Help & Support

Caring for someone vulnerable

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Third party access

Help if you're self-isolating

Banking from home

What is Power of Attorney?

Acceptable identification

Giving someone access to your bank accounts

Frequently asked questions

Caring for someone that needs additional help?

Learn more about the support available, information on Powers of Attorney and Third Party access. It's important to be clear about your role and if you're caring for someone, it's a good idea to let their doctor know.

Help if you're self-isolating

Vulnerable customers helpline

Call us to find out what additional services we can offer vulnerable customers who are self-isolating, such as having cash delivered at home, letting a friend or relative withdraw money at a cash machine.

Call us on 0800 092 4238

Lines are open 8am-8pm every day

Banking from home

During this time we want to make it as easy as possible for you to manage and look after your money. Find out how we can help you with online and mobile banking, with helpful videos and step by step guides to get you started.

Banking from home

Power of Attorney

If you're caring for a vulnerable relative, you're most likely dealing with their financial affairs too. A Power of Attorney is a document that allows someone to appoint a person or organisation to manage their affairs if they become unable to do so and can help avoid confusion later on.

An attorney should be someone highly trustworthy; for most people that's a family member or a close friend.

A Power of Attorney needs to be arranged while someone is still capable of making their own decisions in order to grant it.

You can find more information about arranging for a Power of Attorney.

You'll need to register a Power of Attorney with us, find out which ones we accept below.

Which Powers of Attorney do we accept?

Other ways of managing someone's affairs

To register a Power of Attorney with Ulster Bank we require a Power of Attorney document that deals with the financial and property affairs of the customer. This can cover selling their home, paying the mortgage and bills and making investments.

There are several different types of Power of Attorney and it is important you use the correct one for your circumstances. When deciding which type will work for you, read the information on the different types of Power of Attorney, via the Office of Care and Protection website.

Ulster Bank only accepts Power of Attorney documents governed by Northern Irish law.

More about the Office of Care and Protection

Register a Power of Attorney

Organisations that can offer support

To register a Power of Attorney with us, you will need to complete a form to add the Power of Attorney to the account. You can do this at any branch.

Please bring with you the original copy of the full Power of Attorney document or a copy certified by a solicitor. Please be aware that some Power of Attorney documents contain certificates which we will also need to view. Please make sure that the solicitor hands across all parts of the document.

We will need to see 2 forms of identification. Please refer to our list of acceptable identification.

Ulster Bank branch locator
Find your nearest branch using our branch locator.

Acceptable forms of identification

To register a Power of Attorney with us, make an appointment with any Ulster Bank branch and bring the following documents with you:

The original copy of the full Power of Attorney document or a copy certified by a solicitor. Please be aware some Power of Attorney documents contain certificates which we will also need to view. Please make sure the solicitor hands across all parts of the document.
2 forms of identification. For acceptable identification please follow the link below.

Required identification:

Clear selection

Proof of identity we accept (the item must display your full name)

Common ID (Branch only) Close

Benefits Agency – Notification Close

Benefits Agency – Notification

Acceptable items – one item only

Child Benefit.
Working/Child Tax Credit.
Pension.
Disability.
Income Support.
Incapacity Benefit.

Important notes

Benefit Agency notifications must have been issued within the last 12 months and be valid for current or future benefits.

Please note that benefits documents are valid for the addressee only and are not acceptable identification for other parties named within the course of the document.

HM Revenue and Customs Close

HM Revenue and Customs

Acceptable items – one item only

Notification – Coding or Demand.
Disabled Persons Tax Credit.
National Insurance Contributions Account Statement.

Important notes

Tax notifications and correspondence must be either less than 6 months old or dated within current (April to April) financial year.

P60s, P45s and NI Number Confirmation Letters are not acceptable.

Under 20s Only Close

Document Guidelines

Please provide originals only. We cannot accept photocopies and items printed from the internet including bank statements.
Individual items can only be used once, either for Table A or Table B but not both.
We will return your documentation once we’ve processed your application.
If you don't have any of the above documents, please contact your nearest branch to discuss.
If you don't have any of the above documents, please contact your nearest branch to discuss.

Proof of address we accept (the item must show your current address)

Statement Close

Local Authority Close

Household Bills Close

Document Guidelines

Please provide originals only. We cannot accept photocopies and items printed from the internet including bank statements.
Individual items can only be used once, either for Table A or Table B but not both.
We will return your documentation once we’ve processed your application.
If you don't have any of the above documents, please contact your nearest branch to discuss.
If you don't have any of the above documents, please contact your nearest branch to discuss.

