Once you've created your Chest account and completed your Chest Score onboarding, you can set up your Chest Pension, which is a SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension). Here's what's involved.
Before you start
Make sure you have the following to hand:
Your National Insurance number
A valid photo ID (passport or driving licence)
Access to your bank's app or online banking (for Open Banking connection)
Step-by-step SIPP setup
Start SIPP setup From your home screen, tap to start setting up your pension. You'll need to have completed the Chest Score onboarding first.
Enter your National Insurance number We need this to set up your pension and claim tax relief on your contributions from HMRC.
Choose your investment fund Select where you'd like your pension contributions to be invested. We offer six funds across two categories: standard funds and responsible investing funds. Each fund is managed by Legal & General Investment Management. You can change your fund at any time.
Connect your bank account (Open Banking) We use Open Banking to securely view your transactions. This powers your saving rules (like round-ups) by allowing us to see your spending. We have read-only access — we can't move money or make changes to your bank account. You'll authenticate directly with your bank.
Set up your Direct Debit This authorises Chest to collect contributions from your bank account. Your Direct Debit is used for one-off contributions and saving rules. You're protected by the Direct Debit Guarantee.
Review and agree to documents You'll be asked to review and accept:
Terms and Conditions
Key Features Document
Key Investor Information Document (KIID) for your chosen fund
SIPP declaration
These documents explain how your pension works, the risks involved, and your rights. Take time to read them — they're available in your Documents section at any time.
Verify your identity We're required to verify your identity to comply with financial regulations. You'll need to:
Take a photo of your ID (passport or driving licence)
Take a selfie for facial matching
Most verifications complete in minutes. Occasionally we may need to review manually, which can take 24-48 hours.
How long does setup take?
Most people complete SIPP setup in under 5 minutes. Identity verification is usually instant, but may take longer if manual review is required.
What happens next?
Once your SIPP is set up, you're ready to start building your pension. You can:
Make your first contribution
Activate saving rules to save automatically
Explore cashback to boost your pension when you shop
Transfer existing pensions into Chest
Still need help?
If you get stuck during setup or have questions, contact us at hello@joinchest.com.