If you or someone you know needs assistance with banking now or in the future
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What is third party access?
Third Party access means letting someone you trust (your representative) have access to your bank account to help you manage your money.
Giving someone access to your bank account is a big decision, but it could be crucial to your financial well-being or that of a loved one. It’s important to clearly understand what giving access to your bank account means and the authority the representative will have when dealing with your account.
The options available will depend on your circumstances and the support that’s needed.
There may be a time when you're no longer able to make decisions about your finances. In this case someone you've appointed, or someone who's been appointed on your behalf, may be able to assist.
Our 'Planning Ahead Guide' outlines your options for allowing someone you trust to help with your bank accounts. It also sets out some information about making a Will which may be of assistance. Read our guide
Need help choosing the right access?
If you're still unsure on the type of access that would best suit your needs, you can use our quick and simple ‘Third Party Access’ tool to help you.
Third Party Access Tool
Types of support available
Power of Attorney
A Power of Attorney is a legal document in which a person (known as the Donor) grants another person (known as the Attorney) the authority to act on their behalf.
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In Northern Ireland, there are two types of Power of Attorney:
- Ordinary Power of Attorney (also known as a General Power of Attorney); and
- Enduring Power of Attorney
It’s important to note that the main difference between an Ordinary Power of Attorney and an Enduring Power of Attorney is what happens if the Donor becomes mentally incapable of managing their property and financial affairs. An Ordinary Power of Attorney becomes invalid if the Donor loses mental capacity, while an Enduring Power of Attorney remains valid as long as it's registered with the High Court of Northern Ireland (Office of Care and Protection).
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An Ordinary Power of Attorney is a legal document that lets you choose one or more trusted people (the Attorney) to act for you. You can decide how much power they have, as broad or limited as you wish. You can still manage your own account with their help.
This type of Power of Attorney ends if you lose mental capacity, so it's best for temporary situations, like if you're travelling abroad for an extended period or going through a period of ill health and need help managing your finances. If you lose mental capacity, the Attorney no longer has the authority to act on your behalf, including operating your bank account(s), and should stop doing so immediately. The Attorney should notify us immediately.
- You must be mentally capable when setting up an Ordinary Power of Attorney.
- You and the Attorney must be 18 years of age or older.
- The Attorney can act on your behalf for as long as you have mental capacity to manage your own affairs.
- You can end the Ordinary Power of Attorney anytime if you change your mind, and we can remove the Attorney from your account if you instruct us to do so.
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An Enduring Power of Attorney is like an Ordinary Power of Attorney but, importantly, it stays valid even if you lose mental capacity to manage your property and affairs, provided it is registered with the High Court of Northern Ireland (Office of Care and Protection). You can choose for it to start right away, if you need extra help now, or only activate it if you lose mental capacity in the future.
- You must be mentally capable when you create an Enduring Power of Attorney.
- You and the Attorney must be 18 years of age or older.
- If you lose mental capacity, your Attorney needs to register the Enduring Power of Attorney with the High Court of Northern Ireland (Office of Care and Protection).
An Attorney must register the Enduring Power of Attorney with the High Court of Northern Ireland (Office of Care and Protection) as soon as the Donor is becoming or has become mentally incapable.
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To register a power of attorney we’ll need:
- Either the original power of attorney document or a copy certified by a solicitor. This is essential for verifying the authority granted.
- Identification to verify name and address of the attorney(s) and in certain situations, we may also need to verify identification of the customer (donor). There are two ways we can do this:
- Electronic Verification: We can conduct an electronic identity check.
- Paper Identification: Alternatively, we may ask for physical identification documents. Acceptable forms of ID- view here
When you are ready to proceed, you can register by visiting your local branch or Banking Hub, where a staff member will be pleased to assist with your request.
Office of Care and Protection Order
If you lose the mental capacity to manage your financial affairs, and you haven't already appointed a ‘trusted person’ under an Enduring Power of Attorney, someone can apply to the High Court of Northern Ireland (Office of Care and Protection) to act as your ‘controller’ or ‘authorised person’ and obtain the Court’s authority to deal with the day-to-day management of your financial affairs.-
If this happens, a ‘Control Order’ or ‘Short Procedure Order’ may be granted to that person. This allows the appointed ‘controller’ or ‘authorised person’ to deal with the day-to-day management of your property and financial affairs. This could be a relative, a friend, or perhaps a professional adviser or solicitor. The Order will state exactly how the controller or authorised person is allowed to manage your financial affairs. The Court may put restrictions on what the controller/authorised person can do on your behalf.
If you're looking to become a 'controller' or 'authorised person' for someone who has lost the mental capacity to manage their financial affairs, find out more about how to apply to become a Controller on the Department of Justice website
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The Controller will require the following documents as part of our registration process:
- The sealed Controllership Order / Short Procedure Order (sealed copy means a copy of the Order appointing you as Controller / Authorised Person which has been impressed with the seal of the Court).