Giving someone access to your bank accounts

Sometimes you might need help managing your bank accounts - you can do this by putting in place a third-party mandate to allow another person to access your accounts. When this mandate is in place the third party can:

Close accounts for the customer.
Have a debit card, cheque book and paying in book on the account.
Set up telephone and online banking.
Arrange and cancel payments on the account.

To register a Third Party with us, you will need to complete an Add a Third Party to an Account form, signed by you as the customer and the third party. You will both need to bring 2 forms of identification into one of our branches. Please refer to our list of acceptable identification.

Ulster Bank branch locator
Find your nearest branch using our branch locator.

Other ways of managing someone's affairs

If there's no Power of Attorney in place, you can apply to the Office of Care and Protection to be made a 'controller'. This will allow you to manage their affairs under the supervision of the court who will make sure you act in that person's best interests.

The Office of Care and Protection makes decisions on financial or welfare matters for people who don't have the mental capacity to do so. They can:

Decide if someone has the capacity to make decisions for themselves.
Appoint deputies where the person lacks mental capacity.
Give you permission to make one-off decisions for someone who lacks mental capacity.

More about the Office of Care and Protection

Organisations that can offer support

Make the most of extra support available to help you care more effectively. The local authority of the person you care for may be able to help with this, you can find their details on the nidirect.gov.uk website. Other organisations will also be able to help.

A guide to social care
NHS

Information on Government services and allowances for carers
nidirect.gov.uk

Expert advice, information and support
carersuk.org/northernireland

Advice on paying for the cost of care and managing money
MoneyHelper

Frequently asked questions

How do I register a Office of Care and Protection Order with you?

To register this with us, if the patient holds a bank account with us, you will need to come into any branch to restyle the account to reflect your controller status. This means you can take control of the existing accounts and operate them on behalf of the patient.

If the patient is not an account holder with us, we are able to open a new controller style bank account for you to assist you with managing their affairs. You will need to provide us with the original sealed and embossed court order appointing you as controller and 2 forms of acceptable identification.

What can a Power of Attorney do on an account?

How can I add a third party to an account?

What can a Power of Attorney do in the circumstances where the individual either has capacity or lacks capacity?

Task	Customer has capacity	Customer lacks capacity
Signing rights	Both the customer and the Attorney will have the right to sign on the account	Only the Attorney will have the right to sign on the account
Opening and closing accounts	The Attorney can open and close accounts on behalf of the customer	The Attorney can open and close accounts on behalf of the customer
Setting up and cancelling Direct Debits and Standing Orders	The Attorney can add, cancel or amend both Direct Debits and Standing Orders	The Attorney can add, cancel or amend both Direct Debits and Standing Orders
Statements	The Attorney can order additional statements for the customer have duplicate statements sent to their own address	The Attorney will have all statements sent to their address
Cheque book and card	The Attorney can have a cheque book and/or card in their name (as long as signing rules for the Attorney are to sign jointly or severally)	The Attorney can have a cheque book and/or card in their name (as long as signing rules for the Attorney are jointly or severally)
Internet and Telephone access	The Attorney can access the accounts via their own internet and telephony banking (as long as the Power of Attorney signing rules are to sign jointly or severally)	The Attorney can access the accounts via their own internet and telephony banking (as long as the Power of Attorney signing rules are to sign jointly or severally)

Can a Power of Attorney open an account on behalf of the Donor?

Yes, as a Power of Attorney it's possible to open an account on behalf of the donor, however this will depend on the type of POA document you hold. You can't apply online, you'd need to visit your local branch so they can help set this up. Remember to take along your Power of Attorney document.

If the donor is an existing customer and you have already registered the POA document with us, you can call our customer services team on 03457 424 365 who can help you open an additonal account.

Caring for someone vulnerable

Caring for someone that needs additional help?

Help if you're self-isolating

Vulnerable customers helpline

Banking from home

Power of Attorney

An attorney should be someone highly trustworthy; for most people that's a family member or a close friend.

Which Powers of Attorney do we accept?

Register a Power of Attorney

Acceptable forms of identification

Proof of identity we accept (the item must display your full name)

Proof of address we accept (the item must show your current address)

Giving someone access to your bank accounts

Frequently asked questions

How do I register a Office of Care and Protection Order with you?

What can a Power of Attorney do on an account?

How can I add a third party to an account?

What can a Power of Attorney do in the circumstances where the individual either has capacity or lacks capacity?

Can a Power of Attorney open an account on behalf of the Donor?

Is there something else we can help you with?