<PAGE>

                                                                 Exhibit 24(a)
                                                            Form 10-K for 1996
                                                              File No. 1-11237




                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     WHEREAS, AT&T CAPITAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter
referred to as the "Company"), proposes to file shortly with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1934, as
amended, an annual report on Form 10-K; and

     WHEREAS, the undersigned is a director, an officer, or both an officer and
a director of the Company, as indicated below under his name:

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints RAMON OLIU,
JR., EDWARD M. DWYER and THOMAS C. WAJNERT, and each of them, as attorneys for
him and in his name, place and stead, and in each of his offices and capacities
as a director, an officer, or both an officer and a director of the Company, to
execute and file such annual report on Form 10-K, and thereafter to execute and
file any amendment or amendments thereto on Form 8 or any other applicable form,
hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be
done in and about the premises, including the use or transmission of any
personal identification numbers assigned to the undersigned by the Securities
and Exchange Commission, as fully, for all intents and purposes, as the
undersigned might or could do if personally present at the doing thereof,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully
do, or cause to be done, by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
this 15th day of March, 1997.


                                        /s/ Thomas C. Wajnert
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Thomas C. Wajnert
                                        Director, Chairman of the Board
                                        and Chief Executive Officer


<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                                                 Exhibit 24(a)
                                                            Form 10-K for 1996
                                                              File No. 1-11237




                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     WHEREAS, AT&T CAPITAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter
referred to as the "Company"), proposes to file shortly with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1934, as
amended, an annual report on Form 10-K; and

     WHEREAS, the undersigned is a director, an officer, or both an officer and
a director of the Company, as indicated below under his name:

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints RAMON OLIU,
JR., EDWARD M. DWYER and THOMAS C. WAJNERT, and each of them, as attorneys for
him and in his name, place and stead, and in each of his offices and capacities
as a director, an officer, or both an officer and a director of the Company, to
execute and file such annual report on Form 10-K, and thereafter to execute and
file any amendment or amendments thereto on Form 8 or any other applicable form,
hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be
done in and about the premises, including the use or transmission of any
personal identification numbers assigned to the undersigned by the Securities
and Exchange Commission, as fully, for all intents and purposes, as the
undersigned might or could do if personally present at the doing thereof,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully
do, or cause to be done, by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
this 13th day of March, 1997.


                                        /s/ John Appleton
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        John Appleton
                                        Director

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                                                 Exhibit 24(a)
                                                            Form 10-K for 1996
                                                              File No. 1-11237




                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     WHEREAS, AT&T CAPITAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter
referred to as the "Company"), proposes to file shortly with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1934, as
amended, an annual report on Form 10-K; and

     WHEREAS, the undersigned is a director, an officer, or both an officer and
a director of the Company, as indicated below under his name:

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints RAMON OLIU,
JR., EDWARD M. DWYER and THOMAS C. WAJNERT, and each of them, as attorneys for
him and in his name, place and stead, and in each of his offices and capacities
as a director, an officer, or both an officer and a director of the Company, to
execute and file such annual report on Form 10-K, and thereafter to execute and
file any amendment or amendments thereto on Form 8 or any other applicable form,
hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be
done in and about the premises, including the use or transmission of any
personal identification numbers assigned to the undersigned by the Securities
and Exchange Commission, as fully, for all intents and purposes, as the
undersigned might or could do if personally present at the doing thereof,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully
do, or cause to be done, by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
this 10th day of March, 1997.


                                        /s/ James V. Babcock
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        James V. Babcock
                                        Director

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                                                 Exhibit 24(a)
                                                            Form 10-K for 1996
                                                              File No. 1-11237




                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     WHEREAS, AT&T CAPITAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter
referred to as the "Company"), proposes to file shortly with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1934, as
amended, an annual report on Form 10-K; and

     WHEREAS, the undersigned is a director, an officer, or both an officer and
a director of the Company, as indicated below under his name:

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints RAMON OLIU,
JR., EDWARD M. DWYER and THOMAS C. WAJNERT, and each of them, as attorneys for
him and in his name, place and stead, and in each of his offices and capacities
as a director, an officer, or both an officer and a director of the Company, to
execute and file such annual report on Form 10-K, and thereafter to execute and
file any amendment or amendments thereto on Form 8 or any other applicable form,
hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be
done in and about the premises, including the use or transmission of any
personal identification numbers assigned to the undersigned by the Securities
and Exchange Commission, as fully, for all intents and purposes, as the
undersigned might or could do if personally present at the doing thereof,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully
do, or cause to be done, by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
this 13th day of March, 1997.


