Everything you need to know.
Answers to the most important questions about secure storage, privacy and peace of mind.
Why do I need a safe deposit box?
If you worry about the security of valuables in your home, at work or elsewhere then you should consider renting a safe deposit box.
It makes sense to store your items in a high security vault and pass on the responsibility to experts in safe deposit vault storage.
For a little outlay you buy a lot of security and peace of mind. A safe deposit box is one of the most secure ways you can protect your important documents and valuables at a very affordable price.
Also, many insurance policies offer reductions to customers who keep their valuables in a safe deposit box. This saving may help offset the rental cost of your box.
Can I view the contents of my safe deposit box in private?
You’ll be provided with a private lockable viewing room for absolute privacy to view the contents of your safe deposit box.
Do I need to disclose the contents of my safe deposit box?
No, only you and any additional account holders will know the contents of your safe deposit box. We provide a discreet and trustworthy service.
We don’t hold the contents of a safe deposit box on your behalf, we simply provide you with secure storage space.
We strongly recommend you keep a detailed inventory, valuation of your items and pictures of your items for insurance purposes.
What can’t I keep in my safe deposit box?
Anything that’s illegal or constitutes the proceeds of crime, i.e. money laundering; chemicals or drugs, or items which are noxious, poisonous, corrosive, inflammable, explosive or unstable; and guns, knives, firearms or ammunition.
Please see our terms and conditions for a full list of prohibited items.
Can I change the size of my safe deposit box?
You’re welcome to upgrade and change your current safe deposit box size to a bigger size at any time.
We’ll calculate pro rata how long you’ve used the safe deposit box along with the rental paid and date you opened the account. We’ll then use any credit towards a new box size of your choice, subject to availability.
If you downgrade your membership mid-term, please note we don’t offer any refund on any outstanding term or rental paid. You may choose to wait until your annual term has finished and downgrade then.
We charge an administration fee of £20 to upgrade or downgrade as this involves a change of locks between boxes.
Are you registered with the Financial Conduct Authority?
Yes. We are registered with the Financial Conduct Authority for anti-money laundering purposes, registration no. FRN 1036293.
We take our anti-money laundering registration seriously by ensuring we get to know our account holders and their needs. We co-operate fully with the relevant authorities subject to appropriate court orders/warrants etc.
What are your opening hours?
Monday to Friday: 9:30am – 5:00pm
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Bank Holidays: Closed
Last entry into the vault is 30 minutes before closing time.
Please note that our time-locked vaults prevent out-of-hours access under any circumstances.
How do I access my safe deposit box?
You’re free to visit us at any time during our opening hours. No appointment is necessary and last access into the vault is 30 minutes before closing.
On arrival at our secure centre, you’ll be greeted by one of our custodian team who will verify your identity.
You’ll then use our biometric iris recognition system to gain access to the first section of our controlled-access vault.
Each safe deposit box requires two keys — your unique personal key and a guardian key held by the custodian assisting you.
Once your box has been opened, you’ll be left in a private lockable viewing room where you can inspect, add or remove your valuables in complete privacy.
Do I need to book an appointment?
For standard access to your safe deposit box, no appointment is required.
However, if you’re opening a new account or making changes to an existing account, we strongly recommend booking in advance.
Please book an appointment to:
• Open a new safe deposit account
• Add a person to your account
• Remove a person from your account
• Change the size of your safe deposit box
You can arrange an appointment by calling us on 01204 963 935.
This ensures a member of our team is available to assist you when you arrive.
If you arrive without an appointment, we will always do our best to help, but during busy periods you may need to wait or return another day.
What do I need to open a safe deposit box account?
All applications must be made in person.
Please note that nobody under the age of 18 can be registered to use a safe deposit box.
Each person named on the account will need to provide one proof of identity and one proof of address.
Show us one piece of photo ID. Choose from:
- Current signed UK/EEA passport
- Current signed non-EEA passport with valid UK visa
- Current UK photocard driving licence
Show us one proof of address. Choose from:
- Utility bill dated within the last three months
- Bank, credit card or mortgage statement dated within the last three months
- Council Tax bill dated within the last 12 months
- Current UK photocard driving licence
Your driving licence can only be used as proof of identity or proof of address, not both. Online printed statements are not accepted.
How do I pay for my safe deposit box rental?
You can pay by debit card, credit card or direct bank transfer.
Our preferred method of payment for recurring annual payments is Direct Debit.
What happens if I don’t pay my renewal fee on time?
If your account is in arrears, we will not permit you to access your box until the arrears are cleared.
Please note that interest is charged on all overdue accounts at 4% above bank base rate.
If you fail to renew, then after due notice, we will instruct our locksmiths to drill open your box at your expense, and we may dispose of the contents.
Who has access to my safe deposit box?
Only you and any additional account holders you’ve added can access your safe deposit box.
Are children allowed in the vault area?
Only children aged 11 and under are permitted to accompany a parent or guardian into the vault area.
All children aged 12 and above must wait in the reception area.
How many people can be named on a safe deposit box account?
A maximum of four people can be named on the account and have access to the safe deposit box. This includes the primary account holder, joint primary account holder and two additional account holders.
There will be a one-off administration charge for each additional account holder.
If you cannot open the account together initially, additional account holders can be added at a later date, but only with the main account holder present.
All people named on the account must attend in person to register for access with the relevant proof of ID and address verification.
What access levels are available?
When you open a safe deposit box account, the main person taking out the agreement will be the primary account holder.
The primary account holder can then add two other levels of access:
- A joint primary account holder with full account and access rights identical to the primary account holder.
