Operate a Bank Account for Someone Else in Pakistan: Documents for an Agent, Executor or Guardian
SBP's rules list the paper a bank needs when you run an account for someone else in Pakistan: a power of attorney, probate or a guardian's court order.
Short answer: Under SBP's framework, someone who runs an account for another person must bring their own ID and one document that proves their authority. An agent brings a power of attorney. An executor brings probate or letters of administration. A guardian brings the court appointment order. The account title stays in the name of the real account holder.
A son handles his father's affairs while the father is abroad. A widow wants to move money that her late husband left. A family needs to open an account for a relative who cannot manage his own affairs. All of them arrive at a bank with a power of attorney or a court paper, and each hears something different from a different officer.
We read SBP's updated Consolidated Customer Onboarding Framework, Table A in section D, and the March 2026 circular that amended it, on 13 October 2026. The framework sets what a bank must obtain. A bank may add checks for a risky customer, and we did not visit a branch.
Every person who touches the account is identified
The framework says a bank must complete customer due diligence for all persons, not only the account holder. That includes joint holders and anyone with control over the account, such as an agent, guardian or executor. The bank must verify each natural person.
So bring your own CNIC and the CNIC of the person you act for. If the account holder lives abroad, the steps for making the power of attorney are in how to make a power of attorney from abroad.
Each role has its own paper
The framework lists the extra document a bank must obtain for each role. The table shows them side by side.
| Who operates the account | Document the framework lists |
|---|---|
| Agent for an adult | Certified copy of the power of attorney or agency agreement |
| Guardian of a minor | Certified copy of the court order appointing the guardian |
| Executor or administrator of an estate | Certified copy of probate or letter of administration |
| Manager for a mentally disordered person | Certified true copy of the court order appointing a manager, verified from the court |
| Mandate holder or parent | Valid ID of that person is recorded |
If the agent or the person they represent is a company or trust, the bank also asks for the entity documents listed in the same framework. For a minor's account without a court order, the basic steps are in how to open a minor's bank account.
The account stays in the principal holder's name
The framework says the title of an account for a natural person must be in the name shown on the ID document. When someone else operates it, the title must still show the name of the principal account holder. For joint accounts, all holders' names go in the title.
The bank cannot open an account in a made-up name or a numbered account. So you cannot ask for the account to be in the agent's name "on behalf of" a parent. The parent's name goes in the title, and you appear as the operator.
What to prepare before the visit
- Name the role: agent, guardian, executor, administrator or court appointed manager.
- Bring your CNIC and the account holder's CNIC or B-form.
- Bring the certified copy of the matching paper from the table.
- Bring proof of the account holder's source of funds, or a self-declaration where it applies.
- Ask for the tracking ID and the decision date.
An individual customer gets a decision in two working days from complete documents, as set out in our guide to pending account openings. The bank must give a written reason if it declines.
Where this does not apply
This is about opening and operating an account. It does not decide who inherits what. For the share of each heir see inheritance shares in Pakistan. If a bank has frozen a late relative's account, the steps are different, as in getting a frozen bank account released. For a blind, disabled or senior customer who needs help at the counter, see their rights under SBP's conduct rules.
Common questions
Can my son open an account in my name with a power of attorney?
Under the framework he brings a certified copy of the power of attorney and his own ID. The title stays in your name, and the bank must verify both of you.
What does an executor need to show?
A certified copy of probate or a letter of administration, plus his own valid ID. The framework lists these for executors and administrators.
Who can open an account for a mentally disordered person?
A manager appointed by a court. The bank needs a certified true copy of the court order, verified with the court.
Does the bank need the account holder to be present?
The framework requires the bank to verify every person, including the account holder. How it does so for an absent holder depends on the account type, so ask the bank.
Can the bank put the account in my name instead of the holder's?
No. The title must reflect the name of the principal account holder.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 13 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read SBP's Consolidated Customer Onboarding Framework, section D and Table A, and BPRD Circular Letter No. 09 of 2026. We did not test a branch, and the framework does not say how an absent holder is verified, so the last answer above is general.
About the author
Technology Journalist & Multimedia Producer
Ahmad Ali is a technology journalist and multimedia producer at Pakistan Era, joining the team in October 2026. He covers consumer technology and digital life for Pakistani readers, combining research with hands-on product testing.
