# How to Help Parents With Bank Codes From Afar

> Helping an older parent bank online from far away? Start with the bank’s own options, then forward their bank code texts to you, with their agreement.

Last updated: 2026-10-25
Canonical HTML page: https://www.fwrdsms.com/blog/help-parents-with-bank-codes
Published: 2026-10-25

To help a parent with bank codes from another city or country, start with the bank’s own ways to give you access, such as a power of attorney or a joint account, so you sign in as yourself. If the codes still go only to your parent’s phone, they can read each one out on a call, or, with their agreement, Fwrd can forward just the bank code texts from their iPhone to your phone, email or WhatsApp.

**What you need:** your parent’s agreement, and a look at their bank’s terms; for the forwarding option, their iPhone on iOS 26 or later with [Fwrd](https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6759069713?pt=128544281&ct=blog-parents-bank-codes&mt=8), and somewhere you read messages.

## How can I help my parent with bank codes from far away?

Pick the option that keeps your parent in charge and fits what their bank allows. Here are the usual ways, from most formal to least.

| Way | What it gives you | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Power of attorney | Legal authority to manage their money | Set up through the government and registered with the bank |
| Joint account or the bank’s own helper access | Your own sign-in | Depends on the bank and the account |
| Reading codes out on a call | Each code as you need it | Your parent must be free to answer |
| Forwarding their bank code texts | Each code as it arrives | Only with their agreement; some banks forbid sharing codes |

## Start with the bank’s own options

A sign-in of your own is better than a shared code, because the bank knows it’s you.

- **Power of attorney.** In England and Wales, a property and financial affairs lasting power of attorney lets an attorney make decisions about money and property, including running a bank account and paying bills, and it can be used as soon as it’s registered, with the donor’s permission ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney), read October 25, 2026). In the US, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau publishes guides for people named in a power of attorney to make decisions about money for someone else ([CFPB](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/managing-someone-elses-money/), read October 25, 2026).
- **A joint account or helper access.** Some banks offer a joint account, or a way to let someone help with a parent’s accounts. Ask your parent’s bank what it offers; the answer differs from bank to bank.
- **Ask about other sign-in methods.** Some banks let customers sign in with their app or a card reader instead of a text. That’s worth a call, because it may mean no code needs to travel at all.

## Check the bank’s terms before sharing any code

Many banks tell customers never to share a one-time code. Santander UK’s page, for example, says “Never share your OTP with anyone, not even Santander staff” ([Santander](https://www.santander.co.uk/personal/support/fraud-and-security/one-time-passcodes), read October 25, 2026). Read your parent’s bank’s terms, and if they forbid it, use the bank’s own options above instead.

This is never a way to read a parent’s texts without them knowing. Set it up together, on their phone, with their agreement, and stop whenever they ask.

## How to forward a parent’s bank code texts to you

If your parent agrees and their bank allows it, set this up on their iPhone with them, in person or on a video call.

1. **Add where the codes should go in [Fwrd](https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6759069713?pt=128544281&ct=blog-parents-bank-codes&mt=8).** On your parent’s iPhone, open Fwrd, tap +, and choose Another Phone, Email, WhatsApp or Telegram. Fill in its details in the Configuration field. Tap Send Test Message, then save with the tick. For another phone, email or WhatsApp, Fwrd hands the text to Apple’s or WhatsApp’s own send action, which you add in step 5.

2. **Create a Message automation.** On iOS 27, open Shortcuts, tap Library, then Automation, then +. If you see Describe a shortcut, tap Edit. Tap Automation, then Message. On iOS 26, open the Automation tab, tap +, and choose Message.

   ![Shortcuts on iOS 27: the list of automation triggers, with Message marked under Communication](https://www.fwrdsms.com/guides/steps/sc-message-trigger-ee0e41db.jpg)

3. **Choose only the bank’s texts.** Choose Message Contains (on iOS 27, change Sender to Message), then type a word the bank’s code texts contain, such as the bank’s name. Banks often text from lettered names the Sender picker can’t offer, so match on the words in the text. Only texts with that word are forwarded, so your parent’s other messages stay on their phone.

4. **Make it run without asking.** On iOS 27, tap the arrow beside the trigger and check that Confirm Before Run is off. Under ⓘ, then Privacy, check that Allow Running When Locked is on. On iOS 26, choose Run Immediately, then tap Next and Create New Shortcut.

5. **Add Fwrd’s action.** Search for Forward, add Fwrd’s Forward Message to All Destinations, and set its Message field to Shortcut Input (on iOS 26, Shortcut Input, then Message). For another phone, email or WhatsApp, add Apple’s Send Message, Apple’s Send Email or WhatsApp’s Send Message below it, set its message to Fwrd’s output, and pick your number or address. Tap back to save (Done on iOS 26).

6. **That’s it.** New texts with the bank’s word now reach you on their own, with your parent’s iPhone unlocked or locked.

For Telegram, you can also open the destination in Fwrd, choose Which Texts, and keep only texts that look like a verification code. The [WhatsApp guide](https://www.fwrdsms.com/guides/whatsapp) and the [another phone page](https://www.fwrdsms.com/iphone-sms-to-another-phone) show each screen.

## Keep it fair to your parent

- **They can see what’s shared.** Activity in Fwrd, on their iPhone, shows each text that was forwarded and anything that failed.
- **They can stop it any time.** Turning the automation off in Shortcuts, or deleting the destination in Fwrd, ends forwarding at once.
- **Keep it to the bank.** Use a word only the bank’s code texts contain, not a single space, so nothing else leaves their phone.
- **Tell them before you use a code.** A quick message (“I’m paying the gas bill now”) keeps them in the loop and helps them spot a code they didn’t expect.

Most families pass 15 forwards a month only if the bank texts for every payment. Fwrd is free for 15 forwards a month as of October 2026, and Fwrd Pro removes the limit for $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year in the US.

## What forwarding can’t do

- **It can’t replace the bank’s permission.** If the bank’s terms forbid sharing codes, use a power of attorney or the bank’s own helper access instead.
- **It can’t work if their iPhone is off.** The phone has to be on and online. After a restart, your parent has to unlock it once before forwarding starts again.
- **It can’t forward a phone call.** If the bank reads a code out by voice, it still goes to your parent.
- **It only goes one way.** You can’t reply to the bank through the forward.

## Questions about helping parents with bank codes

### Is it legal to use my parent’s bank codes?

It depends on their bank’s terms and where they live, so read the terms first. A power of attorney or the bank’s own helper access lets you act for them in the bank’s eyes, which a shared code doesn’t.

### Will my parent’s other texts be forwarded?

No. Only texts that contain the word you chose in the automation, such as the bank’s name, are forwarded. Everything else stays on their iPhone.

### Does my parent need to do anything each time?

No. Once it’s set up, each matching text is forwarded on its own, with their iPhone locked or unlocked. They only need to keep it charged and online.

### Does my phone need Fwrd too?

No. Only your parent’s iPhone needs Fwrd and the automation. You read the codes in Messages, email, WhatsApp or Telegram on whatever phone you use.

## Keep reading

- [Forward verification codes from your iPhone](https://www.fwrdsms.com/forward-verification-codes-iphone)
- [Send a message to a group chat from Shortcuts](https://www.fwrdsms.com/blog/shortcuts-send-message-to-group-chat)