Power of Attorney

There are two types commonly used in New Zealand:

1. Standard Power of Attorney (also known as Ordinary) 
2. Enduring Power of Attorney 

Below is an overview of the different types, and what we need to see before we can set up an attorney to manage a bank account at TSB. 

Standard Power of Attorney 

This allows someone to manage your affairs on your behalf and can apply for any period while you still have mental capacity. You might set it up to be in place for a specific period or purpose – for example, to let someone manage your bank account and ensure your bills are paid while you’re travelling or recovering from an illness. The appointment can either grant the attorney general powers to act on your behalf, or it can be limited to the specific tasks or duties outlined in the power of attorney document.  

Enduring Power of Attorney 

An Enduring Power of Attorney (sometimes called an EPOA) also allows someone to manage your affairs on your behalf, but unlike a Standard Power of Attorney, the attorney can continue to act on your behalf even after you lose mental capacity. You can either set up your enduring power of attorney to take effect immediately or only in the event you become incapable of making decisions. 

There are two types of EPOA: 

• Personal Care and Welfare 
• Property 

‘Property’ includes any money in bank accounts. At TSB, an EPOA must be in place for Property for an attorney to be able to manage the donor’s accounts and other banking-related facilities.  

For more general guidance about Enduring Powers of Attorney, visit the New Zealand Government’s website. 

If you’ve been appointed as a Power of Attorney and need access to TSB bank accounts belonging to the donor, there are some things we’ll first need to check.

What we’ll need to see

1. Photo identification of the attorney (see here for what we accept)  
2. The original POA/EPOA document (or a copy that’s been certified by a trusted referee). If you’re providing a certified copy, it must include: 
   • the certifier’s name 
   • certification capacity 
   • signature and date 
   • the wording “This is a true copy of the original” 
3. Where the EPOA has come into force as a result of the donor losing mental capacity, we’ll also need the original medical certificate including the necessary information required by law, or a certified copy.

Important: for a certified copy to be accepted by TSB, the certifier must meet the trusted referee criteria set out by AMLHUB.