<p>My son’s filling out the paper work for his first bank account on his own…but since I’ve never been married what should he put for “his mother’s maiden name?” He has my last name & no known father. Is the question on the credit union forms just for security purposes? Could he use my mother’s maiden name? or make up something he’ll remember? Thanks.</p>
<p>it is for security, if he loses his card or something, when he calls in, its a simple question to ask</p>
<p>do you have a middle name? you could us that…he just needs to REMEMBER it always…or a pet that could substitute? i guess they figure a maiden name is harder to find out, but this day and age with ladies keeping their name when they get married, or not getting married, etc, they might need to modernize the “secret” word</p>
<p>so pick a name he can remember- your middle name, first crush, a fave teachers name, a coach, a movie or sports figure, just something he will not forget and make sure he tells you so if he forgets, he can call</p>
<p>If you’ve never changed your name, your last name is your “maiden name.” I would suggest he put down the same name for his and for “maiden name,” since that will be easiest to remember. As an id device, it still works.</p>
<p>the bank may not accept the same name as his last name, they may, but he should have an alternative just in case</p>
<p>We use an “easy to remember” name that has no basis in fact, since my mother’s maiden name has five syllables and is impossible to spell.</p>
<p>The bank may have a suggestion on what to use instead of your maiden name - since mother’s maiden name and last four of your social are always asked as security questions, I don’t think they’ll want you to put your last name. Either that, or pick some other secret word like the other posters recommended</p>
<p>your pets name could work…or a passwordd you use alot</p>
<p>Why not just ask the bank if it’s a security thing (i.e. is your son really your son, when getting an account?) or a type of password? There are enough people who have their mom’s maiden names for it to not be too much of an issue.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for all the responses. We will call the credit union on Monday morning. I was hoping he could get the paper work mailed to them this weekend but it will have to wait. I’m pushing him to get as many details ironed out before he leaves for college in Sept. I’m just being an anxious mom trying to get things crossed off our to-do list.</p>
<p>In our family (all women who never changed their last names) all of us have used our great grandmother’s “maiden” name. Even my D uses it. Not many people know it, and it is easy to remember. Whatever he chooses, it will stick with him like glue.</p>
<p>On request, the credit union will probably change your son’s security question to something else (e.g., his pet’s name, the town where he was born). If he is signing up online, check to see if he has the option to change security questions - many forms let you do that online. If not, he might consider using your mother’s maiden name. Security questions are there for the account holder’s protection, so the answer shouldn’t be something others could guess.</p>
<p>Isnt it possible that someone would marry a person with the same last name ( e.g. Jane Doe Doe) so their maiden name and last name could be the same? I dont see why it would really matter if you put the same down for both, but if you want to be sure, wail til tomorrow and call the credit union. If he isnt leaving 'til Sept, you have PLENTY of time.</p>
<p>^^^My sister-in-law did that: married somebody with the same (unusual) last name. His ancestors had never passed through the areas that my SIL’s relatives did so they figured it was safe, genetically speaking. :)</p>