The Carers Card Account lets you give debit cards to 2 people who care for you. The money you transfer to your Carers Card is separate from your other current and savings accounts. This means your carers can get cash or go shopping for you.
How it works
- You must be over 18 and live in the UK permanently
- You're an existing customer who has a Santander current or instant access savings account that you can move money from.
- You transfer money from your current or savings account to your Carers Card Account. This is so that your carer can access the amount you’ve put in.
- The maximum amount you can put in is £1500. Choose up to 2 carers to get their own card and PIN. A carer can be a family member, friend or someone else you trust.
- You and your carers can both keep track of spending on the card. This is through regular statements, in branch, over the phone or through Online Banking or our Mobile Banking app.
- Your carers will get different Mobile and Online Banking log on details to you. This will allow them to make Faster Payments for something you need using Mobile or Online Banking.
Separate money, for your security
The Carers Card Account is separate from your main accounts. This means you and your carers can’t use it to set up Direct Debits or standing orders. Your carers won’t be able to see if you have any other Santander accounts when they use Online Banking. They’ll only be able to see details for the Carers Card Account.
Other ways to get help with your banking
The Carers Card Account is just one of the ways we may be able to help you if you’re worried about getting to the shops, or looking after your money now or later on in life.
Have a look at the table below to see the different ways we can help, and how they compare. You can find more information on our supported banking pages
The main difference between the Carers Card Account and third party access is that with the Carers Card Account, your carer only has access to funds that you transfer to the Carers Card Account. They can't do your day-to-day banking for you.
| Can be used if you: | Carers Card | Third party access | General Power of Attorney | Lasting Power of Attorney | Court of Protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Just need help with the small things, like shopping or getting cash. |  |  | | | |
| Are physically ill, injured or disabled. | | | | | |
| Need a little help with looking after your day-to-day banking, for a shorter period of time, but you don't want someone to make decisions for you. | | | | | |
| You will be abroad, and won't have access to your account (for example, travelling) | | | | | |
| Are preparing for when you'll be unable to make decisions, or want someone to start looking after all of your finances | | | | | |
| No longer have the mental capacity to make decisions, and someone needs to do this for you. | | | | | |
Please remember that if you add a carer or third party access to your account, you're still responsible for anything your chosen person does with it.
If you’re experiencing a situation that’s affecting the way you manage your finances, it can be helpful to tell us so you don’t need to repeat yourself every time you speak to us.
Let us know by logging on to Mobile or Online Banking, start a chat and type in ‘tell us once’ and we’ll record it with your consent. Please visit our chat with us online page to learn more about our secure chat and how to access it.
You can also tell us in branch or over the phone by contacting us
For more detailed information, take a look at our dedicated accessibility page.
Account fee
There’s no monthly fee to maintain the account.
The Fee Information Document (PDF - 131 KB) details the main fees and charges on this account. For more information about our main terms and services take a look at our Glossary
Overdraft
There’s no overdraft facility available with this account. This means we won't normally let you make a payment out of the account if there isn’t enough money in it. However, there may be times where you make a payment that we can't stop, which will take the account balance below zero. We won't charge you for this.
Overdrafts depend on your circumstances and you must repay any overdraft when we ask as our General Terms and Conditions outlines.
You’ll be automatically set up to get text alerts when:
- your balance falls below zero
- a payment is refused as you don’t have enough funds.
If we don’t have a valid mobile number for you, we might not be able to reach you.
You can also register for other account alerts to help you to stay on top of your finances. For example, to let you when your balance has fallen below an agreed limit.
For more information visit Account alerts
You can manage your alerts settings at any time by using Online Banking. If you require further support please contact us or visit your local branch
If you need support with managing your money or if you’re in debt, please visit our money worries page for further support.
Key documents
- Carers Card Account Key Facts Document (PDF - 518 KB)
- Fee Information Document (PDF - 131 KB)
- General Terms & Conditions (PDF - 289 KB)
To view these documents, you may need to download Adobe Reader
You can apply if
- You and the carers are over 18 and live in the UK permanently.
- You are an existing customer who has a Santander current or instant access savings account that you are able to move money from.
Ways to bank with us
You can access the Carers Card Account anytime, anywhere:
- Online Banking
- Mobile Banking app
- contactless payments with your mobile by linking your Santander debit or credit card to your Apple, Android or Samsung device.
Face-to-face support in branch and UK-based telephone support:
- In branch
- Telephone Banking
- ATM
- Post Office
Security
Keep your banking details private and secure.
To learn about common frauds and scams and how you can stay safe, please visit the Fraud and Security support pages within our website.
How we manage scam claims
We’ll support you if you’ve fallen victim to fraud. Find out more about our approach to fraud
Statements
You and your carer or carers will receive a monthly paper statement, which will also be available in ‘e-Documents’ in Online Banking. You can ask us at any time for your statement to be:
- paper-free
- every 3 months rather than 1
- in alternative formats, such as braille.
How can we help you?
- You can open the Carers Card Account in joint or single names. You’ll need to have a Santander current or instant access savings account that you can move money from.
- Your carer(s) will need to be over the age of 18 and a UK resident.
- To open a Carers Card Account, you can book an appointment in any branch.