General Information

Making a decision that suits your needs

Please note that HSBC and its employees cannot provide legal advice regarding a Power of Attorney or Joint Deposit Account to you. If you require assistance in determining whether a Power of Attorney or a Joint Deposit Account would suit your needs, please speak to a legal professional for advice and guidance.

Obtaining a Power of Attorney

HSBC has Power of Attorney forms available for your convenience for the purpose of operating account(s) held at HSBC. HSBC does not require its forms to be used to setup the Power of Attorney; you also have the option to present a Power of Attorney from other sources including but not limited to Power of Attorney prepared by legal professionals.
An HSBC Power of Attorney form may impact arrangements set out in your pre-existing Powers of Attorney, if any. Therefore, advice from a legal professional may be beneficial for you to identify potential conflicts between any pre-existing Power of Attorney you may have and the HSBC Power of Attorney.

Operating the Account with a Power of Attorney

In order for your Attorney to access your account(s), HSBC is required to collect information and request proper identification to be produced by you (Donor) and your Attorney. This is necessary to confirm your identify and meet anti-money-laundering and other legal requirements. HSBC also requires you and your Attorney to present the original or a certified true copy of the Power of Attorney.
Other documents may be required depending on your location (i.e. province) or your particular situation, please visit an HSBC branch for details.
If you wish to add a Power of Attorney to your account(s) held at HSBC, please visit an HSBC branch.

Reviewing a Power of Attorney or Instructions Received from the Attorney

If your Power of Attorney or Attorney’s instructions require further review when presented to HSBC, HSBC will inform you or your Attorney that a review is required and provide a general timeline for the review. However, certain reviews may require more time than initially estimated. In those circumstances, HSBC will keep you informed and provide an estimated timeline for the review or the subsequent steps.
At times, HSBC may refuse to act on an Attorney’s instructions or to accept the Power of Attorney. In those circumstances, HSBC will advise you of the options available to assist with resolution or make available information on its dispute resolution process to assist you or your Attorney to escalate and resolve the concern.
For complete details on HSBC dispute resolution process, you can also visit our webpage Resolving Your Complaints.

Changing or Revoking a Power of Attorney

Your Power of Attorney may be changed or cancelled at any time, as long as you, the Donor, are mentally capable. Please visit an HSBC branch to initiate the revocation of the Power of Attorney.

Additional Enquiry

If you have any questions regarding adding a Power of Attorney to your account(s), opening a Joint Deposit Account with HSBC or managing existing Power(s) of Attorney or Joint Deposit Account(s), please visit your local HSBC branch.

You can also find additional information about Power of Attorneys and Joint Deposit Accounts, including the risks and advantages of each option, on the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum’s website.

B.C.-Specific Information on Power of Attorney and Joint Bank Accounts (PDF, 121KB)

Canadian Bankers Association – Commitment on Powers of Attorney and Joint Deposit Accounts

Codes of Conduct