LPA and Bank Accounts UK (2026): How Attorneys Access Finances
Updated 13 May 2026 · 8 min read · England & Wales
When someone loses the mental capacity to manage their own finances — through dementia, stroke, or serious illness — their bank accounts can become inaccessible to everyone, including their spouse and children. A registered Property and Financial Affairs LPA is the legal document that allows a trusted attorney to step in and keep finances running. Here is how it works with banks.
What authority does an LPA give over bank accounts?
A registered Property and Financial Affairs LPA grants the attorney authority to manage the donor’s financial affairs — including bank accounts. In practice this means:
- Operating current and savings accounts (making and receiving payments)
- Managing direct debits and standing orders
- Operating ISAs, investment accounts, and fixed-term deposits
- Paying bills, household expenses, care home fees
- Managing property transactions (selling, remortgaging) — though Land Registry requires the original LPA or an official copy
The attorney acts in a fiduciary capacity — they must use the donor’s funds only for the donor’s benefit, and keep the donor’s money entirely separate from their own.
How to register an LPA with a bank
Each bank has its own LPA registration process. The general steps:
- Obtain the original registered LPA (bearing the OPG stamp) — or an office copy from the OPG
- Contact the bank’s dedicated LPA or vulnerable customer team — some banks have specific telephone lines or online forms
- Attend a branch if required, with the attorney’s ID and the original LPA
- Complete the bank’s own forms if required — some banks issue a separate “third party authority” form to accompany the LPA
- Allow 2–4 weeks for processing — the bank updates its records to reflect the attorney’s authority
The OPG provides a Use a Lasting Power of Attorney service (on gov.uk) that allows banks to verify an LPA online using an access code — check whether your bank accepts digital verification, which is faster than posting originals.
What attorneys can and cannot do with bank accounts
| Permitted | Not permitted |
|---|---|
| Pay the donor’s bills and care fees | Use the donor’s funds for the attorney’s own expenses |
| Move money between the donor’s own accounts | Move the donor’s money into the attorney’s accounts |
| Claim benefits or tax credits on the donor’s behalf | Make large gifts (beyond statutory limits) without Court authorisation |
| Use online banking (with the bank’s LPA-specific access) | Use the donor’s own login credentials |
| Invest the donor’s money prudently | Speculate with the donor’s funds or take undue risks |
Joint accounts and the LPA
If the donor holds a joint bank account with a spouse or partner, the other account holder continues to have full access using their own authority as a joint holder — no LPA is needed for them. However, the LPA attorney still has authority over the donor’sshare of the joint account. In practice, many banks treat joint accounts as fully accessible to both holders, and the LPA attorney’s authority becomes most relevant when closing the account or moving funds.
Without an LPA: the alternative
Without a registered LPA, banks freeze accounts on learning of incapacity. Even a spouse cannot access a sole-name account without legal authority. The only alternative is a Court of Protection deputyship:
- Typical application time: 6–12 months
- Legal costs: £2,000–£5,000+ to apply
- Annual OPG supervision fee: £320+
- Ongoing reporting requirements: annual accounts to the OPG
Meanwhile, bills go unpaid, direct debits lapse, and the family has no access to funds for the donor’s care. A registered LPA costs £82 and takes 10–20 weeks — a fraction of the cost and delay of a deputyship.
Frequently asked questions
Can an LPA attorney access someone's bank account?
Yes — a registered Property and Financial Affairs LPA gives the attorney authority to manage the donor's bank accounts, including: operating a current account (making payments, withdrawals, transfers); operating a savings account; setting up or cancelling direct debits and standing orders; managing online banking; operating ISAs and investment accounts. The attorney cannot: open a new account in their own name and use it as the donor's account; use the donor's funds for the attorney's own benefit (except reasonable LPA-authorised expenses); make large gifts from the donor's funds without Court of Protection authorisation. Banks are legally required to accept a registered LPA — they cannot refuse without legitimate grounds.
