Using an LPA at a Bank UK (2026): How to Use a Lasting Power of Attorney with Banks and Financial Institutions

Before a bank or building society will allow an attorney to operate a donor's account, it will carry out its own verification process: (1) REGISTERED LPA: the LPA must be REGISTERED with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) before a bank will accept it. An unregistered LPA (signed but not registered) cannot be used — the bank has no way to verify it. Registration takes 8-20 weeks; (2) THE REGISTERED LPA DOCUMENT: the bank typically wants to see: (a) the original registered LPA document (with the OPG blue stamp and date of registration); (b) the attorney's own photo ID (passport or driving licence); (c) proof of the attorney's address; (d) the donor's account details (account number, sort code); (3) OPG 'USE A LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY' DIGITAL SERVICE: since 2020, the OPG has offered a digital verification service — the OPG issues the attorney with an ACCESS CODE that the bank can use to verify the LPA online without needing the original paper document. Attorneys can generate an access code at lasting-power-of-attorney.service.gov.uk. Many major banks now accept this digital code instead of (or alongside) the paper LPA. This is particularly useful if the original LPA document has been lost or retained by another institution; (4) BANK'S OWN INTERNAL PROCESS: each bank has its own LPA acceptance process. Some banks: (a) have a dedicated LPA team (Barclays, HSBC, NatWest, Lloyds, Santander all have specialist teams); (b) require the attorney to visit a branch in person; (c) accept a certified copy of the LPA; (d) have specific forms for the attorney to sign; (5) ACCOUNT FREEZE WHILE PROCESSING: while the bank processes the LPA, it may temporarily freeze the account or restrict the donor's access. Attorneys should notify the bank as early as possible — ideally before the donor loses capacity — to avoid a processing gap.

Bank processing times for LPAs vary widely and have historically been a major source of frustration for attorneys and donors: (1) TYPICAL TIMELINES: in practice, banks can take: (a) 1-2 weeks for straightforward applications at banks with a dedicated LPA team; (b) 4-8 weeks at banks with no specialist team or where the branch has to send documents to a processing centre; (c) longer in complex cases (multiple attorneys; restrictions; conditions); (2) STEPS TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS: (a) USE THE OPG DIGITAL SERVICE: generating an access code means the bank can verify the LPA online in minutes — no need to post original documents or wait for a branch visit; (b) CONTACT THE BANK'S LPA TEAM DIRECTLY: major banks have dedicated teams. Call them before visiting, explain the situation, and ask exactly what documents they need; (c) REGISTER THE LPA EARLY: register the LPA as soon as it is signed — do not wait until the donor loses capacity. The 8-20 week OPG registration period plus the bank's processing period can add up to 6+ months; (d) ORDER MULTIPLE COPIES OF THE LPA: at the time of registration, order several certified copies of the LPA (at £35 each for a certified copy from the OPG). Send a copy to each bank — rather than passing the original between institutions; (3) DURING THE PROCESSING PERIOD: if the bank freezes the account while processing the LPA and the donor urgently needs access: (a) the donor (if they still have capacity) can continue to operate their own account; (b) the attorney can contact the bank's hardship team if the delay is causing financial difficulty; (c) in extreme cases, the attorney can apply to the Court of Protection for an urgent order; (4) WHEN THE DONOR IS ALREADY INCAPACITATED: if the donor lacks capacity and the LPA has not yet been processed by the bank, urgent bills may go unpaid. Attorneys should escalate the bank complaint immediately and seek legal advice if needed.

Joint bank accounts add a layer of complexity when one account holder loses capacity: (1) THE ATTORNEY'S AUTHORITY OVER JOINTLY HELD ACCOUNTS: a P&FA LPA gives the attorney authority over the DONOR'S financial affairs. A joint account is a shared account where both account holders have rights. The attorney's authority over the joint account depends on the bank's specific account terms and the nature of the account: (a) JOINT AND SEVERAL ACCOUNTS: where each account holder can operate the account independently, the SURVIVING/CAPACITOUS account holder can continue to operate the account without the attorney. The attorney can also operate the account on behalf of the incapacitated donor; (b) JOINT SIGNATURES REQUIRED: where the account requires BOTH signatures for transactions, the bank may refuse to allow the attorney to operate the account on behalf of the incapacitated account holder without the other account holder's consent; (2) BANK POLICY VARIATIONS: each bank has its own policy on LPAs for joint accounts. Some banks: (a) treat the attorney as stepping into the incapacitated account holder's shoes — operating the account as if they were that holder; (b) require both the attorney AND the other account holder to sign every transaction; (c) require the account to be converted to a sole account in the capacitous account holder's name; (3) CLOSING AND REOPENING: in some cases, the most practical solution is to: (a) close the joint account; (b) distribute the funds to the individual account holders; (c) open separate sole accounts; (d) operate each account separately; (4) SOLE ACCOUNTS: the attorney has full authority to operate sole accounts belonging to the donor — this is the straightforward case where the LPA operates as intended; (5) DONOR'S OWN ACCOUNT IF CAPACITOUS: if the donor still has capacity (as is often the case for P&FA LPAs used while the donor retains capacity), the donor can continue to operate their own account without any LPA involvement.

