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Power of Attorney

Caring for someone vulnerable

Power of Attorney

Please note

This guide uses Scottish Power of Attorney terms. If you are applying for Power of Attorney anywhere else in the UK, the term 'granter' should be replaced with 'donor'.

On this page

What is a Power of Attorney? Open in new window

Types of attorney Open in new window

What can an attorney do? Open in new window

Frequently asked questions Open in new window

Additional support Open in new window

Register a Power of Attorney

You can register a Power of Attorney (POA) in two ways:

online – it's simple, secure and you can do it from home
in a branch.

Good to know

You only need one form to add an attorney to all of the donor’s valid accounts.
If there is more than one attorney and they must act jointly, please add them at the same time.
Each attorney needs to fill in their own form, if completing the application online.
If you are the donor, please ask the attorney to complete the application form.
Once we confirm your identity and have all the documents, we’ll process the application within 10 working days.
We’ll let you know as soon as the attorney has been added to the account.

Get ready to apply online

Please note that General Powers of Attorney cannot be submitted online. These must be registered in branch.

Follow these three steps

Step 1: Complete the eForm

Fill in the application to Add a Power of Attorney to an account eForm.

Step 2 : Email your documents

Send your POA document or your LPA code to powerofattorney@natwest.com.
Add the granter's sort code and account number in the email subject line. If these are missing, we can't process your request.
If you are sending documents from outside the UK, please follow the important information for people living abroad below.

Other documents you may need to give us

Photo of all attorneys signatures if they:

act together (jointly), or
act in a professional role
require a cheque book.

Proof of lack of mental capacity

If the POA says the attorney can act only if the granter loses mental capacity, we need proof.
This can be a statement signed by the attorney.
If the POA document asks for a specific type of proof, like a certificate from a doctor, we will need that exact type of proof.

Signed letter from the other joint account holder
If you’re being added to a joint account, we need a signed letter from the other person on the account:

the letter must confirm they agree for you to be added as an attorney.

You don’t need this if:

you are the other joint account holder, or
you already have Power of Attorney for both account holders.

Letter from solicitor firm/council
If you're acting in a professional capacity, we require a letter from you.

The letter must:

be on the firm/council’s headed paper
confirm you are representing the donor
confirm that you, the attorney, are authorised to act
include your name, job title, business name, address, phone number and email
be signed and dated by you.

Consent to share your documents with our translation partner, Language Line

Include written consent if your documents are not in English.

Important information for people living abroad

Each copy must be certified by a bank or solicitor in the country you are living in.
Each document must show the certifier’s name, job title, address, phone number, and email.
POA documents must follow UK law. Include all parts of the document, including certificates.

File rules

Images must be 10 MB or less.
Save documents as PDF.

Step 3: Confirm your identity

Once we've reviewed your eForm and POA document, you'll get an email from our trusted security partner, Mitek.

To confirm your identity:

take a selfie.
upload photo ID.
upload proof of address (if asked).

Sometimes we need to make extra checks. If this happens, you’ll need to visit a branch with your documents.

Proof of identity we accept when applying online

Valid passport
Full UK driving licence
EU/EEA driving licence
EU/EEA national identity card
UK provisional driving licence.

If you don't have any of the above, please visit a branch to complete your application, as this can't be done online.

Proof of address we can accept when applying online

Full UK driving licence (if not being used for proof of identity)
UK provisional driving licence (if not being used for proof of identity)
Bank statement (if using a NatWest Group statement, must be different from brand you're applying for -dated within last 6 months)
Credit Union statement (dated within last 6 months)
Mortgage statement/Solicitor mortgage correspondence (dated within last 12 months)
HMRC letter (notice of tax code or national insurance confirmation letter)
Benefit agency documents (dated within last 12 months)
Utility bill (dated within last 6 months)
Council tax bill (dated within last 12 months).

See more details on proof of identification and proof of address on our caring for someone vulnerable page.

Proof of address we can accept when applying online - whilst living abroad

Bank statement (if using a NatWest group statement, must be from a different brand you're applying for - dated within the last 6 months)
Utility bill (dated within last 6 months)
Mortgage statement (dated within the last 12 months)
Credit Union statement (dated within last 6 months).

We cannot accept:

mobile phone or mobile internet bills
TV licence.

ID and address checks vary by country. In some cases, we may limit which types of ID and address documents are accepted.

Registering a Power of Attorney in a branch

If you don’t have photo ID or would prefer to register in branch, here's what you need to know.

