Separation and divorce support

Make sure nobody else can access your accounts by changing your PIN numbers and passwords for:

• Any debit or credit cards
• Internet banking or mobile banking apps
• Laptops, tablets or mobile phones that you may have shared a password for
• Any apps or email accounts where payment information might be stored, e.g. Your Google or Apple account.
  

If someone else has access to your card or your card details, or has had in the past:

• You may want to cancel your card(s) and order a new one.

Check your address details

• Do you need to update your address?
• Important: If you update your address on a joint account, the other account holder may be able to view your address. If you’re unsure or want support, reach out to your bank.
  If you change your address on a joint account but later undo this change because of privacy concerns, keep in mind that your address may still show up on past statements available online. If this is a concern, contact us as soon as possible.

Ensure other people cannot access your accounts by removing unfamiliar devices.

If you have ever logged into your mobile banking or internet banking from someone else’s phone, tablet or computer, it may have saved your details so you might want to remove devices.

Download statements for all your accounts.

You can do this via internet banking for most banks, or by contacting your bank directly. During separation proceedings, you may need proof of your bank account balances for the purpose of dividing assets.

Do you have your own day-to-day transaction account, in your name?

If not, consider opening a transaction account to provide yourself with a level of financial independence separate from any joint accounts.

Consider which account your wages or any benefits are paid into.

For example, is your income currently being paid into a joint account, where someone else can access your funds? Contact your employer or benefit provider if you need to update this.

Check for upcoming payments out of your account(s) and consider moving them to a different account if needed.

If you’re changing the account that your income goes into, or taking on bill-paying responsibilities, check that payments are set up to come out of an appropriate account.

You might like to check:

• Any automatic payments you have set up.
• What direct debits are coming out of your account and change (via the provider), cancel or delete as required
• Future dated or recurring transfers between your accounts.
• Any bills or subscriptions. If you’re an ASB customer, Card Tracker can help you see what’s going in and out of your account.

Remove additional card holders from accounts where applicable.

This is where someone else has a card attached to your account. If you bank with ASB, you’ll need to call our Contact Centre on 0800 255 382 or visit an ASB branch.

If you have joint accounts, including credit cards, you might want to consider whether they're still needed.

Depending on how they have been set up, you may be able to close joint accounts that are no longer required (after repaying any debt owed on the account). However, if you have specified that two or more joint account holders are required to operate the account, then usually all account holders will need to agree before it can be closed.

Account disputes

If you and the other account holder(s) are not in agreement, the bank can place a 'hold' or 'suspension' on the account, meaning no account holder can access the funds in that account until the dispute is resolved. You'll still be able to pay into the account if there is a hold on it, so if you have automatic payments, direct debits or loan repayments being made from the joint account, you'll need to make sure there are enough funds in the account to cover this until the dispute is resolved.

If you're an ASB customer, you can place a hold on an account by calling us on 0800 803 804 or visiting a branch. We'll let the other account owner(s) know that the account has been put on hold.

Joint debt

Usually, on accounts where there is debt (e.g. credit cards) all account holders remain jointly responsible for paying it off before it can be closed. If there is debt outstanding on the account, you could be solely responsible for the debt if the other account owners aren't able to pay it back.

If you decide to keep a joint account open, you could choose to set up alerts via mobile banking.

You can set alerts to track when the account balance drops below or goes above a chosen amount.

Make copies of all important documentation

For example, house documents like the title, lending agreements, mortgage statements, statements of investments, a copy of your KiwiSaver balance, and any tax return statements where applicable. You may need certain documents during separation proceedings.

Update any joint insurance policies and consider setting up your own policies in your name

This might include Health insurance, Life insurance or Car insurance etc. Usually, insurance policies will need agreement from any other person on the account to make any updates or cancellations to a policy.

To contact us about an insurance policy you hold with ASB, refer to our Insurance page.

Review your Will and/or Power of Attorney where relevant and consider making updates.