Powers of Attorney

A power of attorney is an authority given by one person (the donor) to another person (the attorney) to act on his or her behalf. This authority is detailed in a document that, once signed by both parties, becomes legally binding.

 A person will typically give such an authority because he or she:

• is going overseas for some time
• is suffering a period of ill health
• is unable, for one reason or another (including potential mental incapacity), to manage his or her affairs.

The attorney needn’t be a lawyer, but he or she should be someone the donor trusts implicitly. The donor is giving this person important powers to manage his or her affairs. Legally, the attorney’s actions are regarded as if the donor had performed them (as long as the attorney’s actions are within the scope of the power given him or her).

We sometimes get complaints about how a power of attorney has been used in banking matters. This guide explains our approach to such complaints. 

Types of powers of attorney

There are two types: a general power of attorney and an enduring power of attorney. Both become invalid on the death of the donor. 

General power of attorney

Here, a person appoints someone to help look after his or her affairs. The donor can continue to manage his or her own affairs, but is assisted by the attorney. The extent of that assistance is up to you, as the donor. You could choose to give your attorney the power to look after all of your property, or you could limit it to, say, managing your bank accounts.

You can have more than one attorney, but be sure to spell out how they are to exercise their powers. (Do you want them to make decisions together or separately?) You can amend or revoke the power of attorney document at any time. If you do, be sure to advise those people or organisations (such as banks) relying on the document, because they are entitled to assume its contents remain valid unless told otherwise. 

A general power of attorney ceases to have effect once the donor loses mental capacity.

Enduring power of attorney

Here, an attorney is able to act for you even if you lose mental capacity, as long as you arranged it while still capable. This type of authority is very useful in helping to protect your future circumstances, including your financial situation. If you become mentally incapacitated and have no enduring power of attorney in place, a court may appoint someone to make decisions for you. 

There are two types of enduring powers of attorney. One relates to a donor’s personal care and welfare, the other to a donor’s property. The first enables an attorney to make decisions about a donor’s personal care and welfare if the donor loses the mental capacity to make decisions (such as through dementia or as a result of an accident). This type of enduring power of attorney comes into effect only if the donor becomes mentally incapable.

The second type, the property-related authority, includes houses, vehicles, business interests, personal effects, bank accounts and investments. A donor has a choice about when this type of enduring power of attorney comes into force: it can be as soon as the document is signed, or only when mental incapacity occurs.

Only a medical professional can decide whether a donor has lost capacity to make his or her own decisions.

Accepting complaints

Any bank customer who has mental capacity can complain to us. However, when a customer has lost mental capacity, only a duly authorised person can complain on the customer’s behalf. This is usually a person with an enduring power of attorney that covers the customer’s banking affairs, or a property manager appointed by the courts. In such cases, we will ask to see a copy of the power of attorney or the court order.

Types of complaints

From a customer who has granted power of attorney

A customer may complain that a bank accepted instructions outside the power given to an attorney. In these cases, we will first check the wording of the power of attorney document. A third party, such as a bank, should accept only those instructions that fall within the powers granted in the document. 

A customer may also complain an attorney did something wrong and the bank should have been aware of it. A customer may, for example, say that a bank should not have allowed the withdrawal of funds that the attorney subsequently spent on him or herself. We would not be able to uphold such a complaint if the power of attorney document allowed the attorney to operate the customer’s bank accounts. Customers must approach attorneys directly about improper use of powers. It would be a different matter, however, if there was evidence to suggest a bank was aware an attorney was breaching his or her duties. 

From an attorney about a bank

An attorney may complain about a delay by a bank in accepting instructions, even after receiving a copy of the power of attorney document. A bank may, for example, want extra information to assure itself that the power of attorney has not lapsed or been revoked. Or, if a power of attorney has taken effect because the donor has lost mental capacity, a bank may seek evidence of this. A bank may also stipulate that an attorney meets its identification requirements. In all such situations, we expect banks to clearly explain their requirements to attorneys.

An attorney may also complain that a bank is denying certain requests, such as for an eftpos card or access to internet banking. We will look at the power of attorney document and whether the donor has placed any limits on what the attorney has the power to do. We will also look at the bank’s policies and procedures when dealing with powers of attorney.

Note that banks cannot replace an account holder’s name with that of an attorney because the account holder is the legal owner of the funds in the account.

From an attorney on a customer’s behalf

Occasionally, we get complaints from an attorney after the donor has lost mental capacity, about matters that occurred before the loss of mental capacity. An attorney may complain that the bank should have declined an application for a loan because the customer could not afford repayments or that the bank recommended an unsuitable investment product for the customer. These cases are often difficult to assess because the donor may not be able to recall his or her interactions with the bank. However, we can look at documents such as loan applications, diary notes and contracts to see that the bank followed the law and good industry practice. 

An attorney may complain that a bank should have taken steps, even before being advised of a customer’s mental incapacity, in order to prevent certain transactions because it was obvious the individual was mentally incapable. Our response is that bank staff are not medically trained to detect deterioration in mental capacity, especially if not visible or obvious. Even so, if there were clearly sufficient indications that something was wrong, we may find that the bank should have taken some further steps before processing transactions. 

Other sources of information

You should get professional advice before granting a power of attorney. You can find more information at:

• the New Zealand Law Society 
• Super Seniors 
• Citizens Advice Bureau.