Can a banking power of attorney be signed electronically?

Yes, without restriction. Art. 1366 of the French Civil Code grants electronic writing the same probative force as paper. No special text mandates manuscript signature for a banking power. European banks have accepted AES-signed powers with PSD2 SCA identity verification since 2018.

General or special power of attorney?

General power: allows ALL types of banking operations without limitation. Risky if the mandatary is not fully trusted. Special power: limited to a specific operation type (e.g. « perform transfers up to €10,000 to supplier accounts listed in annex »). Recommended for security. Our template facilitates special powers with cap and precise enumeration.

Which signature level: SES, AES or QES?

Advanced signature (AES) is the recommended standard for a banking power. It satisfies the SCA (Strong Customer Authentication) requirement of PSD2. QES is used for very high-stakes powers (general unlimited power, corporate accounts > €1M).

What must the power mandatorily contain?

(1) Full mandator identity (company name, registration, address, signing legal representative); (2) Full mandatary identity (full name, date of birth, role in company); (3) Precise enumeration of conferred powers (operation types, accessible account types, max amount per operation); (4) Duration (fixed-term or indefinite); (5) Revocation conditions; (6) Date and place; (7) Mandator and mandatary signatures.

How to revoke a banking power of attorney?

The mandator can revoke anytime by signed letter + notification to bank AND mandatary (art. 2003 CCiv). Any operation after revocation can be contested. Our flow generates electronic revocation in 30 seconds with automatic notification to bank + mandatary — enforceable effective date.

Does the mandatary engage personal liability?

Not in principle: the mandatary acts in the name and on behalf of the mandator (art. 1984 CCiv), the company is liable. However, the mandatary engages personal liability if they (1) exceed conferred powers, (2) commit a fault (negligence, mismanagement), (3) commit a fraudulent act. Precision of powers in the deed is therefore protection for both parties.

How long should the banking power be kept?

5 years minimum from revocation (5-year limitation, art. 2224 CCiv). In practice, 10 years recommended for URSSAF or ACPR audit. Certyneo automatically archives 10 years, free of charge, with access to signed PDF + eIDAS audit trail.

Is the electronically signed power enforceable against the bank?

Yes. The eIDAS proof PDF (mandator and mandatary identities, qualified timestamp, PSD2 SCA-compliant SMS OTP) constitutes irrefutable evidence, enforceable against the bank. European banks have accepted AES-signed powers since 2018 — case law (Cass. com. 6 July 2022) confirmed enforceability.

Art. 1984 French Civil Code · PSD2 SCA · eIDAS AES

Sign a corporate banking power of attorney online, in 2 minutes

Banking power of attorney conferred by a business (mandator) to a natural person (mandatary, typically CFO, accountant, executive assistant) to perform banking operations on its behalf, signed electronically with the same legal value as paper. Compliant with art. 1984 of the French Civil Code (mandate), PSD2 (Strong Customer Authentication) and eIDAS — AES advanced signature recommended.

Legal framework: Art. 1984 French Civil Code
Signature level: AES eIDAS recommended
Legal archive: 10 years

What is a corporate banking power of attorney?

The corporate banking power of attorney is the act by which a company's legal representative (SARL manager, SAS president, SA director) gives a natural person power to perform banking operations in the company's name: transfers, cheque signing, cash deposits, account inquiries, card management. It is governed by art. 1984 of the French Civil Code (mandate). The mandatary engages the company's liability within the conferred powers. The power can be general (all operations) or special (a specific operation type). It is revocable anytime by the mandator.

Why sign a banking power of attorney electronically?

Multi-signers (mandator + mandatary + bank)

The power binds the mandator (legal representative), mandatary (accepting) and bank (acknowledging). Our flow handles all 3 levels with PSD2 SCA-compliant SMS OTP. The bank automatically receives the signed PDF + audit trail.

Business KYC + mandatary identity verified

Art. L561-5 of the French Monetary Code requires the mandator to verify mandatary identity (KYC). Our flow integrates SMS OTP identity verification + mandatary ID capture — meeting AML (anti-money-laundering) requirements.