Before you visit

No appointment needed.
The account holder (granter) does not need to come with you.
The branch can register your POA as long as you bring the right documents.

What to bring

The original POA document registered with the Office of Public Guardian or your LPA code
Proof of identity
Proof of address.

Other documents you may need to give us

Proof of lack of mental capacity

If the POA says the attorney can act only if the donor loses mental capacity, we need proof:

this can be a statement signed by the attorney
if the POA document asks for a specific type of proof, like a certificate from a doctor, we will need that exact type of proof.

Signed letter from the other joint account holder
If you’re being added to a joint account, we need a signed letter from the other person on the account.

The letter must confirm they agree for you to be added as an attorney.

You don’t need this if:

you are the other joint account holder, or
you already have Power of Attorney for both account holders.

Letter from solicitor firm/council
If you're acting in a professional capacity, we'll require a letter from you.

The letter must:

be on the firm/council’s headed paper
confirm you are representing the donor
confirm that you, the attorney, are authorised to act
include your name, job title, business name, address, phone number and email
be signed and dated by you.

Consent to share your documents with our translation partner, Language Line

Provide written consent if your documents are not in English.

Proof of identity we accept when applying in branch

Valid passport
Full UK driving licence
UK provisional driving licence
Military ID card
EU/EEA national ID card
EU/EEA driving licence
Biometric residence permit
e-Visa.

If you don’t have any of the documents listed above, we can accept these instead:

Benefits letter from the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), Jobcentre Plus or Universal Credit

The letter:

must be dated within the last 12 months and show the benefit is still valid
must be dated within the last 3 months if it doesn’t confirm ongoing benefit
can only be used if not already used as proof of address.

NI electoral office ID Card
OAP / Concessionary travel pass (only accepted with certain address documents)
HMRC letter: notice of tax coding for previous or current tax year, or national insurance confirmation letter.

Proof of address we accept when applying in branch

Bank statement (if using a NatWest Group statement, must be different from brand you're applying for -dated within last 6 months)
Council tax bill (dated within last 12 months)
Utility bill/statement (dated within last 6 months)
Mortgage statement/Solicitor mortgage correspondence (dated within last 12 months)
Local council/ Housing authority tenancy agreement
Credit Union statement (dated within last 6 months)
Full UK driving licence (if not being used for proof of identity)
UK provisional driving licence (if not being used for proof of identity)
HMRC letter (notice of tax code or national insurance confirmation letter).

If you don’t have any of the documents listed above, we can accept a benefits letter from the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), Jobcentre Plus or Universal Credit

The letter:

must be dated within the last 12 months and show that the benefit is still valid
must be dated within the last 3 months if does not confirm ongoing benefit
can only be used if it is not already being used as proof of identity.

See more details on proof of identification and proof of address on our caring for someone vulnerable page.

Find a branch near you

Use our branch locator to find your nearest branch.

What is a Power of Attorney?

A Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal document that lets someone make decisions for you if you cannot or do not want to make them yourself. The person who gives this permission is called the granter. The person who receives it is called an attorney.

Attorneys are often family members or close friends. However, professionals such as solicitors or local authorities can also act as attorneys.

You can set up a POA for a short time, such as when you are in hospital, or for the long term, for example if you become ill and cannot make decisions.

To learn more about Power of Attorney, visit Age UK using the link below.

Visit Age UK Open in new window

Types of Power of Attorney

Depending on what you need and where you live, there are different types of Power of Attorney you should think about. Details on these different types is shown below.

Continuing Power of Attorney

A person making a continuing POA (the granter) must have mental capacity to do so. A continuing POA gives powers over the granter’s property and financial affairs and must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland) before it is valid and can be used. The granter will decide the powers given to the attorney. This may include things like:

selling property
mortgages
paying bills
investments
dealing with and managing bank accounts
arranging and paying for repairs to property.

For more information on Scottish Power of Attorney visit the Scottish Office of the Public Guardian site.

General or Ordinary Power of Attorney

A General Power of Attorney (GPA) gives an attorney the legal authority to act for someone while they are mentally capable. This might include:

selling their home
paying the mortgage
making investments
paying bills
arranging repairs to their home.

The granter may be in hospital or away from home for a while. They can limit the attorney's power to only deal with certain things like their bank account. Usually, if someone loses mental capacity a GPA will no longer be accepted, except if the GPA was registered between the 1st of January 1991 and the 1st of April 2001.

