money. A transfer receipt shows where it most recently came from, but not necessarily how it was earned.

Finanstilsynet's [guidance on the Anti-Money Laundering Act](https://www.finanstilsynet.no/nyhetsarkiv/rundskriv/2022/veileder-til-hvitvaskingsloven/) mentions payslips, sale agreements and estate settlements as possible evidence. The bank assesses what is needed in your case.

The table is a practical preparation list, not a fixed document list that every bank must accept.

| Source of money | Documents you can ask the bank about using | What you should explain |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Salary | Payslips and account statements | Employer, period and payment |
| Sale of a home or another asset | Sale agreement and settlement document | What was sold and where the payment arrived |
| Inheritance | Documents from the estate settlement | Who the inheritance came from and your share |
| Gift from family | Written explanation and relevant account documents | The giver, your relationship and the source of the money |
| Savings | Older account statements and income documents | How the savings were built up |

Do not send every financial document you own without clarifying the need. Start with documents that actually explain the amount in question.

## Show the whole journey from source to account

Make a short timeline connecting the source, sender and bank transfer. This makes it easier to understand any differences in names and amounts.

Suppose you sold an asset in your home country. The money first arrived in your foreign account, was exchanged and was later sent to Norway. A Norwegian incoming payment alone only shows the last part of this journey.

You can arrange your documents as follows:

1. Explain what provided the money.
2. Show the document for that event.
3. Show that the money arrived in the first account.
4. Explain any currency exchange or use of a payment service.
5. Show the transfer to the Norwegian account.

If fees reduced the amount, explain the difference. If the sender's name is a payment service, show its connection to your own account. Mark relevant lines, but do not alter the original document.

## What do you do with documents from abroad?

Ask the bank which languages, file types and certifications it requires before paying for a translation. There is no single translation rule that fits every bank request.

State which country the document comes from, who issued it and what it shows. Also explain different spellings of your name. A short explanation of your own can help the bank understand the documents, but is not always sufficient evidence.

Ask whether the bank needs the whole document or particular pages. Send legible copies through the channel you have agreed on. Keep the originals and a list of what you sent.

The bank's due diligence assessment is a different task from document processing by Norway's immigration authorities. Do not order an apostille merely because a document is foreign; first ask what the bank actually requires.

## What if you need more time?

Reply before the bank's deadline and explain what is missing, even if your documents are incomplete. Ask for more time and a specific answer about what can be used in the meantime.

For example, you may have ordered an old statement from a foreign bank. Send what you already have, state what you ordered and explain when you expect a reply. Do not promise a date you cannot meet.

For money saved over a long period, detailed documentation can be difficult. Finanstilsynet's guidance allows documentation providing sufficient credibility to be enough in such cases. The bank still assesses the evidence.

Provide what you know and state clearly what you cannot document. Do not create an agreement or receipt that gives a false picture of what happened.

## Can the bank block or close the account?

The bank can restrict or end services when necessary due diligence cannot be completed. It must also assess the circumstances individually and have an objective basis.

Finanstilsynet stresses that the bank must also consider whether limited services could be sufficient. An entire group cannot be rejected solely because the group is generally considered higher risk.

Ask which services are affected. One blocked payment, a blocked card and a closed account cause different practical problems. Also ask what you can do to have the bank reconsider the case.

A complaint or submission of documents does not automatically lift restrictions. If you use the account for salary and essential bills, tell the bank and ask for specific clarification.

## How to complain and protect your everyday finances

Complain to the bank in writing if you believe the assessment is wrong or you are not receiving necessary guidance. Describe what you submitted, what is missing and which solution you request.

Ask for the bank's reasons and complaints guidance. If you cannot agree, investigate a complaint to **Finansklagenemnda**, which handles consumer disputes with financial businesses. Finanstilsynet accepts tips but does not decide your specific dispute.

Meanwhile, list the affected bills and incoming payments. Contact recipients early if a payment may be delayed. Do not assume a restricted account releases you from agreed payment deadlines.

For an overview of accounts and other tasks, use [SamfunnPrep's first-week checklist](https://samfunnprep.no/en/verktoy/forste-uke). Keep the bank's replies with the documents so that you can follow the case without losing track.

## FAQ

### Why does the bank ask where the money came from?

The bank must understand customers and transactions under anti-money laundering rules. It can also ask existing customers for updated information.

### Is a transfer receipt enough?

Not always. It shows the last transfer, while the bank may need proof of how the money was originally earned or received.

### Do foreign documents need an apostille?

There is no such requirement for every bank request. Clarify the bank requirements for language, translation and certification before ordering anything.

### Where do I complain if the bank closes my account?

Complain to the bank first. If you cannot agree, you can investigate Finansklagenemnda. Finanstilsynet does not decide the specific consumer dispute.

## Sources

- [Hvitvaskingsregelverket og forbrukernes rett til finansielle tjenester](https://www.finanstilsynet.no/forbrukerinformasjon/Hvitvasking/hvitvaskingsregelverket-og-forbrukernes-rett-til-finansielle-tjenester/)
- [Veileder til hvitvaskingsloven](https://www.finanstilsynet.no/nyhetsarkiv/rundskriv/2022/veileder-til-hvitvaskingsloven/)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "The bank asks where your money came from: how to respond", SamfunnPrep, 2026-10-05T16:12:10.875+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/banken-pengenes-opprinnelse-dokumentasjon