What is a bank reference letter, and how do you get one for a business?

Suppliers, landlords, marketplaces and some visa offices ask for a bank reference letter: a signed letter from your bank confirming the account holder, account details and how long the account has been open. Most banks issue one on request, sometimes for a fee.

William Sunjo M.Operations and compliance editor

Published: 21 October 2026
Reading time: 2 min read

"Please provide a bank reference letter" shows up in supplier forms, lease applications, marketplace verification and occasionally visa applications. It sounds formal, and it is usually simple to get, once you know what kind of letter the requester actually wants.

What is a bank reference letter?

A letter from your bank, on its letterhead, confirming that your business holds an account there and that the account is in good standing. It is used as independent evidence that the business is real, banked and not in trouble with its bank.

There are two common versions:

	Account confirmation letter	Bank reference letter
Confirms	Account holder, account details, currency, date opened	The same, plus conduct
Comments on conduct	No	Yes, usually "satisfactory" or "in good standing"
Shows balance	No, unless requested	Sometimes, a range rather than a figure
Typical source	Online banking or support	Relationship manager or branch
Speed	Minutes to days	Days to two weeks

Who asks for one, and why?

Suppliers offering credit terms, who want comfort that you can pay.
Landlords for commercial leases.
Marketplaces and payment platforms, to verify the account a payout goes to.
Some government and visa offices, as financial evidence.
New banks and providers, occasionally, as a reference from an existing one.

What should the letter include?

Your company's full legal name, matching your registration.
The account number or IBAN, and the currency.
The date the account was opened.
A statement that the account is in good standing, if it is a reference.
The bank's name, address and regulatory details.
Date, and signature or a verification method.

If the requester has a template, send it to your bank. Banks often refuse to sign third-party wording, but they will usually tell you what they can confirm.

Why do mismatches cause problems?

The letter has to match the rest of your paperwork. A letter for "Northwind Studio" when your registration says "Northwind Studio Ltd" can fail verification on marketplaces. Check that the legal name, address and account details agree with your company record, and with the name you registered on the platform. See proof of address for a business account.

What if your bank will not issue one?

Banks are not obliged to give references, and some will not comment on accounts open for a short time. Options:

Ask for an account confirmation letter instead.
Offer a recent bank statement showing the account holder and details.
Ask your accountant to confirm the account in a letter, if the requester accepts that.

Account documents at Rivet

Rivet business accounts are opened in the registered company's own name, and teams can download account statements showing the legal name, account details and transactions for any period, which most platforms accept for account verification.

Questions people ask

What does a bank reference letter say?

Typically the account holder's legal name, the account number or IBAN, the currency, the date the account was opened, and a statement that the account is in good standing. It is on the bank's letterhead and signed or digitally verified.

How long does it take to get a bank reference letter?

From a few minutes for an automated account confirmation in online banking, to one or two weeks for a signed reference from a relationship manager.

Can a bank refuse to give a reference?

Yes. Banks are not obliged to give references, and many only provide account confirmations. Some will not comment on accounts open for a short time.

Is a bank statement enough instead?

Often. Many marketplaces and payment providers accept a recent statement showing the account holder name and account details. Ask the requester what they accept before you order a letter.

Sources

Written by

William Sunjo M.

Operations and compliance editor

William covers what happens once a company starts moving money: getting the business verified, paying contractors and suppliers abroad, and keeping card spend under control. William writes for the founder or finance lead who has to make it work this week, and links every rule cited to the text it comes from.