<PAGE>

                                                            Exhibit 24(a)
                                                       Form 10-K for 1997
                                                         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 DANIEL A.
JAUERNIG and STEVEN K. HUDSON, 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 25th day of March, 1998.

        /s/ David F. Banks
        ------------------
        David F. Banks
        Director and Chairman of the Board







<PAGE>

                                                            Exhibit 24(a)
                                                       Form 10-K for 1997
                                                         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 DANIEL A.
JAUERNIG as attorney 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 attorney 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 attorney 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 25th day of March, 1998.

        /s/ Steven K. Hudson
        --------------------
        Steven K. Hudson
        Director and Chief Executive Officer







<PAGE>

                                                            Exhibit 24(a)
                                                       Form 10-K for 1997
                                                         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 THOMAS G.
ADAMS AND STEVEN K. HUDSON, 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 25th day of March, 1998.

             /s/ Daniel A. Jauernig
             ----------------------
             Daniel A. Jauernig
             Group President and
             Chief Financial Officer







<PAGE>

                                                            Exhibit 24(a)
                                                       Form 10-K for 1997
                                                         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 DANIEL A.
JAUERNIG, as attorney 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 attorney 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 attorney 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 24th day of March, 1998.

             /s/ Thomas G. Adams
             -------------------
             Thomas G. Adams
             Vice President and Controller