Bank of Scotland Bereavement Service: How to Report a Death
Checked against current GOV.UK probate and Inheritance Tax guidance for England & Wales (2026/27).
- Call 0800 015 0012 (from abroad +44 (0)1733 261630), 8am to 6pm, 7 days a week, or use the online form, which the bank says is the quickest way.1
- Bring two things: the death certificate (original from the registrar, interim or coroner's) and proof of your ID.1
- Bank of Scotland tells Lloyds, Halifax, Scottish Widows, Clerical Medical, MBNA and Birmingham Midshires for you.1
- Joint accounts are transferred to the remaining holder and stay open.1
Report the death online or by phone, then bring or send the death certificate and your ID. Bank of Scotland passes the notification to other Lloyds Banking Group brands, so you tell the group once.1
Quick answer
Use Bank of Scotland's online bereavement form or call 0800 015 0012 (+44 (0)1733 261630 from abroad), 8am to 6pm, 7 days a week. You'll need the death certificate (an original from the registrar, or an interim or coroner's certificate) and proof of your ID. Joint accounts move to the surviving holder and stay open. Bank of Scotland does not publish a balance limit for paying out without probate, so ask the team what applies to this estate. Checked on bankofscotland.co.uk on 19 October 2026; details can change, so confirm with Bank of Scotland before you rely on them. This is general guidance, not legal advice.
How to tell Bank of Scotland
- Online form: the bank says completing its online form is the quickest way to let it know.1
- Phone: 0800 015 0012, or +44 (0)1733 261630 from abroad, 8am to 6pm, 7 days a week.1
- Bank of Scotland named as executor: 0800 056 0171 (+44 (0)1733 286 482 from abroad), Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.1
- Share Dealing: 0800 015 0091, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.1
Bank of Scotland also takes part in the Death Notification Service.2 Older Bank of Scotland PDF guides and third-party lists show other numbers; the ones above are from the bank's own bereavement page on 19 October 2026.
What to bring
Anyone can report a death, but to deal with the accounts you need to be the next of kin, an executor or a personal representative.1 The bank asks for two things:1
- The death certificate: an original copy from the registrar. It also accepts an interim death certificate or a coroner's certificate.
- Proof of your ID: if you bank with Bank of Scotland, your debit card or one form of ID; if not, two forms of ID, at least one showing your home address.
What happens next
- Payments: the bank stops standing orders and Direct Debits from the person's accounts, but says it can't stop subscription payments; cancel those with each company.1
- Post: some letters are produced up to 6 weeks in advance, so you may still get post for a while.1
- Joint accounts: transferred to the remaining account holder and kept open.1
- Other group firms: Bank of Scotland tells Lloyds, Halifax, Scottish Widows, Clerical Medical, MBNA and Birmingham Midshires. Black Horse and Intelligent Finance must be contacted separately.1
- Probate or confirmation: the bank says it may not need to see a grant (or, in Scotland, confirmation); it depends on the products.1 It does not publish a balance limit, so ask.
For estates in Scotland, the bank says confirmation usually takes 8 to 16 weeks and administering the estate 9 to 12 months.1 Settle's guides cover England and Wales.
Common questions
What is the Bank of Scotland bereavement number?
0800 015 0012, or +44 (0)1733 261630 from abroad. Lines are open 8am to 6pm, 7 days a week, according to the bank's bereavement page.
What do I need to take to Bank of Scotland when someone dies?
The death certificate (an original from the registrar, or an interim or coroner's certificate) and proof of your ID: one form if you bank with them, two if you don't, with at least one showing your address.
Does Bank of Scotland tell Lloyds and Halifax?
Yes. Bank of Scotland says it notifies Lloyds, Halifax, Scottish Widows, Clerical Medical, MBNA and Birmingham Midshires. Black Horse and Intelligent Finance must be contacted separately.
What happens to a Bank of Scotland joint account?
It is transferred to the remaining account holder and stays open.
Do I need probate for Bank of Scotland?
It depends on the products held. Bank of Scotland does not publish a balance limit, so ask the bereavement team what it needs for this estate.
Every phone number, address, limit and document list on this page was read on bankofscotland.co.uk on 19 October 2026. Where Bank of Scotland does not publish something, we say so rather than guess: ask its bereavement team.
Sources & references
The figures and rules in this guide are drawn from the official UK government pages below. Each link opens the relevant GOV.UK page. Always confirm current figures on GOV.UK before you act, as fees and thresholds can change.
- Bereavement — Bank of Scotland
- Death Notification Service FAQs
- Dealing with the estate of someone who's died — GOV.UK
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