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The short answer
If your spouse, parent or child holds a prominent public function in Nigeria, such as minister, legislator, senior judge, ambassador or board member of a state-owned enterprise, banks abroad will usually treat you as a family member of a politically exposed person (PEP). That means extra checks, including senior management approval and questions about source of wealth and funds; it does not mean you will be refused. Under UK rules, siblings are not in the family-member definition, and family members stop being treated as PEP-linked once the official leaves office.
Children of governors, wives of senators and parents of ministers often find that opening an account abroad takes longer and involves more questions than it does for their friends. The reason is a set of international anti-money laundering rules about politically exposed persons. Understanding who the rules cover and what they actually require helps you prepare, and helps you spot when a bank is going further than the rules ask.
Who counts as a PEP
The rules come from FATF standards and are written into each country's law. The UK version, regulation 35 of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017, is a clear example. A PEP is an individual entrusted with prominent public functions, other than as a middle-ranking or more junior official. The listed functions include:
- Heads of state and government, ministers and deputy ministers.
- Members of parliament or similar legislative bodies, and members of the governing bodies of political parties.
- Members of supreme courts and constitutional courts.
- Members of courts of auditors and of the boards of central banks.
- Ambassadors and high-ranking officers in the armed forces.
- Members of the boards of state-owned enterprises.
- Directors and board members of international organisations.
A Nigerian official in one of these roles is a non-domestic PEP for a UK bank. How the rule applies to state-level roles, such as a governor or a state commissioner, depends on the bank's assessment of how prominent the role is.
Family members and close associates
| Category | Who is included (UK regulation 35) |
|---|---|
| Family member | Spouse or civil partner; children and their spouses or civil partners; parents |
| Known close associate | Someone with known joint beneficial ownership of a company or arrangement with the PEP, or other close business relations; or sole owner of an entity known to be set up for the PEP's benefit |
| Not listed | Siblings, cousins, uncles and aunts |
So if your father is a serving senator, you are a family member under UK rules. If your brother is, you are not, though a bank may still ask questions under its general risk assessment. Firms only have to consider information they hold or credible public information when deciding who is a close associate. Other countries' definitions can be wider, so check the rules where you bank.
What the bank must do
Regulation 35(5) says that for a PEP relationship a firm must obtain senior management approval, take "adequate measures to establish the source of wealth and source of funds", and conduct enhanced ongoing monitoring. The same applies to family members and known close associates. In practice, expect:
- A declaration form asking whether you or a relative hold a public office.
- Questions about how you built your savings or assets: salary history, business income, inheritance, gifts from the official.
- Documents for large deposits or property purchases, especially where money came from the official.
- A slower approval, because a senior manager has to sign off.
Proportionality
The UK Financial Conduct Authority's guidance on the treatment of PEPs (FG25/3, July 2025, replacing FG17/6) updates how firms should treat PEPs and tells them to read it alongside the FCA's July 2024 review of how firms were handling PEPs. Since January 2024, UK law has also required domestic PEPs and their families to start from a lower risk level than foreign PEPs. That change does not help relatives of Nigerian officials at a UK bank, because Nigerian roles are non-domestic, but it shows the direction: the checks are about risk, not automatic refusal.
When the official leaves office
Under regulation 35(9), a former PEP stays subject to the enhanced requirements for at least 12 months after leaving office, longer if the bank judges the risk requires it. Regulation 35(11) says family members and known close associates stop being subject to those requirements once the PEP leaves office. If your parent's term has ended, tell your bank and ask it to review your status. legislation.gov.uk notes further amendments made in 2026 that had not yet been applied to its text of regulation 35 when we checked in October 2026, so confirm the current wording before relying on it.
How to make the process smoother
- Declare the relationship truthfully at the start. Hidden PEP links found later cause far more trouble than declared ones.
- Prepare a short source of wealth summary: your career, income and any significant gifts or inheritances, with documents.
- Keep money from the official clearly documented, with a gift letter where relevant.
- Keep your own income and the family's funds in separate accounts where you can.
For the general questions banks ask about Nigerian links, see why your bank asks about your Nigerian links, and for what to do if an account is closed, next steps after a closure.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme applies its own know-your-customer checks, and PEP-linked customers can expect questions there too. What helps is clear records: any customer can generate a verifiable statement through VerifyDoc.ai (receipts and statements), and a multicurrency account keeps transfers in one documented place. See security for how accounts are protected.
Questions people ask
Am I a PEP if my father is a Nigerian senator?
You are not a PEP yourself, but under UK rules you are a family member of a PEP, and banks apply enhanced checks to you.
Are siblings of politicians PEPs?
Siblings are not in the UK family-member definition, though banks may still ask questions under their general risk assessment. Other countries can differ.
Can a bank refuse me because my parent is a politician?
PEP rules require enhanced checks, not refusal. A bank may still decline under its own risk policy.
How long does PEP status last after leaving office?
In the UK, the former PEP at least 12 months; family members and close associates stop being treated as PEP-linked once the official leaves office.
Sources
- legislation.gov.uk: Money Laundering Regulations 2017, regulation 35 · accessed Oct 2026
- FCA: FG25/3 Treatment of politically exposed persons · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.