Last updated: 01.07.2026 
Power of Attorney for Bank accounts in Poland – a legal document for financial matters
A bank power of attorney is an official authorization and legal document through which one person (the representative) can act on behalf of another (the principal) in matters related to the bank account. The account owner can delegate to the proxy the right to perform various activities – such as cash withdrawals, transfers, handling deposits, paying bills or obtaining account balance information. This is a very useful tool, especially when the account owner cannot personally handle matters at the bank, for example, due to illness, travel abroad or old age.
The representative acts on the principal’s behalf and only within the agent’s authority granted by the principal. Under Polish law, the scope of such authority should be clear, especially when it concerns finances, transactions, property, business assets or other financial matters. A properly prepared attorney document helps provide legal certainty and reduces the risk of disputes with the bank or another party.
In more complex cases, especially where inheritance law issues, foreign investors, a non-resident, a company or valuable assets are involved, it may be advisable to seek assistance from a lawyer, legal advisor or law firm.
Types of bank powers of attorney in Poland
In Polish banking practice, there are three main types of powers of attorney:
- General power of attorney – gives the right to most day-to-day banking activities (except, for example, closing an account or taking out a loan).
- Special (generic) power of attorney – limited to specific activities, such as only to make transfers or cash withdrawals.
- One-time power of attorney – allows you to perform one specific action at a specific time, such as withdrawing funds on a particular day.
How to grant a bank power of attorney in Poland?
Most often, the power of attorney is granted at a bank branch. The presence of both the account owner and the proxy is required.
Both people must present valid identification documents. The bank provides a special form that must be filled out and signed on the spot. Some other banks also offer the possibility to establish a power of attorney through online banking, but usually only if the proxy is already a client of the same institution.
Granting a bank power of attorney from abroad
If the account owner resides outside Poland, he can also appoint a proxy. However, this requires a document in the proper form. It is necessary to go to a notary public in the country of residence and draw up a power of attorney with notarization of the signature.
Next, the document must be apostilled (if the country is one of the signatories to the Hague Convention). The final step is to have the necessary document translated into Polish language by a sworn translator.
A power of attorney drawn up in this way can be sent to Poland, and once it is accepted, the bank should allow the attorney to perform the indicated activities. Before granting it, however, it is worth checking what the requirements of a specific financial institution are – individual banks may apply their own procedures and requirements for the form and content of the power of attorney.
A power of attorney may also end earlier if the principal revokes it, if the attorney document was granted for a fixed time and that period expires, or if the authorized specific task has already been completed.
What happens to the power of attorney after the death of the account owner?
It is worth knowing that a bank power of attorney automatically expires upon the death of the principal. No matter how broad the powers of the proxy were – once the account owner dies, he loses the right to perform any operations. The bank will usually block the account and freeze the funds until the succession proceedings are completed.
Inheritance matters and access to the deceased’s account
After the death of the account owner, the funds accumulated in the account become part of the inheritance. Only those who document their right to inherit – the heirs – can access them.
To do this, you need to conduct inheritance proceedings. This can be done in court (by declaring the inheritance) or with a notary (by drawing up a deed of succession certificate). After obtaining one of these documents, the heir can apply to the bank for information about the testator’s bank accounts and, if the beneficiary is the sole heir, apply for payment of the funds due to him or her.
In a situation where there is more than one heir left after the deceased, the bank will withdraw funds from the account only upon presentation of a document confirming the division of the inheritance, which indicates what amount of the funds falls to each heir. This can be a final court decision on the division of the inheritance or an agreement on the division of the inheritance concluded in the form of a notarial deed or with notarized signatures. The exception is when all heirs file a joint application for payment of funds – then there is no need for an inheritance division.
When the heir resides abroad?
If it is not possible to handle banking matters in person, a power of attorney may be granted to another individual – such as a family member residing in Poland or a professional legal representative. To do so, a document must be prepared in the appropriate form, including notarization of the signature, an apostille clause, and a sworn translation into Polish. This type of power of attorney allows, among other things, for submitting an application to the bank, obtaining information about the deceased’s account, and executing the payment on behalf of the heir.
Summary
A bank power of attorney is a practical solution for people who, for various reasons, cannot manage their accounts in Poland on their own. It allows you to perform daily banking operations and take care of necessary formalities – for example, in case of illness, stay abroad or the need for support from a family member.
However, it is worth remembering that the power of attorney expires upon the death of the account owner. From that moment on, all rights to the funds pass to the heirs, who can access the account only after the succession proceedings.
For those living abroad, it is important that the power of attorney be prepared in accordance with applicable regulations – in a way that allows it to be used effectively in Poland.
