GETTING HELP FROM SOMEONE YOU TRUST
Are you planning for a significant change and need help with your banking or managing your account? You can authorise a trusted person to access your account. Here’s what you need to know.
Why might you need an authority?
Life can be unpredictable and there may be situations when you’ll need someone you trust, like a family member, friend, or advisor to help manage your finances.
- Facing health challenges or physical limitations
- Experiencing cognitive decline
- Travelling for extended periods
- Preparing for possible incapacity
- Need help managing debt or finances.
What is an authority?
An authority allows someone to speak on your behalf or access your account to act on your behalf. This arrangement can be short-term or long-term based on your specific needs, and you can choose the level of access to provide e.g. View only or Full access
However, you might want to seek legal advice before you allow someone to manage your banking.
Authorities at a glance
There are several ways to get support with your banking. Here’s a quick overview:
Choosing the right option for you
Each authority type works differently and comes with its own responsibilities, considerations, and limitations. Explore the options below to understand how they work and choose the option that is right for your needs.
Types of authorities
What is it?
An authorised third-party is someone you authorise to speak with us on your behalf. This could be
- A trusted person (family member, friend, or carer)
- A professional you’re working with (e.g. a financial counsellor or debt management firm).
They can help if you need to contact us by phone, for example to request financial hardship assistance or make a complaint. They will not have direct access to your accounts.
What can they do?
- Speak with the bank on your behalf
- Seek and exchange personal information with the bank
- Negotiate or make decisions for you (e.g. repayments plans or settlement arrangements)
- Receive account related information or notifications.
What can’t they do?
- Access your accounts
- View account balance
- Make transactions
- Change or update your contact details.
Key information
- Eligibility: Adults aged 18+
- Set up: Submit a completed Authorised third-party (PDF 53KB) form via post or email
- Duration: Ongoing or until request to remove authority is received by the bank
- Removal process: You can request to remove them in branch.
Find out more
Learn more about Westpac Group’s Expectations of authorised third parties (PDF 194KB)
What is it?
An account signatory is a trusted person you authorise to manage your account in branch.
A signatory can perform certain transactions on your behalf, but they remain bound by the operating rule (e.g. any to sign, all to sign)
What can they do?
- Write cheques
- Transfer funds*
- Sign documents
- Open new accounts - Only for account holders aged under 18
- Close accounts.
*Daily payment limits don’t apply to signatories.
What can’t they do?
- Open new accounts
- Apply for credit products
- Change or update your contact details.
Key information
- Eligibility: Adults aged 18+
- Set up: Submit a Notice of authority (PDF 788KB) form in branch. Once set up, you can manage signatories online
- Duration: Ongoing until you remove them
- Access Levels: In-branch access only
- Removal process: You can request to remove them online or in branch.
Find out more
Learn more about more about signatories and the operating rule.
What is it?
Account sharing lets you add a trusted person or financial professional to your bank account. They can access your account in Online Banking using a separate profile.
- Existing Westpac customers will need to switch profiles in Online Banking to access your account.
- Non-Westpac customer will need to register for Online Banking to access your account.
What can they do?
- View account balances and transactions
- Transfer funds*
- Pay bills and schedule payments.
* Daily payment limit will be shared by all users with account-sharing access
What can’t they do?
- Open new accounts
- Apply for credit products
- Change or update your contact details.
Key information
- Eligibility: Adults aged 18+
- Set up: Via Online Banking
- Duration: For a specified time period or until you remove them in Online Banking
- Access levels: Choose between View-only access or Full access to make payments
- Removal process: You can remove them in Online Banking.
Find out more
Learn more about account sharing.
What is it?
Third-party access allows someone you trust, who is also a Westpac customer to access your account. They can access your account in Online Banking alongside their own Westpac accounts, using their own profile.
They will be able to see your accounts alongside their own accounts.
What can they do?
- View account balances and transactions
- Transfer funds*
- Pay bills and schedule payments
*Important: Daily payment limits don’t apply to third-party access. Third party users may have higher daily paying limits.
What can’t they do?
- Open new accounts
- Apply for credit products
- Change or update your contact details.
Key information
- Eligibility: Adults aged 18+
- Set up: Submit a Third-party access (PDF 111KB) form in branch. Once set up, you can manage it online
- Duration: For a specified time period or until you remove them
- Access levels: Choose between View-only access or Full access to make payments
- Removal process: You can remove them in Online Banking or submit a request in branch.
Find out more
Learn more about third party access.
What is it?
A general power of attorney (POA) is a legal document. It allows a trusted person to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf, usually while you can still make decisions on you own.