Precise powers tracked in audit trail

The power of attorney must precisely list conferred powers: max transfer amount per operation, accessible account types, duration. Our generated PDF explicitly lists powers — the eIDAS audit trail makes them enforceable.

Instant revocation tracked

The mandator can revoke anytime. Our flow generates revocation in 30 seconds with automatic notification to bank + mandatary. eIDAS audit trail to prove EXACT revocation date — enforceable against any subsequent operation.

Sign a banking power of attorney in 4 steps

From drafting the power to bank notification, in under 5 minutes.

1. Prepare the power
Upload your PDF or use our art. 1984 CCiv-compliant template: mandator identity (company name, registration, legal representative), mandatary identity (name, role, ID), conferred powers (precise enumeration), max amount, duration, revocation conditions.
2. Add the signers
Company legal representative (manager, president) + accepting mandatary. Personalised secure link + PSD2 SCA-compliant SMS OTP for each signer.
3. Choose the eIDAS level
Advanced signature (AES) recommended for a banking power: presumption of reliability (art. 1367 CCiv), SMS OTP satisfies PSD2 SCA. QES is used for very high-stakes powers (general unlimited power, accounts > €1M).
4. Sign and notify the bank
Mandator signs first, then mandatary accepts. Automatic notification to mandator's bank (signed PDF + mandatary KYC via EBICS, Swift or banking portal). 10-year archive with eIDAS audit trail.

Frequently asked questions

Can a banking power of attorney be signed electronically?: Yes, without restriction. Art. 1366 of the French Civil Code grants electronic writing the same probative force as paper. No special text mandates manuscript signature for a banking power. European banks have accepted AES-signed powers with PSD2 SCA identity verification since 2018.
General or special power of attorney?: General power: allows ALL types of banking operations without limitation. Risky if the mandatary is not fully trusted. Special power: limited to a specific operation type (e.g. « perform transfers up to €10,000 to supplier accounts listed in annex »). Recommended for security. Our template facilitates special powers with cap and precise enumeration.
Which signature level: SES, AES or QES?: Advanced signature (AES) is the recommended standard for a banking power. It satisfies the SCA (Strong Customer Authentication) requirement of PSD2. QES is used for very high-stakes powers (general unlimited power, corporate accounts > €1M).
What must the power mandatorily contain?: (1) Full mandator identity (company name, registration, address, signing legal representative); (2) Full mandatary identity (full name, date of birth, role in company); (3) Precise enumeration of conferred powers (operation types, accessible account types, max amount per operation); (4) Duration (fixed-term or indefinite); (5) Revocation conditions; (6) Date and place; (7) Mandator and mandatary signatures.
How to revoke a banking power of attorney?: The mandator can revoke anytime by signed letter + notification to bank AND mandatary (art. 2003 CCiv). Any operation after revocation can be contested. Our flow generates electronic revocation in 30 seconds with automatic notification to bank + mandatary — enforceable effective date.
Does the mandatary engage personal liability?: Not in principle: the mandatary acts in the name and on behalf of the mandator (art. 1984 CCiv), the company is liable. However, the mandatary engages personal liability if they (1) exceed conferred powers, (2) commit a fault (negligence, mismanagement), (3) commit a fraudulent act. Precision of powers in the deed is therefore protection for both parties.
How long should the banking power be kept?: 5 years minimum from revocation (5-year limitation, art. 2224 CCiv). In practice, 10 years recommended for URSSAF or ACPR audit. Certyneo automatically archives 10 years, free of charge, with access to signed PDF + eIDAS audit trail.
Is the electronically signed power enforceable against the bank?: Yes. The eIDAS proof PDF (mandator and mandatary identities, qualified timestamp, PSD2 SCA-compliant SMS OTP) constitutes irrefutable evidence, enforceable against the bank. European banks have accepted AES-signed powers since 2018 — case law (Cass. com. 6 July 2022) confirmed enforceability.

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