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Caring for a Vulnerable Person
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Helping a vulnerable person with their financial affairs

Caring for a vulnerable person

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What is a Power of Attorney? Open in new window

What can a Power of Attorney do? Open in new window

How to register a Power of Attorney with us Open in new window

Other organisations that can offer support Open in new window

Arrange a callback Open in new window

What is a Power of Attorney?

A Power of Attorney allows someone to appoint a person or organisation to manage their affairs. There are several types of Power of Attorney including:

Ordinary Power of Attorney

The Attorney can exercise the powers set out in the document for so long as:

the power of attorney continues in force (there may be an expiry date or it could be revoked by the grantor) and;
the grantor retains mental capacity, if they lose mental capacity then the powers granted under this are automatically revoked.

Lasting or Enduring Power of Attorney

Each of our jurisdictions have passed laws in recent years to allow these. These types of attorney may be able to be used before the individual loses capacity, however it depends on whether this power was granted. Importantly, the power will be effective after the grantor has lost mental capacity.

In order to grant a Power of Attorney, it needs to be arranged while the grantor is still capable of making their own decisions. It also needs to be registered with us.

What can a Power of Attorney do?

The duties the Attorney can perform for the customer depends on the type of the Power of Attorney and the powers granted. Powers of Attorney can be really broad or sometimes quite specific as to what someone can or cannot do.

Customer is capable of making decisions

Signing rights

Both the customer and 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.

Setting up and cancelling direct debits and/or 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 and have duplicate statements sent to their own 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.

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.

Customer is NOT capable of making decisions

Signing rights

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.

Setting up and cancelling direct debits and/or standing orders

The Attorney can add, cancel or amend both direct debits and standing orders.

Statements

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.

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.

How to register a Power of Attorney with us

There are several different types of Power of Attorney and it's important you use the correct one for your circumstances.

To register a Power of Attorney with NatWest International, we require a Power of Attorney document that deals with the financial and property affairs of the customer.

NatWest International only accepts a Power of Attorney that has been registered in the jurisdiction where the bank account(s) are held.

A Power of Attorney is an important legal document, so we recommend you take legal advice.

Acceptable identification for registering

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

The original copy of the full Power of Attorney document or a copy certified by a lawyer
Please be aware some Power of Attorney documents contain certificates which we will also need to view.
Two forms of identification for the person who will act on behalf of the customer
We require one document to confirm your identity and one document to confirm your address from the following list:

How to confirm your identity

We require one of the following documents

Acceptable documents

Current, valid full passport
Driving licence issued by the UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Gibraltar, an EU member state, USA or Canada
National identity card (this excludes cards issued by the United Kingdom)

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 to confirm your identity or confirm your address, however 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.

How to confirm your address

We require one of the following documents

Acceptable documents

The document you provide must show your current address.

Utility bill less than 6 months old (electricity, water, gas, landline telephone).
Local authority/tax bill less than 12 months old.
Bank, Building Society, credit card or mortgage statement or bank correspondence (documents must be less than 6 months old). Bank correspondence must be personal / direct to the customer, we would not accept a generic mailshot.
Driving licence issued by the UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Gibraltar, an EU member state, USA or Canada.

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 to confirm your identity or confirm your address, however 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.

Organisations that can offer support

Jersey organisations

Jersey Citizens Advice Bureau

St Paul’s Centre
New Street
St Helier
Jersey, JE2 3WP

Telephone: 0800 735 0249 or (01534) 724942
email: advice@cab.org.je
Website: www.cab.org.je

*****

Age Concern Jersey

Windsor House
Val Plaisant
St Helier
Jersey, JE2 4TA

Telephone: 0800 735 0345
email: info@ageconcern.je
Website: www.ageconcern.je

*****

States of Jersey - Adult social services

Website: www.gov.je/health/socialservices/pages/adult.aspx

Guernsey organisations

Guernsey Citizens Advice Bureau

Bridge Avenue
The Bridge
St Sampson’s
Guernsey, GY2 4QS

Telephone: (01481) 242266
Website: www.cabguernsey.org

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States of Guernsey - Health, Social Care and Wellbeing

Website: www.gov.gg/article/119652/Health-Social-Care--Wellbeing

Isle of Man organisations

Manx Citizens Advice Service (Douglas)

Room 3
Promenade Church
Loch Promenade
Douglas
Isle of Man, IM1 2LY

Telephone: (01624) 626863
Website: www.citizensadvice.im

*****

Manx Citizens Advice Service (Port Erin)

Thie Rosien
Castletown Road
Port Erin
Isle of Man

Telephone: (01624) 833976
Website: www.citizensadvice.im

*****

Manx Citizens Advice Service (Ramsey)

4 Bourne Concourse
Peel Street
Ramsey
Isle of Man, IM8 1JJ

Telephone: (01624) 813466
Website: www.citizensadvice.im

*****

Age Concern Isle of Man

Telephone: (01624) 631740
email: info@ageconcern.im
Website: www.ageconcern.im

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Isle of Man Government - Adult Social

Website: www.gov.im/categories/caring-and-support/adult-social-care/

Gibraltar organisations

Gibraltar Citizens Advice Bureau
10A Governor's Lane
Gibraltar

Telephone: (00350) 200 40006
email: info@cab.gi
Website: www.cab.gi

*****

Government of Gibraltar - The Care Agency

Website: www.gibraltar.gov.gi/new/care-agency

Get in touch to request additional support

Do you need extra help with banking because of a disability, health condition or as your circumstances have changed? Are you worried that a vulnerable person might need further help from us or think that you or someone else might be the victim of financial abuse?

Our Support Specialists are here for you. They can offer:

Zoom video calls,
Home visits,
Face to face meetings,
Telephone calls and;
Email correspondence to make sure that your needs are met with us.

Request a callback