- We may need Identification to verify name and address of the Controller(s). There are two ways we can do this:
- Electronic Verification: We can conduct an electronic identity check.
- Paper Identification: Alternatively, we may ask for physical identification documents. Acceptable forms of ID- view here
When you are ready to proceed, you can register by visiting your local branch or Banking Hub, where a staff member will be pleased to assist with your request.
Appointeeship
You can get help to manage your social security (benefits) from a trusted person, or ‘Appointee’, if you can’t manage your own affairs.-
This might be due to a physical disability or mental incapacity. The appointee only has access to your benefits and must spend them in your best interests. They have no authority over other funds you may hold. An application to become an appointee is made with the Department for Communities (DfC). Once appointed, the DfC will issue your appointee with an authorising form known as the BF57 confirming they have been formally appointed to act for you.
It might be helpful to contact the DfC directly or visit Becoming an appointee for social security benefits | nidirect
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If you've been appointed an Appointee you will need to provide us with the original BF57 authorisation form confirming your appointment.
As Appointee you may need to provide identification to verify your name and address. There are two ways we can do this:
- Electronic Verification: We can conduct an electronic identity check.
- Paper Identification: Alternatively, we may ask for physical identification documents. Acceptable forms of ID- view here
When you are ready to proceed, you can register by visiting your local branch or Banking Hub, where a staff member will be pleased to assist with your request.
Carer's Account
The Carer’s Account is a new separate account set up by you which can be accessed by your nominated trusted person.-
The Carer’s Account will be in your name and you can pay funds into the account which can then be accessed by your trusted person to enable them to assist you with paying for essential living expenses - for example, paying for your shopping or utilities. Importantly, you keep control of your main account(s), and you decide how much and how often you want to transfer funds to the Carer’s Account.
A Carer’s Account may only be opened where you, the customer, has mental capacity.
Your trusted person:
- Can only access funds you have paid into the Carer’s account
- Will have their own debit card and PIN for the Carer’s Account
- Can withdraw cash from cash machines up to the daily withdrawal limit*
- Can buy goods or services using their debit card up to the daily limit*
- Can buy goods or services online up to the daily limit*
Your trusted person will not be able to:
- Access any of your other accounts or security details or be able to make changes to these.
- Withdraw cash using counter services
- Apply for any new products or services such as credit cards or loans
- Access your online banking
- Use contactless
*The default daily limit is £100 but you can set a limit between zero and £150; the trusted person can access either the daily limit or the total amount of money available in the account, whichever is lower.
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To begin the process of opening a Carer’s Account or to simply make enquiries, you can phone us on 0345 600 2882. As part of the account opening process, we may need to complete an identity check of the trusted person. There are two ways we can do this:
- Electronic Verification: We can conduct an electronic identity check.
- Paper Identification: Alternatively, we may ask for physical identification documents. Acceptable forms of ID- view here
Third Party Mandate
A third-party mandate allows you to grant one or more family members or other trusted person the authority to act on your behalf in relation to your accounts with Danske Bank.-
This may be suitable if you need support with your everyday banking, whether it's to pay bills or to access cash.
The mandate holder may access your accounts in varying levels, act on their own, or only with you. You decide.
You can specify which accounts the mandate holder has access to and how they access them – using e-Banking, for example, or only in branch. You may choose to provide them with an extra card in their name which allows them to access cash from a cash machine or to buy goods on your behalf.
Are there any restrictions on what they can and cannot do on my accounts?
The mandate holder will not be able to change your accounts, so for example, they cannot:
- Change the type of accounts you hold;
- Change your name, address or contact details;
- Open or close accounts; or
- Apply for any new products or services such as credit cards or loans.
When would this option not be suitable?
- If you want to put an arrangement in place that will continue if you lose mental capacity to control your own affairs.
- If you or the mandate holder do not have mental capacity.
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If you have decided that adding a third-party mandate to your account(s) is the right choice for you at this time, please visit your local branch or Banking Hub, where a staff member will be happy to assist with your request.
The third party being added may require to be identified. There are two ways we can do this:
- Electronic Verification: We can conduct an electronic identity check.
- Paper Identification: Alternatively, we may ask for physical identification documents. Acceptable forms of ID- view here
Financial support for carers
Don't forget if you're caring for someone, you may also be entitled to financial support. The nidirect website provides more information on carer's rights and the financial support available such as Carer's Allowance, Carer's Credit and direct payments.
Find out more.
Get in touch
If you need to speak to us about any of the support options highlighted above, get in touch with our Customer Support team on 0345 600 2882.
