Third Party Mandate

One off or short term access to someone else’s passbook savings accounts

A Third Party Mandate lets someone give you one off or short term access to their savings passbook account. It’s simple, quick and free to set up.

To agree a Third Party Mandate, the account holder must have the mental capacity to make their own decisions.

A Third Party Mandate can be useful if they need cash, a banker’s cheque or a transfer and:

  • They are temporarily unable to come into branch themselves
  • They know they’ll be travelling on a short business trip or holiday when the money is needed
  • They are going to be in hospital for a few days or a short number of weeks
  • A General Power of Attorney or Lasting Power of Attorney has yet to be set up

Where it is possible to plan in advance, the account holder may want to consider a General (or Ordinary) Power of Attorney instead of Third Party Mandate, as this can provide support on more than just a savings passbook account.

If it is an emergency, or an unexpected situation, and access is needed on more than just their savings passbook account, you or the account holder should speak to us so we can consider how else we may be able to help.

Joint accounts

If it is a joint account, both account holders must agree to give you access. If you are already a joint account holder on the account, then a Third Party Mandate is not necessary.

Getting short-term support for your own account?

Having one off or short term access to someone else’s account?

What can you do as a third party?

As the third party, you can only have access to their passbook savings account. You cannot access any other account, nor any information that we hold about the account holder and their other accounts.

One off withdrawals

If you have been authorised to make a one off withdrawal, the account holder must state the type and amount of withdrawal on the request form. This could be:

  • Cash withdrawal up to £500 (limit may vary depending on account type)
  • Cheque withdrawal up to £5000, made payable to a person or organisation specified by the account holder (it cannot be made payable to you)

You will only be able to make this one withdrawal, at this one time.

Short term regular access

If you have been authorised to make regular withdrawals for a short period of time, you can:

  • Withdraw up to £500 a day cash
  • Withdraw up to £5,000 a day by banker's cheque, as long as it’s not payable to you
  • Transfer up to £5,000 a day to any account in the holder’s name only

The account may have withdrawal and transfer restrictions within the account terms and conditions, and these will still apply.

Important: Whenever you come into branch to make a transaction, you must bring the passbook and your proof of ID and address.

There will still only be one passbook on the account and the account holder remains in control.

How to set it up

Follow these simple steps to set yourself up as a designated third party.

Download and fill out the Authorised Representative Withdrawals form, which both you and the account holder need to sign. A third party mandate can either be on a one-off basis (Authority for ONE withdrawal section) or on an ongoing basis (Authority for regular withdrawals).

Register the form by making an appointment at your nearest branch. Only the third party needs to come to the branch to set this up (the account holder has the choice to attend or not).

Remember to bring:


  • The Authorised Representative Withdrawals form signed by both parties
  • The savings passbook
  • Proof of ID and address. You can’t use the same document to prove both your name and address.

You'll be able to use the mandate a few days after the branch appointment.

When does the Third Party Mandate end?

A Third Party Mandate for a one off withdrawal ends as soon as the withdrawal is made.

A Third Party Mandate for short term regular access ends if:

  • You or the account holder cancels it. Cancellation should be in writing and taken into a branch. If the account holder cannot attend a branch, you may bring in a signed copy
  • You or the account holder lose the ability to make decisions (we must be notified as soon as possible if this happens)
  • You or the account holder dies

Safeguarding accounts

You must always act in the account holder’s best interests. For their protection, we may sometimes refuse transactions or contact them to discuss them.

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