Signing Authority Resolution & Banking Mandate – Non-Profit Organization | Word/PDF/Excel

Decision on signing authority and bank authorization – template for non-profit associations

Does your non-profit association need to document who may represent the association with the bank or other recipients? The package provides templates for decisions on representatives, review of bylaws and authority, extracts from minutes, bank documents with an authorization matrix, and the amendment or revocation of previous mandates. You receive editable Word files, searchable PDF versions, and an Excel register with nine tabs.

Important limitation: The material is intended for Swedish non-profit associations, not limited companies, economic associations, or housing cooperatives. Always check the current bylaws and which body actually has the right to decide on representatives. Banks may require their own mandatory powers of attorney, specific wording in the minutes, and physical original signatures. The package is not a bank-approved power of attorney form and cannot by itself activate bank accounts or authorizations.

What is the difference between a decision on signing authority and a bank power of attorney?

The association's decision states who or which individuals shall represent the association and to what extent. The receiving bank then determines which documents and bank powers of attorney are required for its own services. The Swedish Tax Agency's organization number certificate normally does not show who represents a non-profit association; the association usually has to substantiate this with relevant minutes. An internal decision and a bank-registered authorization are therefore two different things.

All files in the document package

The Excel register – nine tabs

Overview, Representatives, Bylaw Check, Decision, Bank Authorizations, Supporting Documents, Amendments, Controls, and Read Me. The overview counts registered cases, minutes decisions, bank authorization lines, amendment cases, and manually marked confirmations. It never assesses whether a signing authority is legally valid or approved by the bank. Do not enter account passwords, full personal identity numbers, or other unnecessary sensitive information.

Step-by-step workflow

1. Check the bylaws. Determine whether the annual general meeting or the board has the right to appoint representatives and which decision requirements apply.
2. Collect current meeting minutes. Identify board elections, constitution, and previous decisions on representatives.
3. Make a clear decision. State which individuals represent the association, exactly for which documents, and whether they act individually or jointly.
4. Document the decision in the minutes. Use the minutes extract only to reproduce the actually decided text.
5. Contact the bank. Obtain the bank's latest instructions, mandatory power of attorney, and requirements for physical signatures or identification.
6. Follow up on the registration. Check in particular that new and revoked authorizations have actually been registered with the bank and any other recipients.

Legal and practical prerequisites

For ordinary non-profit associations, the right to represent the organization should be verifiable through bylaws and decisions. A registered non-profit association engaged in commercial activities may also be subject to special rules and registration with the Swedish Companies Registration Office. When signing authority is specified for this type of association, the arrangement between several signatories must, for example, be clear. Banks' own routines may differ, including what a bank power of attorney or minutes must contain.

Frequently asked questions

Who may sign on behalf of a non-profit association?

Check the association's bylaws and the actually authorized decision-making body. Explicitly document who may represent the association and with what mandate. Do not automatically apply rules from other forms of associations.

What does "two in association" mean?

It means that two specified representatives must act jointly within the mandate, unlike a decision where certain individuals may act individually. The decision must be clear, and the bank must confirm its registration.

Is a minutes extract sufficient to open a bank account?

Not necessarily. The bank may require original minutes, bylaws, identification, and its own power of attorney or form. Check the current requirements before submission.

Is this a valid bank power of attorney for Swedbank or Nordea?

No, it is an internal decision-making and control package. The bank's own mandatory documents and instructions must be used when required.

Must a decision on signing authority be registered with the Swedish Companies Registration Office?

It depends on several factors, including the association's registration status. Not all ordinary non-profit associations are registered there. Check the requirements for registered non-profit associations engaged in commercial activities in particular.

What happens when a representative leaves?

Check the internal decision-making procedure, whether the mandate needs to be revoked, which recipients should be notified, and whether bank authorizations and online banking access have actually been changed.

Can I get the documents in English?

The working documents are in Swedish. A separate English User Guide provides guidance for the Swedish material; the documents are not translated legal agreements.

Can I fill in the PDF files digitally?

The PDF versions are searchable and print-friendly but have no interactive fillable fields. Use the Word files for editing.

Related templates

• Power of attorney for non-profit association – if the association also needs a power of attorney.
• Association minutes for annual general meeting and board – the meeting minutes themselves.
• Board handover in non-profit association – for changes in the board, documents, and access.
• Association and membership administration – more templates.

Sources and document version

Version 1.0. Source review October 22, 2026. Limited to Swedish non-profit associations.

• Swedish Tax Agency – Non-profit association and organization number certificate
• Swedish Bankers' Association – before contacting the bank
• Swedish Companies Registration Office – signing authority in non-profit associations engaged in commercial activities
• Nordea – changes in the association
• Swedbank – banking for non-profit associations

Digital ZIP delivery. Always adapt the documents to the association's bylaws, decision-making documents, and the recipient's instructions.