Learn / How to Give Someone Access to Your Bank Account
Giving someone access to your bank account is one of the most important things you can do for your family's financial security. There are legal ways to do it — and practical information they'll need even if the legal structures are in place.
A joint account holder has full access while you're alive. A Payable on Death (POD) beneficiary inherits the account automatically without probate. Both are set up at your bank.
Record your bank name, account numbers, routing number, and the branch where you opened the account.
Username, password, and the 2FA method your bank uses. Many banks send codes via SMS — note which phone number receives them.
Store your PIN in a secure location your family can access. Without it, even a joint account holder may struggle at an ATM.
Note the name of any banker you have a relationship with. A personal contact at your branch can smooth the process considerably.
Put this into practice
A bank account entry in your vault — with account numbers, credentials, and instructions — gives your family what they need to act immediately without waiting for probate.
Create your free vault →