- Secondary account holders who have access rights only.
There is a maximum of four people allowed to have access to any one safe deposit box in our centre.
The joint primary account holder will have the same rights over the safe deposit box as the primary account holder. If the primary account holder dies, the joint primary account holder becomes the sole primary account holder and can still access the box.
We strongly advise that a joint primary account holder is appointed.
If the primary account holder dies and there is no joint primary account holder appointed, access to the box will immediately stop and will not be granted to any party or secondary account holder until probate has been completed.
Please note that although four people may access the safe deposit box, extra keys are not provided. It is the responsibility of the primary account holder to provide a secondary account holder with access to a key.
Neither a primary account holder nor a joint primary account holder can be removed from the agreement without both parties attending our branch to confirm this instruction.
What happens in the event of my death?
If you are the sole account holder, the person reporting the death should bring a copy of the death certificate to our centre. The certificate will be recorded on our system and returned.
Please note that no items can be removed until probate is granted.
If you are a joint primary account holder, you will continue to have unrestricted access to the safe deposit box and can appoint a new joint primary account holder.
If you are an additional account holder named on the box, you will not have any access to the box and no items can be removed until probate is granted.
We recommend that all customers appoint a joint primary account holder when taking out an agreement with us.
Neither a primary account holder nor a joint primary account holder can be removed from the agreement without both parties attending our branch to confirm this instruction.
Do you offer accessibility support?
Should you require any reasonable adjustments or have additional needs to enable you to use our facilities, please make a member of staff aware of how we may help.
Does Britannia Safe Deposit keep a copy of my key?
No. You will be issued with the only two keys unique to your box.
Each box is operated using a dual-lock system — your customer key and a guardian key held securely by Britannia Safe Deposit Centre.
Both keys are required to gain access, meaning neither Britannia Safe Deposit Centre nor the account holder can open the box alone.
What happens if I lose my safe deposit box key or keys?
You are issued with two identical keys at the time of rental. If you lose one or both keys, you should inform us immediately so the account can be temporarily blocked for security.
If you lose one key:
We can replace the lock for a charge of £100.
If you lose both keys:
An engineer will need to attend and open the lock in your presence for a fee of £180.
Following this, a new lock and replacement keys will be fitted at an additional cost of £100.
How safe is your facility?
Our facility has been built to higher than normal industry standards to offer maximum security for your valuables.
Our ground floor vault is graded as a Grade X CD EX, making it the highest certified grade of vault room outside London used for private safe deposit lockers.
CD classification means the vault room and doors have been scientifically tested against all types of drilling equipment.
EX classification means the vault room and doors have been scientifically tested against all types of explosives.
The vault door is fitted with an electronic time lock and cannot be accessed outside normal business hours.
Our office area is fully anti-ballistic and access to the vault is only granted to registered users via biometric iris recognition.
The entire facility is protected by bank-grade alarm systems monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
In addition, there are further covert security measures in place that remain confidential.
How secure is iris recognition?
Your iris is an extremely data-rich physical structure containing patterns unique to each individual, making it virtually impossible to replicate.
Because the eyes are self-cleaning and image capture is performed without physical contact, iris readings are highly accurate, reliable and hygienic.
This makes iris recognition one of the most advanced and secure forms of biometric identification available today.
How does iris scanning work?
Iris scanning, also known as iris recognition, is a biometric identification method where a specialist sensor scans the iris of your eye.
The scanner identifies unique patterns within your iris and stores them as part of your secure customer profile.
When you return, your iris is scanned again and matched against your existing profile to verify your identity.
Your iris pattern remains consistent throughout your life and is unique to you — even your closest relatives will not share the same iris structure.
This is why iris recognition is considered one of the most secure and reliable identification methods in the world.
Are my items insured?
It is important to note that we do not take on or accept any liability for valuables, items or goods stored with us.
It is your responsibility to arrange suitable insurance with Noble Security Box Insurance or another reputable insurer to cover the full value of your items, including any liability or consequential loss that could arise.
When insuring, it is important to ensure that any valuables kept in your safe deposit box are properly insured for their full value.
Keeping valuables in a safe deposit box should not be considered an alternative to insuring them.
You can purchase additional insurance from our recommended insurers, other specialist insurers, or in some circumstances arrange cover through your home insurance provider.
Why is insurance not included within the safe deposit box rental?
The sale of insurance products is strictly regulated by the FCA, and Britannia Safe Deposit is not authorised to sell insurance cover to account holders.
Each account holder will have different insurance requirements depending on the nature and value of the goods stored.
Account holders will usually choose one of three options:
- No insurance required: We do not accept liability for valuables, items or goods stored with us, so it is your responsibility to arrange suitable cover if required.
- Home contents insurance: Your existing home contents insurance policy may provide cover for items held in a safe deposit box. We recommend notifying your insurer, as this may reduce your premium and help offset the cost of box rental.
- Specialist insurance cover: We strongly recommend taking out specific insurance for the contents of your safe deposit box. We work alongside Noble Security Box Insurance, a specialist insurer offering cover for safe deposit boxes.
How do I hand back my safe deposit box?
If you do not wish to renew your safe deposit box agreement, you must provide us with written notice at least one month prior to the annual anniversary of your first payment.
Your safe deposit box must then be fully emptied and both keys returned in person to our branch before the final day of your annual term.
Please note that there is no part refund of the annual subscription for early hand-back.
Any items remaining inside the safe deposit box after the agreement has been terminated may be disposed of by us without further recourse.
The agreement cannot officially be closed until all keys have been returned.