Why do I need to lodge a Power of Attorney or an Administration Order with NAB?

It’s important that you have lodged your POA with us so that access to your accounts is given to your Attorney in a safe way. Similarly, if you’re appointed under an Administration Order, visit us at a NAB branch so that we can safely give you access to your donor’s accounts. 

What is a Power of Attorney?

A POA is a legal document that allows you (the donor or principal) to appoint another person (the Attorney) to make decisions on your behalf. The POA ends when you pass away.

What is an Administration Order?

An Administration Order (or Financial Management Order) is when a Tribunal appoints a person to make decisions on your behalf when you’re unable to make your own decisions.


We’ll use Appointed Person throughout this page to describe either the Attorney or Administrator. We’ll use Attorney or Administrator where the information is specific to one or the other.

Power of Attorney and Administration Orders

Find out more about Power of Attorney and Administration Orders.

View POAs and Administration Orders

How do l set up my Power of Attorney or Administration Order with NAB?

You can set up your POA or an Administration Order at your nearest NAB branch. There are a few key things to keep in mind, including:

  • both you and your Appointed Person can lodge your POA by visiting a NAB branch or your Attorney can lodge the POA on your behalf, so you won’t need to attend.
  • we’ll only start reviewing your POA once all Appointed Persons have attended a branch to prove their identity. If you have more than one Appointed Person, each person can visit their local branch separately to prove their identity.
  • your Appointed Person will need to bring their ID documents to prove their identity.
  • the appointed Administrator can lodge the Administration Order by visiting a NAB branch so the account holder won’t need to attend.

What’s the process and how long does it take?

1. We collect your information

You provide your POA or Administration Order at the NAB branch, we verify your identity and set up your Appointed Person with a NAB profile. NAB’s dedicated specialist team will then review your POA or Administration Order.

2. We give you a time estimate

Within one business day of receiving your POA or Administration Order, NAB’s specialist team will send an update with an estimate of how long the review and account set up will take. Depending on complexity of the document, this can take up to seven business days.

3. We get in touch

We’ll inform you when the review is complete and outline next steps for set up.

What do l need to bring to a NAB branch?

  • Your original Power of Attorney or Administration Order document, or a copy certified by a person authorised to do so in your state or territory.

  • Proof of identity for all those that attend branch to confirm your identities. 

  • A medical certificate if applicable (for example, to show us that an Enduring Power of Attorney has been activated because you, as the donor or principal, have lost decision-making capacity).

What can and can’t my Appointed Person do on my behalf at NAB?

What your Appointed Person can and can’t do on your behalf will be outlined as part of your Power of Attorney or Administration Order. For example, if there are no account access restrictions in your POA, your Appointed Person may be able to transact on all your NAB accounts and may order an additional NAB debit card to access your NAB transaction account.

Your Appointed Person may be able to do things like update your details with NAB and manage your day-to-day finances, such as paying bills and buying groceries. It’s important that your Appointed Person acts in your best interest at all times, and we may request additional information from them to ensure they’re acting in line with the POA or Administration Order. Remember to keep in mind:

  • if you're a sole trader, your Appointed Person may be able to access your NAB business accounts
  • if you're a director of a company, your Appointed Person will only have access to your NAB personal bank accounts and not the company accounts.

Learn more about your Appointed Person responsibilities

If you want to restrict your Attorney access to certain accounts or activities, it is best you specify this in your Power of Attorney or as long as you still have decision-making capacity you can continue to give NAB instructions.

To protect your finances from the increased risk of financial abuse and fraud, there are certain things your Appointed Person can and shouldn’t do at NAB:

Things your Appointed Person can do:

  • Open an everyday bank account in your name

  • Close an existing account and transfer the remaining funds into one of your other NAB accounts

  • View your account balance, fees and statements

  • Become an additional debit card holder or close your debit card on your transaction account

  • Make purchases with a debit card on your transaction account on your behalf

  • Negotiate a better rate on your term deposit or loans

  • Amend or rollover your term deposit

  • Pay off your credit card

  • Withdraw cash for you at a branch (NAB may request more information or evidence before proceeding)

  • Update your personal details or change your periodic payments (NAB may request more information or evidence before proceeding)


If the POA or Administration Order restricts the Appointed Person’s authority to complete one of these actions, NAB will not facilitate this request.

Things your Appointed Person shouldn’t do:

  • Open a new credit card in your name or become an additional credit card holder

  • Complete actions that are conflicts of interest (such as opening a joint account for you and them)

  • Upgrade you to a platinum debit card (so you avoid any monthly fees)

  • Open a new home loan in your name

  • Redraw on your personal loan

  • Gift funds from your account to the Appointed Person’s personal account


If the POA or Administration Order gives the Appointed Person authority to complete one of these actions, NAB will review the request.

Will my Attorney or Administrator get NAB Internet or Telephone Banking access?

We’ll arrange for the Appointed Person to have access to your accounts through NAB Internet Banking or Telephone Banking depending on the scope of your POA or the Administration Order. They’ll have their own NAB Identification Number and login details.

If the Appointed Person wishes to change the default daily limits for payments through NAB Internet Banking or Telephone Banking, they’ll need to make the request at their nearest branch and show us information to explain a request to increase a daily limit.

You should seek legal advice about how you make your POA if you don’t want your Appointed Person to have NAB Internet Banking or Telephone Banking access to your accounts.

Frequently asked questions

Information and support

Power of Attorney and Administration Orders

Learn about the different types of Power of Attorneys and Administration Orders.

Supporting customers experiencing vulnerability

Learn about how we’re helping customers experiencing vulnerability with more support and extra care.

Accessibility and inclusion

Find out what we’re doing to become a more accessible and inclusive organisation.

Helpful resources

There are helpful guides available if you need more support with your POA or Administration Order.

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