(a) A bank, which for the purposes of this section also includes a lessor, as defined in § 45-2-901, may recognize the authority of a power of attorney authorizing in writing an attorney-in-fact to operate, in whole or in part, the account of a depositor, or to access a customer’s safe deposit box, until the bank receives written notice of the revocation of this authority.

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 45-2-707

  • Attorney-in-fact: A person who, acting as an agent, is given written authorization by another person to transact business for him (her) out of court.
  • Bank: means any person, as hereinafter defined, doing a banking business subject to the laws of this or any other jurisdiction and, for the purposes of supervision, examination and liquidation, includes industrial investment companies and industrial banks authorized by chapter 5 of this title. See Tennessee Code 45-1-103
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Deposit: means a deposit of money, bonds or other things of value, creating a debtor-creditor relationship. See Tennessee Code 45-1-103
  • Item: means any instrument for the payment of money, even though not negotiable, but does not include money. See Tennessee Code 45-1-103
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) Written notice of the death or adjudication of incompetency of the depositor or customer shall constitute written notice of revocation of the authority of the attorney-in-fact, except where the Uniform Durable Power of Attorney Act, compiled in title 34, chapter 6, part 1, is applicable. Until the bank receives written notice of adjudication of incompetency of the depositor, the bank’s authority to recognize a power of attorney shall not be rendered ineffective by the incompetency, whether existing at the time the power of attorney is granted or at the time the bank acts upon it.
(c) Notwithstanding that a bank has received written notice of revocation of the authority of the attorney-in-fact, it may, until ten (10) days after receipt of notice, pay any item made, drawn, accepted or endorsed by the attorney-in-fact prior to the revocation; provided, that the item is otherwise properly payable.
(d) No bank shall be liable for damages, penalty or tax by reason of any payment made or property withdrawn pursuant to this section.