Using an LPA with banks
Guidance from Estate Advisory Group
Written and legally reviewed by Ramani Gill TEP, Solicitor and private client practitioner·Last reviewed 13 August 2026
A registered LPA is not automatically known to your bank. Each provider must record it separately before an attorney can do anything.
The process, provider by provider
- Contact each bank's power of attorney team — most have a dedicated department.
- Provide the registered LPA: a certified copy, or an online access code from the Use an LPA service.
- Provide attorney ID: passport or driving licence and proof of address.
- Attend a branch appointment if the bank requires one.
- Agree how the attorney will operate the account: cards, online access, statements.
What slows it down
- Sending a plain photocopy instead of a properly certified copy.
- Joint appointments where the bank insists on both signatures for everything.
- A financial LPA restricted to loss of capacity, with no medical evidence supplied.
- Address mismatches between the LPA and the attorney's ID.
Practical tips
- Do the banks, then pensions, then utilities and council tax. Utilities are usually the easiest.
- Keep a log of who has recorded the LPA and the reference each gave you.
- Expect a few weeks across all providers, not a few days.
- If a member of staff says an LPA is not valid until capacity is lost, refer them to the section on the form — for Option A LPAs they are wrong.
Worked example: registering one LPA with three providers
After his mother Doreen's LPA is registered, David starts with her main current account bank, booking a branch appointment and taking a certified copy plus his passport. The bank confirms him within ten days. Her building society, which supports the OPG's online service, accepts an access code the same afternoon — much faster. Her pension provider asks for a certified copy by post and takes nearly four weeks to reply, so David sends that one first next time, in parallel with the others, rather than waiting for each in turn.
| Provider type | Typical evidence accepted | Typical turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| High street bank | Certified copy or OPG access code, plus attorney ID | 1-3 weeks |
| Building society | OPG access code where supported | Same day to a few days |
| Pension provider or insurer | Certified copy by post | 2-6 weeks |
| Utility or council tax | Certified copy, sometimes a plain copy | 1-2 weeks |
If a provider refuses to accept the LPA
Ask for the objection in writing
Frontline staff sometimes misunderstand LPAs. If a provider will not act on a properly registered and certified LPA, ask for the refusal in writing and escalate to its power of attorney or vulnerable customers team before involving the OPG.
Common questions
Can an attorney get a card in their own name?
Most banks issue a third-party card or online access for attorneys. Never use the donor's own card and PIN.
Should the attorney's own money be mixed in?
No. Keep the donor's funds entirely separate and keep receipts — see attorney duties.
Do all the donor's accounts need registering separately?
Usually one registration per bank covers every account the donor holds there, but building societies and separate brands within the same banking group sometimes require their own process.
What if the donor already has a joint account with the attorney?
The LPA still needs registering with the bank for the attorney to act on the donor's sole accounts, and joint accounts have their own rules — see LPAs and joint bank accounts.
Read next
Where this fits
This page is part of Registration and using an LPA. The pages below take it further.
- How our service works
The four steps from choosing your LPA to a registered LPA.
- Make an LPA online
The whole journey end to end: questions, documents, signing and registration.
Review and sources
Reviewed by Ramani Gill TEP, Solicitor and private client practitioner. Last reviewed 13 August 2026. We recheck fees, forms and Office of the Public Guardian guidance whenever they change — see our editorial policy.
Official sources
Ready to make your LPA?
Choose one LPA or both, then start online for £49 per LPA.
The Office of the Public Guardian charges a separate £92 to register each LPA.
This is general information about how Lasting Powers of Attorney work in England and Wales. It is not legal advice about your situation. What we do and do not do.
Published by Estate Advisory Group