Plain-English guide

Can I use a power of attorney to talk to a bank for a family member?

By Passage Authority · Published September 4, 2026 · 4 minute read

Short answer: If your family member named you as an agent in a financial power of attorney, you can present that document to their bank and ask the bank to recognize your authority. The bank reviews the document and decides what it will allow you to discuss or do. Passage is the shared workflow for making that request and receiving the bank's answer.

A simple example

Imagine your grandmother signed a financial power of attorney naming you as her agent. She wants you to receive duplicate statements and speak with her credit union about account-service questions.

The request can start with her, with you, or with the institution. Passage then gives each person a separate secure step. Your grandmother confirms the request and its boundaries first. You accept the responsibilities assigned to you. The institution reviews the document and evidence before deciding what it will recognize.

What Passage is—and is not

Passage is not the power of attorney document, a law firm, or the bank's decision-maker. It is the place where the request moves from person to person without disappearing into branch notes, inboxes, and disconnected review queues.

The narrow first use case is New York financial power of attorney for deposit-account service. Passage helps the institution receive the request, collect its required information, review it, and give everyone a clear current result.

The boundaries matter

A power of attorney is not automatically unlimited. The document may cover only certain matters, and the request may be narrower still. A clear workflow names the account relationship, requested actions, exclusions, and end date instead of reducing everything to a vague 'POA on file' status.

Common questions

Can my grandmother use Passage to tell her bank I am her agent?

Yes—that is the core scenario. She can confirm a request that identifies you as her proposed representative, and the bank can review and record what authority it will recognize.

Can I start the request for her?

The workflow can be initiated by the representative or institution, but the person granting authority receives a separate step and acts before representative access opens.

Does Passage create a power of attorney?

No. Passage handles the request and review around an existing authority document. People should consult a qualified lawyer for advice about creating or interpreting a power of attorney.

Sources and further reading

This article explains Passage Authority and general financial power of attorney operations. It is not legal advice, and requirements vary by institution and jurisdiction.