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I think it depends on the bank. My father's credit union couldn't have been more helpful. Bank of America made me feel like I was a criminal.
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Reply to lkdrymom
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After my Dad died Mom automatically put me on her bank account as a signer. Later she had a new Will drawn up and her POAs, assigning me, done by a lawyer. My Financial was immediate, Mom was 80 by then. I live in the same as Mom did. Banked at the same bank. My POA was never questioned. The bank had a copy for their records.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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Yep and supposedly Wells Fargo and BOA were the worst. I never needed to show mine at the bank as i was always co-owner of account.
But as CWillie posted, many others have complained.
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Reply to 97yroldmom
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They don't. If the POA documents are done by a lawyer, has the law firm's stamp on them, worded correctly for both medical and financial POA, and it's an official copy, the bank will accept it.

If you're having trouble with the POA documents at the bank it's because they are not done or correctly and are not legally binding.
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Reply to BurntCaregiver
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I never had an issue with our bank accepting the POA that I had for my late husband,(or anyone else) and it was probably because all our POA's were done by a lawyer, and not just printed off from online and notarized.
I can only imagine that that is the difference, and one more reason to have them done correctly by a lawyer to begin with.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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Some banks want their own POA signed as their own legal has provided it and it allows the branches to work with the account holder immediately. It doesn’t take the place of the POA already in possession.
the bank poa is just for the bank. Some hospitals want to use their own POA as well.
If your name is on the account along with the account holder, you don’t need a POA for the bank as you are automatically a co-owner of the account. All the risk is on the account holder in that case.
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Reply to 97yroldmom
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What banks require is a GOOD POA. Mine didn't have a single problem with my POA for my brother on all his accounts, whether in Trust (once I got listed as Trustee of Trust and they had no problem with THAT either).

Banks are notoriously careful about accepting paperwork pulled off a computer and signed by any old notary public. Banks want to protect their clients. You could after all be a kid using your parent's illness as a front to wipe out their accounts. We see and hear that a LOT on AC here. They just get their names added to the accounts by their parents and waltz off with the money.

When you get a POA done make sure it is done by an ATTORNEY and that it is well done. I could do anything with mine, including sell a home for my brother. The attorney examining my brother said to him: "Are you absolutely CERTAIN you trust this woman, because with the POA I am writing per your wishes she can steal the gold out of your teeth.

I dealt with two banks. Neither had a single question about my POA. They simply too the original, copied it, and made me signee and manager of this accounts.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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What does this mean?? I was financial POA for my parents and my name appeared with theirs on the checks. No "separate" POA was required.

Please elaborate.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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cwillie Jan 19, 2025
In the past there were many posters whose bank would not accept their legally written and activated POA and insisted they would only act if/when the account holder came in and signed forms provided by the bank. Needless to say that can be difficult or impossible when the grantor is physically or cognitively compromised.
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