This authority can have significant control over your financial and legal affairs. You should consider seeking independent legal advice before setting up a POA.
What can they do?
- Pay bills
- Manage finances
- Transfer funds
- Handle legal and tax matters
- Change or update your contact details.
What can’t they do?
- Any limitations set out in the POA document
- Act outside the scope of their authority.
Key information
- Eligibility: Adults aged 18+
- Set up: In-branch process (legal paperwork and appointment required)
- Duration: Ongoing or for a specified time period. The POA ends if you can no longer make decisions or when you pass away
- Removal process: You can request removal in branch
Find out more
Learn more about general power of attorney.
What is it?
An enduring power of attorney (EPOA) is a legal document. It allows a trusted person to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf, usually if you can’t make decisions on your own.
You must set up an enduring power of attorney while you still have capacity to make decisions. The term ‘enduring’ means this authority continues even after you lose decision-making capacity.
This authority can have significant control over your financial and legal affairs. You should consider seeking independent legal advice before proceeding.
What can they do?
- Pay bills
- Manage finances
- Transfer funds
- Handle legal and tax matters
- Change or update your contact details.
What can’t they do?
- Any limitations set out in the POA document
- Act outside the scope of their authority.
Key information
- Eligibility: Adults aged 18+
- Set up: In-branch process (legal paperwork and appointment required)
- Duration: Usually ongoing. Often starts when you can no longer make decisions and ends when you pass away.
Find out more
Learn more about enduring power of attorney.
What is it?
A financial management order or administration order (FMO) is a legal decision made by a court or tribunal. It appoints a trusted person (e.g. a family member or friend) or a public official to manage your finances.
An order is usually made when you can no longer make decisions on your own and you don’t have an enduring power of attorney.
This authority can have significant control over your financial and legal affairs.
What can they do?
- Pay bills
- Manage finances
- Transfer funds
- Handle legal and tax matters
- Change or update your contact details.
What can’t they do?
- Any limitations set out in the FMO document
- Act outside the scope of their authority.
Key information
- Eligibility: Adults aged 18+
- Set up: Court or tribunal appointment
- Duration: Usually ongoing until removed by court or tribunal.
Find out more
Learn more about financial management order or administration order.
Understanding risks and staying protected
Appointing someone to make financial decisions on your behalf is a big step that carries some risks. Giving another person access to your accounts can increase your exposure to financial abuse, misuse, or fraud.
Before you decide to enter an authority arrangement, it’s important to understand the implications and how to protect yourself.
To help you stay in control, here are some key things to consider.
Seek independent legal advice
For arrangements like power of attorney or enduring authorities, consider getting independent legal advice while you have decision making capacity and before making a choice.
What steps can you take to protect yourself?
Do you suspect misuse of your account?
If you’re concerned the person you appointed as your authority is now causing you harm, please contact our Priority Assist team on 1800 063 509 Mon-Fri 8.30am-7.30pm, Sydney time. We’re here to help protect your finances in difficult times.
There are also some other quick changes you can make to help protect yourself
Consider changing your passwords and PINs
Amend access to your online banking by changing your password and change PINs on your debit and credit cards.
Reset your password
Take control with SafeBlock
If you suspect fraud or believe your details have been compromised, you can immediately lock your accounts and cards to prevent any transactions. You’ll have the flexibility to unlock them anytime once you’re ready.
Report a transaction
If someone with access to your account is spending your money in a way that doesn’t benefit you, or if you notice any unusual transactions, or unauthorised changes, report immediately.
Help when you need it
External support services
Compass is a helpful guide covering enduring powers, legal capacity, choosing an attorney, preventing misuse, and includes state-specific checklists.
Safe & Savvy
A guide to help people avoid scams, fraud and elder financial abuse.
View Safe & Savvy guide
Looking for more information?
Things you should know
This information is general in nature and has been prepared without taking your personal objectives, circumstances and needs into account. You should consider the appropriateness of the information to your own circumstances and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.
Rules for powers of attorney and financial management orders differ by state and territory. Support services are available in your state or territory to help you make decisions regarding authorities and managing your financial affairs. For the latest information, contact your state or territory’s Public Trustee.
QLD — Public Trustee of Queensland
NSW — New South Wales Trustee and Guardian
ACT — Public Trustee and Guardian for the Australian Capital Territory
VIC — State Trustees of Victoria
SA — South Australian Public Trustee
NT — Northern Territory Public Guardian and Trustee
WA — Public Trustee of Western Australia
TAS — Public Trustee of Tasmania