Power of attorney
If you’re looking to register a power of attorney with HSBC to help manage someone’s account, or you’re not sure where to start, we’re here to offer you help and support.
CARE: If you would like HSBC to consider the application of the Power of Attorney to a business account associated with the Donor, please inform us at the time of application.
Your request will be sent to our specialist Commercial Banking team for review, and this is reviewed separately to the application of the Power of Attorney on any personal bank accounts.
Please note: for a Power of Attorney to be considered on a Business account, the Power must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian first.
What is a power of attorney?
A power of attorney is a legal document where a customer (known as the donor) appoints one or more people (attorneys) to act on their behalf if they’re unable to manage their accounts.
The donor must have mental capacity to create a power of attorney. It’s usually done by a solicitor or through the government website.
CARE: If you'd like HSBC to consider the application of the power of attorney to a business account associated with the donor, please inform us at the time of application. Your request will be sent to our specialist Commercial Banking team for review, and this is reviewed separately to the application of the power of attorney on any personal bank accounts.
Please note: for a power of attorney to be considered on a Business account, the Power must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian first.
What can an attorney do?
An attorney can help make decisions about someone's finances, or make decisions on their behalf.
If the power appoints a sole attorney or multiple attorneys who can each act separately (eg jointly and severally), the table below provides guidance on the services that we can provide.
If the power appoints more than one attorney to act together (ie 'jointly'), all attorneys have to act together. This means that any services restricted to sole access cannot be provided. This includes debit cards, internet banking, mobile banking and telephone banking.
If the power of attorney document contains restrictions, we need to comply with the restrictions which may mean that we cannot provide some of these services.
| What an attorney can do | General or ordinary power of attorney | Enduring power of attorney | Lasting power of attorney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manage donor's account/s if mental capacity is lost[@poa-enduring-power-of-attorney] | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hold a debit card (excluding Global Money accounts)[@poa-multiple-attorneys-registered] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Issue cheques / make payments (e.g. bills) / withdraw cash | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pay in cash / cheques | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Order cheque book / credit book | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Order a replacement debit card / PIN[@poa-multiple-attorneys-registered] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Order a statement | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Set up / amend / cancel standing orders and direct debits | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Access phone banking[@poa-multiple-attorneys-registered] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Access online banking[@poa-access-to-online-banking] | No | Yes | Yes |
| Access to mobile banking[@poa-multiple-attorneys-registered] | No | Yes | Yes |
| Change donor's address | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Apply for ISAs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Open / close accounts on behalf of the donor | No | Yes | Yes |
| Obtain information regarding the donor's account/s | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Retrieve items from safekeeping | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sign a mortgage loan agreement | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Arrange an overdraft | No | No | No |
| What an attorney can do | Manage donor's account/s if mental capacity is lost[@poa-enduring-power-of-attorney] |
|---|---|
| General or ordinary power of attorney | No |
| Enduring power of attorney | Yes |
| Lasting power of attorney | Yes |
| What an attorney can do | Hold a debit card (excluding Global Money accounts)[@poa-multiple-attorneys-registered] |
| General or ordinary power of attorney | Yes |
| Enduring power of attorney | Yes |
| Lasting power of attorney | Yes |
| What an attorney can do | Issue cheques / make payments (e.g. bills) / withdraw cash |
| General or ordinary power of attorney | Yes |
| Enduring power of attorney | Yes |
| Lasting power of attorney | Yes |
| What an attorney can do | Pay in cash / cheques |
| General or ordinary power of attorney | Yes |
| Enduring power of attorney | Yes |
| Lasting power of attorney | Yes |
| What an attorney can do | Order cheque book / credit book |
| General or ordinary power of attorney | Yes |
| Enduring power of attorney | Yes |
| Lasting power of attorney | Yes |
| What an attorney can do | Order a replacement debit card / PIN[@poa-multiple-attorneys-registered] |
| General or ordinary power of attorney | Yes |
| Enduring power of attorney | Yes |
| Lasting power of attorney | Yes |
| What an attorney can do | Order a statement |
| General or ordinary power of attorney | Yes |
| Enduring power of attorney | Yes |
| Lasting power of attorney | Yes |
| What an attorney can do | Set up / amend / cancel standing orders and direct debits |
| General or ordinary power of attorney | Yes |
| Enduring power of attorney | Yes |
| Lasting power of attorney | Yes |
| What an attorney can do | Access phone banking[@poa-multiple-attorneys-registered] |
| General or ordinary power of attorney | Yes |
| Enduring power of attorney | Yes |
| Lasting power of attorney | Yes |
| What an attorney can do | Access online banking[@poa-access-to-online-banking] |
| General or ordinary power of attorney | No |
| Enduring power of attorney | Yes |
| Lasting power of attorney | Yes |
| What an attorney can do | Access to mobile banking[@poa-multiple-attorneys-registered] |
| General or ordinary power of attorney | No |
| Enduring power of attorney | Yes |
| Lasting power of attorney | Yes |
| What an attorney can do | Change donor's address |
| General or ordinary power of attorney | Yes |
| Enduring power of attorney | Yes |
| Lasting power of attorney | Yes |
| What an attorney can do | Apply for ISAs |
| General or ordinary power of attorney | Yes |
| Enduring power of attorney | Yes |
| Lasting power of attorney | Yes |
| What an attorney can do | Open / close accounts on behalf of the donor |
| General or ordinary power of attorney | No |
| Enduring power of attorney | Yes |
| Lasting power of attorney | Yes |
| What an attorney can do | Obtain information regarding the donor's account/s |
| General or ordinary power of attorney | Yes |
| Enduring power of attorney | Yes |
| Lasting power of attorney | Yes |
| What an attorney can do | Retrieve items from safekeeping |
| General or ordinary power of attorney | Yes |
| Enduring power of attorney | Yes |
| Lasting power of attorney | Yes |
| What an attorney can do | Sign a mortgage loan agreement |
| General or ordinary power of attorney | Yes |
| Enduring power of attorney | Yes |
| Lasting power of attorney | Yes |
| What an attorney can do | Arrange an overdraft |
| General or ordinary power of attorney | No |
| Enduring power of attorney | No |
| Lasting power of attorney | No |
Related articles
Types of Power of Attorney
Find out more about the different types of power of attorney and Court of Protection orders.
Registering a Power of Attorney with HSBC
Learn what you’ll need to register a power of attorney and how you can do it.
Contacting us
HSBC customers
03457 404 404
From outside the UK +44 1226 261010.
Lines are open from 08:00 to 22:00 every day (except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day)
Non HSBC customers
03456 040 626
Lines are open from 08:00 to 22:00 every day (except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day)
Office of the Public Guardian
The Office of the Public Guardian supports and promotes decision making for those who lack capacity or would like to plan for their future. It can provide information about making a lasting power of attorney or applying to the Court of Protection.
Address:
PO Box 16185
Birmingham
B2 2WH
Phone: 0300 456 0300
Text phone: 0115 934 2778
Fax: 0870 739 5780
Email: customerservices@publicguardian.gsi.gov.uk