A national identity card shows the citizenship of an individual and it features a special serial number, necessary to differentiate one person from another. A national identity card enables different parties to transact in an open and transparent manner as many financial operations like bank loans and title deeds require a valid identity card to go through. A value added tax code number A value added tax code number is given by the government as citizens of a specific country are identified using the their tax code. This code is also used when paying taxes, and banks require a value added tax code in order to deliver taxes received from their clients. Legal and acceptable age In some countries, age is a requirement when opening an online bank account and most account holders are asked to produce a scanned copy of their identity card to prove their age. When opening an account in a bank too you are required to present a valid identification document to increase transparency. Minimum open balance Some banks require a minimum open balance. This is the amount of cash required to be in the account for one to access the services the bank offers. A good Internet connection and a working computer To access an online bank account, the holder requires Internet connectivity and a computer which is in good working condition. The advantage to this is that sending and receiving money online is a extremely convenient service.