Reader's Opinion | I manage my old mother's affairs with her bank credentials

Jarmo Koski told a horror story about the bureaucracy she got into after her husband's death because she can't use the internet and doesn't have bank credentials (HS 9.2.). The problems are also familiar to the relatives of many elderly people in all everyday matters. You can't do anything in today's world without bank credentials, least of all handling banking matters.

I have been taking care of my now 90-year-old mother's affairs for several years using her bank credentials. This is how corona vaccination appointments, doctor's appointments, tax matters and online shopping have been handled. All of this would be extremely time-consuming and difficult without the Internet.

Banks naturally make customers swear never to give passwords to anyone, but without them it is simply not possible to manage the affairs of a loved one. As long as the elderly person is able to think for himself, giving a power of attorney is not relevant.

My mother has given me a power of attorney for her bank accounts, but it does not enable identification on her behalf. Suomi.fi authorizations are issued online – with bank credentials, of course. So, with my mother's credentials – with her consent, of course – I have authorized myself to handle all of her affairs, and the Suomi.fi authorization works well, for example, at the tax office and the pharmacy. However, all this is only possible because my mother, when she gave me her bank ID, could trust that I would act honestly in her best interest.

An honest daughter

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