Safe Exit

When ending a relationship where economic harm may be involved, it’s important to think about your banking.

Before you take action, we encourage you to discuss your options with a family violence agency. Ending a relationship can quickly escalate harmful behaviours, especially when family violence is present. 

Here are a few suggestions:

Ending your Relationship​

Ending your Relationship

When ending a relationship where economic harm may be involved, it’s important to think about your banking.

Before you take action, we encourage you to discuss your options with a family violence agency. Ending a relationship can quickly escalate harmful behaviours, especially when family violence is present. 

Here are a few suggestions:

If you don’t have a separate bank account, consider getting one. This can give you sole control over selected funds.
Reset your PINs and passwords, even if you didn’t share them with you partner.
Speak to your employer about options to redirect all or part of your wages into an individual account - if you are using a joint account.
Ask the bank to link your individual account to your work address or friend's address if you want to keep things private. Make sure to get consent from your employer or friend first.
For sole control of your personal account, you may choose to disconnect it from the banking app on your phone. It will be less visible and not as easy to access by your partner.
If you are concerned about privacy when accessing your bank account online - Google Incognito is a browser window that erases your browser history, cookies and sessions after closing the window.
If you are concerned about debt in a relationship, consider having your credit card stopped or lines of credit on joint accounts taken away so no further debt can be added.
The bank can also freeze money in joint accounts if there is a relationship dispute. This is so debt cannot increase just before you separate.
Speak to a lawyer or seek legal advice about property law and how it affects cash, debt and other assets.
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IDs and Documents

If you are leaving a relationship or experiencing disputes over money, it can be useful to keep a copy of your identification and personal documents in a folder in case you need them for banking or legal purposes.

These include your:

  • Passport
  • Drivers’ licence
  • Bank statements
  • Payslips
  • Homeownership/rental or mortgage documents
  • Details of any benefits you receive
  • Any service bills in your name
  • Credit card details
  • Birth certificate
  • Marriage/divorce certificates

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