What do banks require to register an LPA?
Each bank has its own process, but typically requires: the original registered LPA (bearing the OPG registration stamp) or a certified copy; the attorney's identification (passport or driving licence and proof of address); attendance at a branch for some banks (others now accept postal or digital registration). Some banks require: a completed internal form; a 'third-party mandate' form in addition to the LPA; proof of the donor's account details. Processing times vary: some banks register within days; others take 2–4 weeks. Once registered, the bank updates its records to note the LPA and the attorney's authority — the attorney can then operate the account subject to any restrictions in the LPA. It is worth checking your specific bank's LPA registration process in advance.
What happens to a joint bank account when one account holder loses capacity?
A joint bank account is legally accessible by either account holder independently. If one account holder loses capacity, the other can continue to operate the account using their own authority as a joint holder — no LPA is needed for the surviving joint holder to access the account. However, the bank may flag the account if they become aware that one holder lacks capacity. The LPA attorney's authority over a joint account is more complex: in practice, many banks require the LPA to be registered to give the attorney authority over the donor's share of the joint account, particularly if changes to the account (closing it, moving funds) are needed. The joint account holder themselves retains full access.
What if a bank refuses to accept an LPA?
Banks are legally required to accept a validly registered LPA — refusal without a legitimate legal reason is unlawful. Legitimate reasons for delay or refusal: the LPA is not registered with the OPG (only registered LPAs are effective); a certified copy has not been properly certified; there is evidence of fraud or undue influence; the bank has concerns about safeguarding the donor. If a bank improperly refuses a registered LPA: escalate to the bank's LPA team or vulnerable customer team; contact the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) if the bank's complaints process fails; report to the OPG if there are concerns about how the LPA is being treated. Do not use online banking credentials belonging to the donor without authority — this may be a criminal offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.
Can an LPA attorney use online banking?
An attorney should not simply use the donor's existing online banking login — this is technically a computer fraud risk under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 (accessing a computer without authorisation). The correct approach is to ask the bank to set up separate online banking access for the attorney under the LPA, using the attorney's own login credentials. Many major UK banks now have LPA-specific online access arrangements. If the bank cannot provide this, the attorney should manage the account through branch or telephone banking using their own verified identity, referencing the registered LPA.
What happens to bank accounts without an LPA if someone loses capacity?
Without a registered LPA, no one has automatic authority to operate another person's bank account once they have lost mental capacity. Banks will freeze or restrict the account — they cannot legally allow another person to access it without legal authority. To gain access, the family must apply to the Court of Protection for a financial deputyship order — a process that typically takes 6–12 months and costs £2,000–£5,000+ in legal fees, plus ongoing OPG supervision fees (£320+/year). During this time: bills may go unpaid; direct debits may lapse; property cannot be sold or mortgaged. A registered LPA, made while the donor has capacity, prevents all of this.
Can an LPA restrict the attorney's access to certain accounts?
Yes — the LPA donor can restrict the attorney's authority in the document. Common restrictions: limiting authority to specific accounts only; requiring the attorney to consult named people before making decisions above a threshold; requiring the attorney to maintain accounts and not sell investments. The LPA can also grant specific authority: to make gifts beyond the usual statutory limits; to benefit the attorney (for example, if the attorney is also a family member who receives financial help); to act when the donor still has capacity (the default is that the attorney can only act on incapacity). Restrictions are documented in the LPA during the drafting stage — they cannot be added after registration.
Get your LPA in place before you need it
An LPA can only be made while you have mental capacity. WillSafe’s LPA Guidance Pack walks you through both the Property and Financial Affairs LPA and the Health and Welfare LPA — step by step.
Get the LPA Guidance Pack →Related guides
- Property and Financial Affairs LPA — full guide
- What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?
- LPA and the Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Making an LPA after a dementia diagnosis
- Enduring Power of Attorney — are old EPAs still valid?