Helping you care for a vulnerable relative

There may come a point in life when you, a loved one or close relative can no longer, or may find it difficult to manage your own banking, either temporarily or indefinitely. 

 

A power of attorney is a document by which one party (the Donor) gives another person (the Attorney) the power to act on his or her behalf. It may be a general power or limited to certain defined purposes, such as managing the Donors finances and affairs.

Types of Attorneys

There are 2 types of Power of Attorney:

 

  1. Power of Attorney (POA), also known as ‘ordinary’ or ‘general’ powers of attorney, is a legal document giving someone else the authority to take actions or make decisions on the Donor’s behalf. It enables the Donor to choose an Attorney to deal with their property and affairs. A POA ceases when the Donor becomes mentally incapable of managing their affairs, or upon the death of the Donor. A POA is usually put in place when the Donor may find it difficult to manage their own finances for reasons such as physical disability.

  2. Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA), is similar to a POA except it is capable of continuing to be effective after the Donor has become mentally incapable of managing their affairs, but only if the EPOA document is registered and stamped with the High Court (Office of Care and Protection). An EPOA can still be used without being registered with the High Court if the Donor remains mentally capable.

Appointing an Attorney

As there are different types of Power of Attorney, it is important you use the correct one for your situation. You will need to seek independent legal advice from your solicitor or Citizens Advice Bureau.


For further information please refer to the Home, Care and Community section of the NI Direct Government Services website: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/managing-your-affairs-and-enduring-power-attorney

How do I register a Power of Attorney with the bank?

Our staff in each of our branches or business centres are here to help. You can contact us by telephone on 0345 600 5925† or by calling in to any of our AIB branches. 

 

You/The Attorney(s) will need to provide the branch with the following documentation:

 

  • The original of the full Power of Attorney/Enduring Power of Attorney document or a copy certified by a solicitor;

  • 2 forms of identification for the Attorney to prove identity and residence e.g. UK passport, full or provisional photo driving licence and a utility bill less than 3 months old that confirms your address;

  • If the Enduring Power of Attorney was signed by the Donor more than 6 months before being presented to the bank, but has not yet been registered with the High Court, we may require further information from the Donor’s GP in order to ascertain that the Donor is still mentally capable of managing their finances.

 

The Attorney will need to complete additional documentation at the branch.

 

Please note that AIB (NI) can only accept Powers of Attorney which are governed by the laws of Northern Ireland.

 

It will take time for us to process this documentation, but our staff in the branch or business centre will keep the Attorney up to date on the progress of this and will also write to the Attorney to confirm when the Power of Attorney/Enduring Power of Attorney is in place. We will also inform any other departments in AIB (NI) that need to know, and they will be in touch if necessary. 

 

 

Further Information

Additional information which maybe relevant to your circumstances can be found below:

 

 

† Lines open: 9am to 5pm Monday - Friday (except on bank holidays). Calls may be recorded. Call charges may vary - refer to your service provider.

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