By the Tadoro editorial team · Last updated: · 5 min read
Rent, medications, electricity, care service – all keep running, even when a family member is in the hospital. Only the account stops running, if no one has access. The most common misconception: a general power of attorney covers it. In reality, German banks almost always require their own bank-specific authorization – and without it, the account stays a closed system. Even if you're the spouse.
At a glance
Anna's father Max became care-dependent after a fall. Even with a notarized power of attorney, Sparkasse only accepted account access weeks later – on its own in-house form.
The standard power of attorney from the Federal Ministry of Justice template includes "financial matters" – accounts, transfers, asset management. Legally it's clear: whoever is authorized may act.
Except: the bank has to *accept* the power of attorney. And that's a different story.
German banks – supported by rulings like BGH XI ZR 51/10 – have the right to set their own requirements for the form of the authorization. Most banks require either (a) a notarized durable power of attorney OR (b) a "account and custody authorization" signed on their own form. A privately written power of attorney, even if correctly templated, is often rejected – citing abuse protection and legal certainty.
Single account (one person): Without an accepted authorization, the account is frozen once the bank becomes aware of incapacity. Standing orders initially continue – new transfers, withdrawals, or online banking are blocked.
"Und-Konto" (joint "And" account): Both holders must act together. If one becomes incapacitated, the account is de facto blocked – even for the other. Rare type, often for business purposes.
"Oder-Konto" (joint "Or" account): Either holder can act alone. This is the form married couples typically have. As long as one is competent, the account continues to function. Important caveat: banks can convert an Oder-Konto to Und-Konto upon learning of incapacity of one holder if they want to protect the incapacitated party's interests. Rare, but it happens.
Online banking / app access: Even with a formal authorization, the accessor needs the TAN process (chipTAN device, pushTAN app), PIN, often a specific device. If the spouse doesn't know the credentials – very common – they must reapply for everything, presenting the authorization. Takes days to weeks.
This list is long. Tadoro keeps track of your family’s protection automatically: flags gaps, reminds on deadlines, shows responsibilities.
Reliable bank access in a crisis rests on three layers:
1. Notarized durable power of attorney with explicitly named banking authority. Bank acceptance is high but not 100%. Cost: ~150–250 euros at a notary. 2. Bank-specific account / custody authorizations for *every* bank where an account exists. This is the gold standard – costs effort, not money (free at the bank). Some banks accept "authorization upon death" plus "authorization beyond death"; others strictly separate. 3. Credential documentation – not the authorization itself, but: which bank holds which account? Where are the TAN devices? Who knows the PIN? In which safe is the debit card? Without this practical information, formal authorizations are legally valid but operationally slow.
This list is long. Tadoro keeps track of your family’s protection automatically: flags gaps, reminds on deadlines, shows responsibilities.
For each person in your family – and each of their accounts – work through these three questions:
1. Is a bank-specific authorization in place? Set it up directly at the bank (usually an A4 form both parties sign in front of a bank employee). Free. 2. Does the account work after death? An "authorization beyond death" is often standard, but: check. Without it, the authorization ends on the date of death – exactly when funeral costs, final bills, and rent need to flow. 3. Does anyone know which accounts exist? The biggest administrative hurdle after a death is often: "We didn't know that account existed." Old savings books, custody accounts, savings at direct banks – if not documented, heirs sometimes can't find them for years.
For couples: check that all important accounts run as an Oder-Konto. A single account of one partner with high recurring payments is a ticking clock.
Tadoro does not list accounts with numbers or balances – that would be asset management, not preparedness coordination. Instead, Tadoro checks: at which banks do accounts exist? Is there an authorization for them? Who in the family knows that the account exists? Who knows how to access it (without sharing PINs or TANs themselves)?
That's the difference good coordination makes: in a crisis, your family doesn't have to find out where the accounts are first – they already know. And they know which steps are needed to remain operationally capable.
The bank power of attorney (often used synonymously with Kontovollmacht) is a bank- and account-specific document authorizing a named person to access your account. Despite the legal position that a notarized power of attorney is generally binding, almost all banks in practice require their OWN form on their OWN paper – because they bear full liability for unauthorized transactions and must rely on their own processes. Without a bank-specific POA, the account freezes on incapacity: rent, utilities, and insurance bounce while the family waits weeks for a certificate of inheritance or court ruling.
Account and bank
IBAN, account type (checking, savings, securities, call money), bank name and branch. A POA applies only to the one account at the one bank – three banks need three POAs, multiple accounts at one bank may need separate ones.
Authorized person
Name, address, date of birth, ID number. Must appear in person with the account holder at the branch (traditional banks) or be verified via video and postal ID (direct banks like N26, DKB, ING).
Scope
Kontovollmacht = full access (transfers, standing orders, statements, possibly overdraft). Limited variants: view-only (statements only) or transaction-restricted (e.g. no overdraft use). Explicitly record which actions are permitted.
Validity
'Beyond death' (transmortale Vollmacht) must be expressly checked – otherwise the POA expires with death, the account freezes until the certificate of inheritance is issued. Many banks additionally impose maximum validity of 3–5 years; renewal is required after.
Identity verification before a bank employee
Traditional banks: appointment, both persons present, both IDs. Direct banks: Postident at a post office or Video-Ident via app. Online forms without identity verification are regularly rejected – a printed-and-signed bank POA downloaded from the bank website is worth nothing.
No statutory formal requirements – the banks set the rules. For joint accounts: 'and-account' requires both account holders to sign, 'or-account' needs only one. The POA can be revoked at any time, but revocation only takes effect once received in writing at the bank (a phone call is insufficient). The bank checks the POA's currency with every transaction – unused POAs are sometimes deactivated, even if they would still be formally valid.
Directly at your bank. Schedule a branch appointment – Sparkasse, Volksbank, Deutsche Bank and others each have their own forms that are not interchangeable. Bring: ID of both people, tax ID if available. Duration: 15–30 minutes, free. At direct banks the process runs in online banking under 'Vollmachten' or 'Kontovollmacht', with identity verification via Postident at a post office or Video-Ident through the app. When switching your primary bank: the POA does NOT transfer – set it up fresh at the new institution.
Assuming the general power of attorney suffices – in theory it binds the bank, in practice most banks delay for weeks until a legal review completes. Meanwhile direct debits bounce. Always additionally set up the bank-specific POA.
Forgotten 'beyond death' clause – without a transmortale Vollmacht, the account freezes immediately at death. Rent, funeral costs, and ongoing insurance wait for the certificate of inheritance, which can take 4–12 weeks.
Only one account authorized – main account is covered, but savings, call money, and securities aren't. Each account type potentially needs its own POA; cover all accounts at the appointment.
'And-account' not converted – a joint account requiring both signatures is completely blocked when one partner is incapacitated. Switch to 'or-account' or set up separate POAs.
Unused for years – many banks silently invalidate unused POAs after 3–5 years. Have the authorized person verify annually that the POA is still active.
Family protection also means: in a crisis, your relatives know where the accounts are and how to access them. Tadoro checks every banking authorization and keeps the overview current. Try free for 14 days.
This article draws on the following legal references and official sources:
This article is general information and is not a substitute for legal, financial, or medical advice. For binding decisions, please consult a notary, lawyer, tax advisor, or physician.