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An attorney can
- Manage the donor’s bank accounts to help with day-to-day money management. For example: payments and transfers.
- Register for online and telephone banking (unless they are appointed to act jointly).
- Have a debit card on the account (unless they are appointed to act jointly).
- Visit a branch to manage the donor’s accounts.
- Close accounts the donor no longer needs.
- Open new accounts in the donor’s name (in some cases).
- Manage the donor’s mortgage if the POA covers property and financial affairs — including applying for a new mortgage or changing rates.
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An attorney can't
- Apply for borrowing or credit, such as loans, overdrafts, or credit cards.
- Change account ownership or add someone new to the account.
- Act alone if the POA says decisions must be made jointly.
- Have services that allow one attorney to act without the other when a joint appointment is required (such as online banking, telephone banking, or a debit card).
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Frequently asked questions
Additional support
- If something in your life has changed like your money situation or your health you might need a little more support with your banking. Visit our Banking My Way page where you can tell us what's going on, and we'll find ways to make things easier for you.
- If you're looking after someone who needs extra support, there's help out there for you too. We've listed some organisations below that offer advice, tools and support to make things a bit easier.