Power of Attorney

Setting up a Power of Attorney is one of the ways that you can arrange for someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf and manage your finances on your behalf.

You may not need someone to help you now, but you can set up a Power of Attorney for the future, in case your health changes or you have a change in your circumstances, such as moving abroad. 

There are different types of Power of Attorney we can accept, depending on whether your account is held with us in the Isle of Man or Jersey (this is also known as account situs).  

The types of Power of Attorney that we can accept are:

•                 General Power of Attorney is used to grant authority to deal with matters on your behalf

•                 Enduring Power of Attorney - Isle of Man accounts only is typically used to give someone the legal authority over your finances if you lose mental capacity but it can also be used when mental capacity is retained

•                 Lasting Power of Attorney - Jersey accounts only is typically used to give someone the legal authority over your finances if you lose mental capacity but it can also be used when mental capacity is retained

How do I obtain a Power of Attorney

Depending upon the situs of the accounts, there are different requirements. Santander International will only accept a Power of Attorney that has been registered in the jurisdiction where the account(s) are held.

• Jersey situs accounts must be registered in the Jersey Courts
• Isle of Man situs accounts must be registered in the Isle of Man Courts

Additionally, for Isle of Man situs accounts, we do not accept foreign Enduring Power of Attorney, however, we can accept an Isle of Man registered Enduring Power of Attorney which will need to be provided by a Manx (Isle of Man) lawyer or solicitor.  At our discretion, for Isle of Man situs accounts, we may accept Lasting Power of Attorney registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (or equivalent) in the UK.

This is how it works:

•                 We’ll add your Power of Attorney to your account(s)

•                 Some restrictions apply, but your Power of Attorney will be able to access your account using telephone, online and mobile banking in addition to giving instructions in writing or in person at our Isle of Man and Jersey Work Cafés. They can manage payments such as Direct Debits, standing orders and one-off transactions and they may also be able to have their own Visa debit card if you have a Gold Account

•                 The Power of Attorney will remain in force until either you or your Power of Attorney ask for the Power of Attorney to be removed from your account.  A Power of Attorney on an account will also end in the event of death

Who can be a Power of Attorney?

•                 This can be anyone you choose: a spouse, child, family member or a friend, someone you trust

•                 Your Power of Attorney(s) must be over the age of 18

•                 You may not always be in a position to choose someone you know, and this is fine. You can ask a professional to be your attorney. They could be a solicitor, accountant or financial adviser

Consider who should be your Power of Attorney

The most important thing to consider is choosing someone you trust. This should be someone who will be able to act in your best interest if you needed them to.

You should talk to the person or persons you want to nominate, to see if they are happy to do this. You should find someone who knows you well, and someone you would trust in making decisions for you.

How to register a Power of Attorney

•                 Your Power of Attorney will need to be over the age of 18

•                 You will need to provide proof of identity and proof of address for yourself and each Power of Attorney

To register a Power of Attorney with us, please complete the Power of Attorney form and return it to us with the requested supporting documentation.  Contact us if you need to check whether your account is held with us in the Isle of Man or Jersey.

Please see our Power of Attorney Guide for further information.

Alternatives to a Power of Attorney

There are alternatives to a Power of Attorney, depending on your circumstances. Third party access can be given to your accounts or, if the account holder has lost mental capacity, then we can accept the following alternatives:

•                 Receiver - Isle of Man situs accounts: An application may be made to the Isle of Man Courts to appoint a Receiver, who can be a close friend, family member or a professional person such as an advocate

•                 Deputy - Jersey situs accounts: An application can be made to the Royal Court of Jersey for a Court of Protection Deputyship order, and a person known as a Deputy will be appointed. More than one person can be appointed and it could be a relative or a professional person such as a solicitor or accountant. All applications must be made using a Jersey legal representative, who will make the application on your behalf

Here’s how you might use the different types of supported banking