                                        /s/ David F. Banks
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        David F. Banks
                                        Director

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                                                 Exhibit 24(a)
                                                            Form 10-K for 1996
                                                              File No. 1-11237




                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     WHEREAS, AT&T CAPITAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter
referred to as the "Company"), proposes to file shortly with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1934, as
amended, an annual report on Form 10-K; and

     WHEREAS, the undersigned is a director, an officer, or both an officer and
a director of the Company, as indicated below under his name:

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints RAMON OLIU,
JR., EDWARD M. DWYER and THOMAS C. WAJNERT, and each of them, as attorneys for
him and in his name, place and stead, and in each of his offices and capacities
as a director, an officer, or both an officer and a director of the Company, to
execute and file such annual report on Form 10-K, and thereafter to execute and
file any amendment or amendments thereto on Form 8 or any other applicable form,
hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be
done in and about the premises, including the use or transmission of any
personal identification numbers assigned to the undersigned by the Securities
and Exchange Commission, as fully, for all intents and purposes, as the
undersigned might or could do if personally present at the doing thereof,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully
do, or cause to be done, by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
this 10th day of March, 1997.


                                        /s/ Max C. Chapman, Jr.
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Max C. Chapman, Jr.
                                        Director

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                                                 Exhibit 24(a)
                                                            Form 10-K for 1996
                                                              File No. 1-11237




                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     WHEREAS, AT&T CAPITAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter
referred to as the "Company"), proposes to file shortly with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1934, as
amended, an annual report on Form 10-K; and

     WHEREAS, the undersigned is a director, an officer, or both an officer and
a director of the Company, as indicated below under his name:

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints RAMON OLIU,
JR., EDWARD M. DWYER and THOMAS C. WAJNERT, and each of them, as attorneys for
him and in his name, place and stead, and in each of his offices and capacities
as a director, an officer, or both an officer and a director of the Company, to
execute and file such annual report on Form 10-K, and thereafter to execute and
file any amendment or amendments thereto on Form 8 or any other applicable form,
hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be
done in and about the premises, including the use or transmission of any
personal identification numbers assigned to the undersigned by the Securities
and Exchange Commission, as fully, for all intents and purposes, as the
undersigned might or could do if personally present at the doing thereof,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully
do, or cause to be done, by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
this 12th day of March, 1997.


                                        /s/ Guy Hands
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Guy Hands
                                        Director

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                                                 Exhibit 24(a)
                                                            Form 10-K for 1996
                                                              File No. 1-11237




                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     WHEREAS, AT&T CAPITAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter
referred to as the "Company"), proposes to file shortly with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1934, as
amended, an annual report on Form 10-K; and

     WHEREAS, the undersigned is a director, an officer, or both an officer and
a director of the Company, as indicated below under his name:

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints RAMON OLIU,
JR., EDWARD M. DWYER and THOMAS C. WAJNERT, and each of them, as attorneys for
him and in his name, place and stead, and in each of his offices and capacities
as a director, an officer, or both an officer and a director of the Company, to
execute and file such annual report on Form 10-K, and thereafter to execute and
file any amendment or amendments thereto on Form 8 or any other applicable form,
hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be
done in and about the premises, including the use or transmission of any
personal identification numbers assigned to the undersigned by the Securities
and Exchange Commission, as fully, for all intents and purposes, as the
undersigned might or could do if personally present at the doing thereof,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully
do, or cause to be done, by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
this 10th day of March, 1997.