For GPA documents that are more than a year old we will need to check with the granter that they are still valid.

GPA registrations can't be done online — you must visit a branch with the required documents.

Non-UK Power of Attorney

If POA documents are drawn up in another country, we are unable to register these on a Royal Bank account. This is because the bank account is held in the UK and the laws of other countries do not apply within the UK; meaning the attorney does not have legal authority to manage the donor's account.

Whilst we are aware the Scottish OPG are issuing certificates to allow overseas POA documents to be registered in Scotland, we are unable to accept these.

What can an Attorney do?

If the granter lacks capacity the attorney can operate the account as if they were the account holder themselves. Granter's can choose to have more than one attorney on their account but they must make it clear whether the attorneys will act 'jointly' or 'joint and severally'.

An attorney can

Manage the donor’s bank accounts to help with day-to-day money management. For example: payments and transfers.
Register for online and telephone banking (unless they are appointed to act jointly).
Have a debit card on the account (unless they are appointed to act jointly).
Visit a branch to manage the donor’s accounts.
Close accounts the donor no longer needs.
Open new accounts in the donor’s name (in some cases).
Manage the donor’s mortgage if the POA covers property and financial affairs — including applying for a new mortgage or changing rates.

Information Message

An attorney can't

Apply for borrowing or credit, such as loans, overdrafts, or credit cards.
Change account ownership or add someone new to the account.
Act alone if the POA says decisions must be made jointly.
Have services that allow one attorney to act without the other when a joint appointment is required (such as online banking, telephone banking, or a debit card).

Information Message

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take for an attorney to be added to an account?

A Power of Attorney will be added within 10 working days once we have received your documents. We’ll let you know when you’ve been added to the account.

Sometimes we need to complete extra checks, which may take longer.

Once I am added to an account as an attorney, how do I register for Digital Banking?

To register for Digital Banking, please visit our Digital Banking page. You’ll need the sort code and account number of the account you’ve been added to, or your debit card.

What happens to a Power of Attorney if the account holder has passed away?

A Power of Attorney will no longer apply on sole accounts once the granter has passed away.

For joint accounts, the Power of Attorney would remain in place. However, as Power of Attorney is held for named individuals, it would only remain in place if the granter was the surviving party.

Can I be added as an attorney to a joint account?

Yes, you can be added as an attorney to a joint account. However, you will need to get written permission from the other joint account holder, unless you hold POA for both account holders.

Can a Power of Attorney open an account on behalf of the granter?

Yes, as a Power of Attorney it's possible to open an account on behalf of the granter. You can't apply online, you'd need to visit your local branch so they can help set this up. Remember to bring your Power of Attorney document.

If the granter is an existing customer and you have already registered the POA document with us, you can call our customer services team on 0345 724 2424 (Relay UK 18001 0345 724 2424),who can help you open an additional account.

How do I contact the Power of Attorney team?

If you have a question or problem on the POA registration process you can contact our application team via our webchat. This can be done by clicking chat to Cora at the bottom right of your screen, typing in Power of Attorney and answering some questions.

Webchat is open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.

How can I remove a Power of Attorney from my account?

To have a Power of Attorney removed from an account, you would need to send us a signed letter with details of the request. The granter can request the removal of an attorney from their account, if they still have mental capacity. This also needs a signed letter to be sent in.

The POA document will remain valid and could still be used by an attorney, so to avoid this, we recommend that you revoke this with the Office of Public Guardian.

What happens to a Travel Account when an attorney is added to the linked Current Account?

If a Travel Account is linked to a Current Account held by a donor it will be closed when the attorney is added, and any EUR funds will be moved back to the Current Account.

Funds returned to the Current Account will be based on the live bank exchange rate.

Do we accept replacement attorneys?

Yes, you can register a replacement attorney with us if the primary attorney is unable to act, or the granter has requested for the primary attorney to stop acting on their behalf.

To be considered a suitable replacement an individual needs to be named on the original POA certificate of registration.

Additional support

If something in your life has changed like your money situation or your health you might need a little more support with your banking. Visit our Banking My Way page where you can tell us what's going on, and we'll find ways to make things easier for you.
If you're looking after someone who needs extra support, there's help out there for you too. We've listed some organisations below that offer advice, tools and the support to make things a bit easier.

NHS Social care and support guide Open in new window

Government services and benefits for carers Open in new window

Citizens Advice Open in new window

Carers UK information and support Open in new window

Money Helper information and support Open in new window

Age UK help for carers Open in new window