What’s a Power of Attorney?
A Power of Attorney Opens an overlay [Will show a security message first] is a legal document that allows you to appoint a person/people or organisation to manage your affairs for you if you become unable to do so. If you haven’t already got a Power of Attorney and need assistance with your accounts, consider a third party mandate. Call us 03 456 100 100 for more information.
Let us know if you have a Power of Attorney so we can register them on your account. This doesn’t need to be done immediately unless you or your attorney feel help is needed to manage the financial affairs.
Registering a Power of Attorney
Step-by-step guide
You can register a Power of Attorney with us:
- by using a secure digital access code
- or, by post
Step 1 - Get everything ready
You’ll need all the pages of the Power of Attorney before you call us. This can either be the original, or a copy which has been certified on each page.
To complete the registration, you’ll also need:
- the full name and contact details of any Attorney wishing to act on the account(s)
- the Donor’s full name
Step 2
Using a secure digital access code
From 17 July 2020, everyone who registers a new Lasting Power of Attorney with the Office of the Public Guardian will be able to obtain a secure digital access code, which can be used to provide first direct and other organisations with a summary of the Lasting Power of Attorney online. This replaces the need to provide us with the paper copy, or scan, of the document.
To obtain your secure digital access code, please visit www.gov.uk/use-lpa Opens an overlay [Will show a security message first], and follow the instructions.
You can use this service if:
- you are registering a lasting power of attorney registered with the OPG in England or Wales on or after 17 July 2020
- the Attorney, or group of Attorneys are existing or new first direct customers
- the Donor is an existing or new first direct customer (if the Donor is not currently a customer, an account will need to be opened by them before the Power of Attorney is registered with us)
- The Lasting Power of Attorney does not contain ‘preferences’ or ‘specific instructions’.
Once you have received your secure digital access code, please email it along with your contact telephone number to POAregistration@firstdirect.com and our power of attorney team will assist you with registration.
By post
Please give us a call on 03 456 100 100 (or 03 450 511 376 if you’re not an existing first direct customer). One of our Power of Attorney team will talk you through the process of sending your documents to us, and let you know what you need to do next.
Step 3 - Completing the process
Our specialist team will review all the information received, and register the Power of Attorney. They will also ensure registration for internet and telephone banking where the Power enables us to do so. If the Donor (where mentally capable) is the person to have completed the process, we may need to speak to the ‘main’ Attorney.
We may need to obtain proof of identification and address; we’ll let you know how to do this. If you’re an existing first direct customer and are registered for Online Banking, please log on and make sure your contact details are up to date. If you’re not registered for Online Banking, you can register here. You can also update your contact details using telephone banking.
Once everything is done, we’ll send confirmation to the Donor (where the Donor is mentally capable) or the 'main' Attorney (where the Donor has lost mental capacity).
How we’ll use your information
We’ll use your personal information and that of the Donor to register the Power of Attorney. If we are required to use this data for any other related purposes, this will be in line with legal and/or regulatory requirements. For more information about how we use your information and your rights please read our Privacy Notice. If you provide information for another person (e.g. an attorney), you’ll need to direct them to this notice.