                                        /s/ Joseph J. Melone
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Joseph J. Melone
                                        Director

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                                                 Exhibit 24(a)
                                                            Form 10-K for 1996
                                                              File No. 1-11237




                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     WHEREAS, AT&T CAPITAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter
referred to as the "Company"), proposes to file shortly with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1934, as
amended, an annual report on Form 10-K; and

     WHEREAS, the undersigned is a director, an officer, or both an officer and
a director of the Company, as indicated below under his name:

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints RAMON OLIU,
JR., EDWARD M. DWYER and THOMAS C. WAJNERT, and each of them, as attorneys for
him and in his name, place and stead, and in each of his offices and capacities
as a director, an officer, or both an officer and a director of the Company, to
execute and file such annual report on Form 10-K, and thereafter to execute and
file any amendment or amendments thereto on Form 8 or any other applicable form,
hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be
done in and about the premises, including the use or transmission of any
personal identification numbers assigned to the undersigned by the Securities
and Exchange Commission, as fully, for all intents and purposes, as the
undersigned might or could do if personally present at the doing thereof,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully
do, or cause to be done, by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
this 7th day of March, 1997.


                                        /s/ Brooks Walker, Jr.
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Brooks Walker, Jr.
                                        Director

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                                                 Exhibit 24(a)
                                                            Form 10-K for 1996
                                                              File No. 1-11237




                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     WHEREAS, AT&T CAPITAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter
referred to as the "Company"), proposes to file shortly with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1934, as
amended, an annual report on Form 10-K; and

     WHEREAS, the undersigned is a director, an officer, or both an officer and
a director of the Company, as indicated below under his name:

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints RAMON OLIU,
JR., EDWARD M. DWYER and THOMAS C. WAJNERT, and each of them, as attorneys for
him and in his name, place and stead, and in each of his offices and capacities
as a director, an officer, or both an officer and a director of the Company, to
execute and file such annual report on Form 10-K, and thereafter to execute and
file any amendment or amendments thereto on Form 8 or any other applicable form,
hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be
done in an about the premises, including the use or transmission of any personal
identification numbers assigned to the undersigned by the Securities and
Exchange Commission, as fully, for all intents and purposes, as the undersigned
might or could do if personally present at the doing thereof, hereby ratifying
and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully do, or cause to be
done, by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
this 14th day of March, 1997.


                                        /s/ Hiromi Yamaji
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Hiromi Yamaji
                                        Director

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                                                 Exhibit 24(a)
                                                            Form 10-K for 1996
                                                              File No. 1-11237




                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     WHEREAS, AT&T CAPITAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter
referred to as the "Company"), proposes to file shortly with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1934, as
amended, an annual report on Form 10-K; and

     WHEREAS, the undersigned is a director, an officer, or both an officer and
a director of the Company, as indicated below under his name:

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints RAMON OLIU,
JR., EDWARD M. DWYER and THOMAS C. WAJNERT, and each of them, as attorneys for
him and in his name, place and stead, and in each of his offices and capacities
as a director, an officer, or both an officer and a director of the Company, to
execute and file such annual report on Form 10-K, and thereafter to execute and
file any amendment or amendments thereto on Form 8 or any other applicable form,
hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be
done in and about the premises, including the use or transmission of any
personal identification numbers assigned to the undersigned by the Securities
and Exchange Commission, as fully, for all intents and purposes, as the
undersigned might or could do if personally present at the doing thereof,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully
do, or cause to be done, by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
this 11th day of March, 1997.


                                        /s/ Edward M. Dwyer
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Edward M. Dwyer
                                        Senior Vice President and
                                        Chief Financial Officer

<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                                                 Exhibit 24(a)
                                                            Form 10-K for 1996
                                                              File No. 1-11237




                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     WHEREAS, AT&T CAPITAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter
referred to as the "Company"), proposes to file shortly with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1934, as
amended, an annual report on Form 10-K; and

     WHEREAS, the undersigned is a director, an officer, or both an officer and
a director of the Company, as indicated below under his name:

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints RAMON OLIU,
JR., EDWARD M. DWYER and THOMAS C. WAJNERT, and each of them, as attorneys for
him and in his name, place and stead, and in each of his offices and capacities
as a director, an officer, or both an officer and a director of the Company, to
execute and file such annual report on Form 10-K, and thereafter to execute and
file any amendment or amendments thereto on Form 8 or any other applicable form,
hereby giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be
done in and about the premises, including the use or transmission of any
personal identification numbers assigned to the undersigned by the Securities
and Exchange Commission, as fully, for all intents and purposes, as the
undersigned might or could do if personally present at the doing thereof,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully
do, or cause to be done, by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
this 12th day of March, 1997.


                                        /s/ Ramon Oliu, Jr.
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Ramon Oliu, Jr.
                                        Vice President and Controller


<PAGE>