Third party access

Whether it's for peace of mind or practical help, there may be times when you want or need support managing your account. We support a range of third-party arrangements that could help you.

Whether you're adding a Power of Attorney, a deputy, or another trusted person, this page will guide you through what third party access we support for Savings and Mortgage accounts and we need to set it up safely and smoothly.

 

Third Party Types 

Here's a list a third party types applicable for both savings and mortgages, along with those that only apply for savings accounts. Click on the relevant third party to jump to the section to find more about each:

• Power of Attorney 
• Third Party Authority / Mandate    
• Deputy
• Personal Representative / Executors  
• Parent or Guardian  
• Registered Contact – Child Trust Fund                                                                    
                                                                                                               
  
                                                                
  

Power of Attorney (PoA)

✅ Available for savings and mortgages

What is a Power of Attorney?

Power of Attorney is a legal arrangement that allows someone you trust, usually a loved one, the legal authority to manage your mortgage and/or savings, with us. This is beneficial because a PoA can make decisions on your behalf in case of emergencies or potential future changes in health or life events when help might be needed.

 

Non-Controlling and Controlling Power of Attorney

Once the PoA is registered, we'll add the Attorney as a Non-Controlling POA on the account. Where the account holder has mental capacity, they can operate the account, along with with the PoA.

When the account holder loses mental capacity, evidenced by a doctors letter, the PoA is changed to Controlling Authority. The account holder can no longer make transactions or decisions about the account, the POA has full control over the account.

 

What do I need to set up a Power of Attorney?

1) Power of Attorney document, completed, signed and registered with Office of the Public Guardian

2) Two forms of ID from the person acting as the PoA

3) We'll need a completed application form/s:

• For ISAs, please complete an ISA application form.
• For or all other saving accounts, such as bonds or regular savers, you'll need to complete this savings application form.
• For mortgage accounts, you'll need to complete a 'Keep us up to date form'

4) If a customer has lost mental capacity, we'll also need a doctors or medical letter confirming this.

 

What can a Power of Attorney do?

A PoA (non-controlling and controlling) can do everything an account holder can do, such as:

• Make withdrawals
• Transfer funds to account holder's nominated bank account
• Open and close accounts

A PoA cannot have online access to the account holders accounts. If the account is a Your Saver, you'll need to close it and open another one of our savings accounts that's available at the time of switching.

 

Third Party Authority / Mandate

✅ Available for savings and mortgages

What is a Third Party Authority / Mandate?

A Third Party Authority / Mandate gives authority to a nominated person to have access to your savings or mortgage account, maybe due to illness or travel, for a defined period of time or until further notice. 

 

What do I need to set up a Third Party Authority / Mandate?

For savings: The third party will need to complete and sign a third party mandate form, along with the account holder.

For mortgages: A third party mortgage authority form will need to be completed with the third party’s details and signed by the borrower(s).  

We will also need two forms of ID from the third party for both savings and mortgages.

 

What can a Third Party Authority / Mandate do?

A Third Party Mandate (for savings) can access information about the account, such as balances and carry out every day instructions like withdrawals (maximum cash withdrawals are £500 a day), subject to the terms and conditions of the account. They are not allowed to make other transactions or amendments to the accounts, such as closing the account or updating personal details.

The Third Party Authority (for mortgages) can only have access to information such as balance and product information. Instructions about how the account is to be operate and any changes would still need to be authorised by the borrower(s).

 

Deputy

✅ Available for savings and mortgages

What is a Deputy?

A Deputy can be added to an account, following a Court of Protection Order. This happens when the account holder has lost mental capacity to make decisions and hasn't set up a Power of Attorney. The deputy, authorised by the court of protection, helps control the donor’s affairs.

 

What do I need to set up a Deputy?

To add the deputy to the account, we require the Court of Protection document, 2 forms of ID.

For savings: We'll also need a savings application form

For mortgages: We'll also need a completed 'Keep us up to date form'

 

What can a Deputy do?

A deputy can manage the account in the same way as the account holder could, just like a Power of Attorney. This includes withdrawals, opening and closing accounts, making payments into the account and making amendments. Just like other third parties, a deputy cannot operate the account/s online. 

 

Personal Representative/s and Executor/s

✅ Available for savings and mortgages

What is a Personal Representative (PR) and Executor?

Personal Representatives (PRs) are added onto the account/s when we get notification of a customer’s death without a death certificate. We're unable to give them any information about the accounts until we've received the original or certified copy of the death certificate / interim death certificate or a solicitors verification form.

The Executor/s are noted on the Probate/Letters of Administration as being the person(s) entitled to collect and distribute the proceeds of the estate following the account holders death. To close the account and distribute the funds we will need solicitor signed statutory declaration or a copy of probate.

 

What do I need to set up PR and Executor?

You can find more information about dealing with a loved one's estate, including what we need to set them up and what they can do in our bereavement guide.

Further information: You can find more information about managing someone else's affairs on Citizen's Advice website.

 

Parent or Guardian

✅ Available for savings only

A parent or guardian can operate or control a child’s account until they turn 18, or earlier if the account terms and conditions allow.

 

What do I need to set up a parent or guardian?

You'll need to complete and send us a completed children's savings application form or make appointment in branch to open the child’s account.

You'll need photo and address ID for the child and parent/guardian. We accept birth certificate as photo ID for the child.

 

What can a parent or guardian do?

The parent or guardian has controlling authority on the account until the child is old enough to manage the account themselves.

They can makes transactions and amendments on the account subject to the terms and conditions of the account. There is no online access with our children accounts. 

 

Registered Contact - Child Trust Fund (CTF)

✅ Available for savings only

What is a Registered Contact?

This is like a Parent/Guardian for children's accounts. The registered contact is the main contact and has controlling authority on the CTF account until the child turns 18 and takes responsibility of the account.

 

What do I need to set up a Registered Contact?

This is automatically set up when you create a CTF account, as the parent or guardian will need to complete their details on the application form.

 

What can a Registered Contact do?

Registered contacts can make amendments, such as changes to personal details, and can close the account but ONLY if funds are being moved to another CTF or Junior ISA with another provider. No withdrawals are allowed.

We no longer offer Child Trust Fund accounts but you can find out about our existing CTFs here.

View our range of children's saving account.

 

 

Keeping your accounts safe

Your security is our priority. Where sharing access to your account with a third party:

• We'll need proof of their identity and necessary legal documents
• Access is reviewed carefully to prevent fraud or misuse
• You can revoke access at any time, unless it's a court appointed arrangement. If there is an appointed PoA (with or without controlling authority) we will need the PoA to call us to discuss removing them or you'll need to ask the Office of the Public Guardian to remove an attorney.

If you ever have any concerns about the security of your account and information, please call us straight away, on 0345 601 3344.