Power of Attorney and Court of Protection Order

If you are registering one for an existing savings account

1. Print the Power of Attorney Registration Form, which must be completed and signed by all Attorneys or Deputies, or call us on 0800 434 6343 or 01455 251234 if you would like us to post the form to you.
2. If you have an online access code (given to you when you register a Power of Attorney at gov.uk) and the POA does not include any specific instructions about operating an account, please include the code on your registration form. We need the completed form and the account passbook(s). Tell us if you do not have the passbook(s).
3. If you do not have an online access code, or if the POA includes specific instructions about operating an account, we will need the original Power of Attorney or Court of Protection Order (or a copy certified on each page by a solicitor). This will be returned to you with the passbook(s) once the account has been updated.
4. Send or take the documents to your local branch or agency.
5. We will confirm the identity of each person acting as Attorney or Deputy through an electronic (online) check. This is a ‘soft’ search, and does not appear on your credit history. If we need any ID documents from you, we will contact you.

If you are opening a new savings account

1. Choose from our range of savings accounts and complete an account application form (available on each savings account page). The person on whose behalf you are acting as Attorney or Deputy is the first-named account holder, and all Attorneys or Deputies are entered as additional account holders. All must sign the form.
   • 1A. Only if you are opening an ISA account, you will also need to complete a Power of Attorney Registration Form. This is because ISA account forms do not have space for details of Attorneys or Deputies. The form must be completed and signed by all Attorneys or Deputies (ignoring the references to passbooks and account numbers).
2. If you have an online access code (given to you when you register a Power of Attorney at gov.uk) and the POA does not include any specific instructions about operating an account, please include the code on the account application form.
3. If you do not have an online access code, or if the POA includes specific instructions about operating an account, we will need the original Power of Attorney or Court of Protection Order (or a copy certified on each page by a solicitor). This will be returned to you with the new passbook.
4. Send or take the documents to your local branch or agency.
5. We will confirm the identity of each person named on the account or acting as Attorney or Deputy through an electronic (online) check. This is a ‘soft’ search, and does not appear on your credit history. If we need any ID documents from you, we will contact you.

Enduring Power of Attorney

The Court stopped issuing Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) documents on 30 September 2007. Since 1 October 2007 only Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) documents have been issued.

We can accept both Standard and Registered EPAs.

A Standard EPA is in force while the donor (the account holder) still has mental capacity, meaning they can still make their own decisions. If the donor no longer has mental capacity, the Standard EPA must be registered at the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). It then becomes a Registered EPA.

Before you register an EPA with us, you must check its status. If it is a Standard EPA and the donor has lost mental capacity, you must register it at the Office of the Public Guardian before registering it with us. Likewise, if you previously registered a Standard EPA with us and the donor has since lost mental capacity, you must register it at the Office of the Public Guardian and then provide it (or a certified copy) to us.

If you need any help to register a Power of Attorney or Court of Protection Order with us, please contact us.