Banks cannot simply refuse to accept a registered LPA — but there are limited circumstances where refusal is legitimate: (1) LEGITIMATE GROUNDS FOR BANK REFUSAL: (a) THE LPA IS NOT REGISTERED: an unregistered LPA has no legal force. The bank is correct to refuse; (b) THE ATTORNEY IS ACTING OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE LPA: if the LPA has restrictions or conditions the attorney is not complying with (e.g. the LPA says the attorney can only act on loss of capacity, but the donor still has capacity), the bank is entitled to check compliance; (c) CONFLICTING ATTORNEYS — JOINT APPOINTMENT NOT MET: if the LPA requires all attorneys to act jointly (not jointly and severally) and only one attorney presents, the bank can require all attorneys to participate; (d) GENUINE SAFEGUARDING CONCERNS: if the bank has grounds to believe the attorney is abusing the LPA — taking the donor's money for themselves, acting against the donor's best interests — it can and should report to the OPG and take protective steps; (2) ILLEGITIMATE GROUNDS FOR REFUSAL: the following are NOT legitimate grounds for refusal: (a) the bank 'does not recognise' the LPA — all banks must accept a registered OPG LPA; (b) the bank has its own form of authority that it prefers; (c) the LPA is a photocopy rather than original — the digital OPG access code is equally valid; (d) the bank cannot understand the LPA — it is a standard form document; (3) WHAT TO DO IF A BANK REFUSES: (a) ask the bank to put its refusal in writing, with the specific legal basis; (b) refer the bank to the OPG 'Use a Lasting Power of Attorney' service and provide an access code; (c) make a formal complaint to the bank; (d) if the complaint is unresolved, escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) — the FOS has upheld many complaints about unjustified LPA refusals; (e) report the bank to the FCA if there is a systemic refusal pattern; (4) FCA GUIDANCE: the FCA expects banks to have processes in place to accept and act upon registered LPAs. Failure to do so is a breach of the firm's obligations to treat customers fairly.

A Property and Financial Affairs LPA automatically ceases on the death of the donor — it is not a document that persists after death: (1) LPA ENDS ON DEATH: the LPA is authority for the attorney to manage the LIVING donor's affairs. The moment the donor dies, the LPA ceases to have effect. The attorney's authority under the LPA terminates immediately; (2) WHO TAKES OVER — THE EXECUTOR: on the donor's death, the EXECUTOR appointed under the will (or ADMINISTRATOR if there is no will) takes over responsibility for the donor's financial affairs. The executor's authority comes from the GRANT OF PROBATE (or letters of administration). Banks will not accept the LPA after death — they require sight of the grant of probate; (3) WHAT THE ATTORNEY SHOULD NOT DO AFTER DEATH: the attorney must STOP using the LPA the moment they become aware of the donor's death. Any transactions made under the LPA after the donor's death are unauthorised — the attorney has no authority and can be personally liable; (4) NOTIFYING THE BANK: the attorney (or a family member) should notify the bank of the donor's death as soon as possible. The bank will: (a) freeze the account; (b) require a death certificate; (c) require the grant of probate or letters of administration before releasing funds; (5) OVERLAP WHERE ATTORNEY IS ALSO EXECUTOR: in many cases, the attorney is also named as executor under the will. When the donor dies: (a) the attorney's authority under the LPA ceases; (b) the executor's authority under the will begins — but only AFTER the grant of probate is obtained; (c) in the interim, the bank account is frozen and the executor cannot access it. Some banks make limited exceptions for reasonable funeral expenses where the amount is modest; (6) LASTING EFFECTS OF THE LPA — DUTY TO ACCOUNT: even after the donor's death, the attorney has a duty to account to the executor for all transactions made during the period of the LPA. The executor can require the attorney to produce accounts and bank statements for the full period of the LPA. This is particularly important if any allegations of financial abuse arise.