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- Third-party access to bank accounts
A third-party authority is a temporary arrangement between you and someone you trust to access your bank accounts with us on your behalf.
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A third-party authority is a short-term agreement between you (the ‘donor’) and someone you trust (the ‘third party’). This could be a family member or close friend who can access your bank accounts and pay bills or withdraw money on your behalf.
You can cancel the agreement whenever you like
A third-party authority only lasts as long as both parties are alive and have mental capacity
A third-party authority isn’t like a joint bank account – a third party can only help manage a donor’s account in the way they want them to. They won’t have any legal claim to any money
It’s only valid with us, so if you have accounts with other banks or building societies, you’ll need to set up a similar arrangement with them.
If you need help with other things such as contacting utility providers or companies, other types of access, such as a power of attorney, may be more suitable.
Who’s it suitable for?
It may be suitable if you need help managing your finances in the short term, for example:
During periods of illness, or if you have recurring mental health problems.
You’re going abroad for up to a year
You’re going to university
You’re going into hospital
Who isn’t it suitable for?
You want to set limits on transactions made by your third party
You’re planning for a time in the future where you’ll no longer be able to make decisions about your finances
You want your third party to have access to Barclays Smart Investor, or make changes to Barclaycards, mortgages and loans you have with us.
You may want to consider other options to make sure you make the right choice for your circ*mstances.
Authorised users
Power of attorney
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As your third party will have access to your bank account, and you’ll be responsible for any withdrawals they make on your account, you should choose people you trust, such as family members or close friends.
If you no longer want them to be able to access your money, it’s important that you tell us immediately so we can remove them from your account.
You can choose up to two third parties – they don’t have to bank with us, but we will need to keep a record of their details.
They must be aged 18 or over
They need to have mental capacity – if either lose mental capacity the authority will no longer be valid and will be cancelled
You can change who acts as your third party in branch
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They can
Access your transactions and ask for a balance or statement
Ask us to send a statement to you or them
Order a chequebook or credit book
Have and use a debit card for your account
Access Telephone Banking or Online Banking
They can't
Use your card and PIN, but you can ask us to send them their own
Open or close accounts for you*
Change your address or personal details
Apply for, change or remove an overdraft, loan or mortgage in your name
*If you give them Online Banking access, they can use it to open Everyday Saver accounts for you.
If you choose more than one third party to act on your behalf, each person will be able to act independently. This means they won’t need your permission, or permission from another third party to withdraw money or pay bills while the third-party authority is active.
If you give your third party access to Online Banking they can see all products and services you have with us, not just the ones listed in your third party agreement. They can see personal loans, credit cards and mortgages, and might be able to change Direct Debits relating to these.
If you apply for any new current or savings accounts, including joint accounts, your third party will automatically get access to them in Online Banking. To remove this access, you'll need to contact us once the account is open.
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Register with us
In person
Make an appointment to set up your third-party authority at a branch or Barclays Local.
- Both you and your chosen third party need to be there
- If your account is joint with someone else, they’ll need to come too
- We’ll verify your identity with your debit card and PIN, or using Barclays app ID
- If your third party doesn’t bank with us, they’ll need to verify their identity with Barclays Verify or bring proof of identity and address documents with them
- Appointments can last up to an hour
By post
Please call 0345 075 74751and choose option 1.We’ll explain the process and send you a registration form.
If your third party doesn’t bank with us, they’ll need to verify their identity using Barclays Verify in our app before you return the form.
If they can’t use Barclays Verify, you’ll need to send us certified copies of documents that prove their identity and address.
What you’ll need if you’re coming to see us
Proof of identity
If you already bank with us, you can verify your identity in one of our branches or local sites with your debit card and PIN or by usingBarclays app ID.
If you don’t bank with us, you can verify your identity usingBarclays Verifyin our app before you visit.
If you can’t verify your identity using the app and don’t have a debit card with us, you’ll need to bring your proof of identity and address documents with you. You can find alist of acceptable documentson our account opening page. You don't need to open an account to register a power of attorney, but the documents we accept are the same.
What happens next
Once we receive everything we need, we’ll aim to set up their access within 10 working days. If we need anything else from you, we’ll get in touch by email or phone.
When it’s set up, we’ll send them a letter to confirm that they have access, along with anything else they asked for, such as Online Banking and Telephone Banking details or debit cards.
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Depending on the permission given to you when the third-party authority was registered with us, you could have access to these features.
Feature Debit card Online Banking Telephone Banking Barclays app Manned counter in branch Self-service machines in branch Cheque book (only available if the person has lost mental capacity)
Using Telephone Banking
If you have a question or need to make a transfer but can’t visit a branch, call our Telephone Banking teamon 0345 734 53452(+44 24 7684 21003if you’re abroad). You’ll need your Telephone Banking membership number and passcode when you call – we’ll have sent you this in a letter when you registered with us.
Logging in to Online Banking
Our handyBanking from homeguide explains how to make transfers and manage payments.
If you already bank with us
- Log in using the membership details for your own account
- To switch between your accounts and the person’s accounts you’re managing, select ‘Switch customer’ in the help bar or go to ‘Profile’ and select the person’s name at the bottom of the dropdown box
If you’re new to Barclays and logging in for the first time
- If you’re eligible and chose to manage your accounts with Online Banking when you registered with us, we’ll have sent you a membership number and passcode
- Go to our log inpage, and enter your surname and 12-digit membership number
- Enter your 5-digit passcode and create a memorable word that contains both letters and a number, then select ‘Log in’
- You’ll then see the name of the person you’re linked to. Select the person whose account you want to manage, then ‘Manage’
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You or your third party can cancel the third-party authority at any time by booking an appointment at your nearest branch or Barclays Local.
If you can’t visit us, you can send written instructions to:
Delegated Authority Team
Barclays
Leicester
LE87 2BBIf you’ve written to us, we’ll send you and your third-party a confirmation letter once it’s been cancelled.
Power of attorney
A power of attorney (PoA) is a legal document that lets a person make decisions about property and finances on someone else’s behalf. The process of setting it up can be complicated, and it’s often needed at a difficult time, which is why we’re here to support you in any way we can.
Power of attorney
Court of Protection order
A Court of Protection (CoP) order is a legal document that lets a person (the ‘deputy’, in legal documentation) make decisions about property and finances on behalf of someone who, due to mental incapacity, can no longer make those decisions themselves (the ‘donor’). The process of setting it up can be complicated, and it’s often needed at a difficult time, which is why we’re here to support you in any way we can.
Court of Protection
Guardianship (missing persons) order
A guardianship (missing persons) order (GMPO) is a court-appointed document that lets someone take care of the property and finances of a person who’s been missing for an extended period of time.
Missing persons order
Appointeeship
An appointeeship lets someone manage someone else’s government benefits and claims.
Appointeeship
Important information
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Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm and Saturdays, 9am to 2pm. To maintain a quality service, we may monitor and record phone calls.Call charges.Return to reference
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Lines are open Monday to Friday from 7am to 8pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 5pm.. To maintain a quality service, we may monitor and record phone calls. Call charges.Return to reference
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To maintain a quality service, we may monitor and record phone calls.Call charges.Return to reference
