Identity Verification (AML/KYB): What to Expect

As a regulated financial platform, Crowdcube is legally required to verify the identity of every selling shareholder before releasing funds.

Most individual sellers pass our checks automatically in the background, with no impact on you. Occasionally we may ask for two documents - one to confirm your identity and one to confirm your address. If we need these, you'll receive an email from aml@crowdcube.com with a secure link to upload them via Sumsub, our trusted verification provider.

If you're selling as a company, fund, trust, partnership or nominee, we run know-your-business (KYB) checks on the entity and the people behind it. These may start before the sale opens, and they must be complete before you can take part. We email your representative a list of what we need, with a deadline.

Individual sellers: documents you may need to provide

• Proof of ID: a valid passport (showing all four corners and the signature page), a photocard driving licence (front and back), or a national identity card. What we accept as proof of ID
• Proof of residential address: a utility bill, bank statement, or council tax bill dated within the last 3 months; a photocard driving licence (if not already used as proof of ID); or a current lease or tenancy agreement. What we accept as proof of address

Institutional sellers: documents you may need to provide

Every entity needs to provide:

• Proof the entity exists: a certificate of incorporation or equivalent registration document.
• Ownership: details of anyone who ultimately owns or controls the entity, with identity verification for anyone holding 25% or more. If no one holds 25% or more, tell us this in writing. A structure chart helps if your ownership has several layers.
• Directors: photo ID and proof of address for each director or controlling officer.
• Authority to act: evidence that the person signing can bind the entity, such as a power of attorney if the signatory is not a director.

Depending on the type of entity, we may also ask for some other documents.

Important guidelines

1. Name matching - your Crowdcube profile, identity documents, and bank account name must all match. For entities, the bank account must be in the entity's name.
2. Individual sellers: speed up verification - upload clear, uncropped colour images or PDFs. Scans with glare, blurry text, or clipped edges will delay manual review.
3. Directors' and owners' ID for institutions - send a clear photograph of the original document. Photocopies and scanned images are not accepted. For a driving licence, send both the front and the back. For a passport, show both open pages in full. The document must not have expired.
4. Proof of shareholding - in some cases, we may ask for proof that you own the shares, such as a share certificate, an entry from the company's register of members, or your original subscription or purchase agreement.