How to Close a Bank Account When Someone Has Died

Notify each bank, get a written date-of-death balance, and then either close small accounts on a simple declaration or wait for the Grant of Probate on larger ones. The order and the paperwork matter more than the phone calls.¹

Closing a bank account after someone dies is one of the first practical tasks for an executor or next of kin. The bank will freeze the account as soon as you notify them of the death, provide a date-of-death balance statement, and then release the funds once you have authority to request them. Whether that authority requires a Grant of Probate depends on how much money is in the account. Not sure whether you need probate at all? Take the free two-minute assessment to get a personalised answer.

The process for closing a deceased person's bank account follows the same steps at every major UK bank. This guide explains each step, the documents you will need, and what to do when probate is required.

Step 1: Find out which banks held accounts

Before you can notify anyone, you need a list of institutions. Check for:

• Bank statements - paper files, or email statements in the deceased's inbox if you have access
• Post - letters and bank correspondence, including marketing, identify accounts
• Payslips or pension letters - these show the account the money went into
• HMRC Self Assessment returns - if the deceased filed tax returns, the return lists interest received, which identifies savings accounts
• Phone banking apps - if you have access to the deceased's phone, banking apps may be visible on the home screen

Write down every institution, the account type, an approximate balance if you can see it, and the account number. This becomes your working register throughout the administration.

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Is a bank account frozen when someone dies?

Yes. The moment you notify a bank that an account holder has died, they freeze the account. No further card payments, direct debits or standing orders leave the account from that point. You do not need to take any special steps to freeze it; notifying the bank is all it takes, and the freeze happens automatically as part of their standard bereavement process. The freeze stays in place until you provide the correct authority to release the funds, either a completed bereavement form (for balances below the bank's threshold) or the sealed Grant of Probate. See our full guide to are bank accounts frozen when someone dies for what exactly happens on notification, and how long bank accounts stay frozen after death for a realistic timeline with and without probate.

What happens to a bank account when someone dies?

It depends on whose name the account is in. In short: a sole account is frozen and its money joins the estate, a joint account usually carries on in the survivor's name, and any overdraft is paid from the estate before anyone inherits. For more detail on each case, read what happens to a bank account when someone dies.

Money paid into a sole account after the death, such as a pension or benefit payment, may have to be paid back. Tell Us Once (offered when you register the death) informs the DWP and HMRC, which stops most government payments.

Step 2: Contact the bereavement team at each bank

Most major UK banks have a dedicated bereavement team - specialist staff who handle death notifications every day. Call them, or notify them in writing. Some banks now accept online notifications.

Always follow up any phone call with a letter or email. You need a paper trail. The bank will confirm receipt and give you a reference number for the bereavement case. If you would rather not write the letter from scratch, use our free bank notification letter: it asks for every account held, the date-of-death balance with interest, the bereavement reference and what the bank needs to release the money. It is also template 1 of the nine in the Probate Starter Pack, alongside the 25-step checklist and the estate accounts workbook.

When you notify the bank, they will:

• Freeze the account - no further debit card transactions, direct debits, or standing orders
• Give you a date-of-death balance statement
• Tell you their probate threshold, and whether they need the Grant of Probate before releasing funds
• Explain what documents they require at each stage

Documents needed to close a bank account after death

What documents are required to close a bank account depends on the stage of the process and the account balance. At the notification stage, you typically need:

• Original death certificate - issued by the register office when you registered the death.This is the most important document. Order at least ten certified copies when you register. Each additional copy costs £12.50 and it is much cheaper to order them upfront.
• Your proof of identity - passport or driving licence
• Your proof of address - utility bill or bank statement less than three months old

If the account balance exceeds the bank's threshold, you will also need a sealed copy of the Grant of Probate (or Letters of Administration if there is no will). You do not need the grant at the notification stage - that comes later, once you have applied for and received it. For a full breakdown of what documents are needed and when, see our guide to documents required to close a bank account after death.

Step 3: Do you need probate to release the funds?

Banks set their own thresholds. Below the threshold, they release funds on sight of the death certificate and a completed bereavement form. Above it, they require the sealed Grant of Probate (if there is a will) or Letters of Administration (if there is no will). If you are unsure whether probate is required for the estate as a whole, see our guide to do I need probate?

Thresholds vary by bank and can change without notice. The figures below are what each bank's own bereavement page said when we checked in October 2026. Most apply to the total held in sole accounts at that bank, not to each account. Always confirm with the bank:

For a full breakdown of each bank's process and requirements, see our bank probate thresholds guide.

Step 4: Applying for probate if it is needed

If the balance exceeds the bank's threshold, you cannot close the account until you have the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration. Apply online at the GOV.UK probate service, or by post using form PA1P (with a will) or PA1A (without a will). The court fee is £526 for estates above £5,000. For a step-by-step walkthrough of the full application process, see our guide to how to apply for probate. Most straightforward estates do not need a solicitor. See our guide to probate without a solicitor for what that involves.

Processing takes 8 to 16 weeks in most cases, though it can run longer. Once the grant is issued, order sealed copies at £2 each when you order them with your application (they cost £16 each if you ask for them later). You need one per institution. Order at least six to eight so they can be sent to different places simultaneously, which speeds things up considerably.

Step 5: Closing the account and releasing the funds

Once you have the grant, write to each bank to instruct them to close the account. Send a sealed copy of the grant and a completed closing instruction or bereavement form. The bank will transfer the balance to the estate bank account, which you as executor will have opened to collect the estate assets.

Processing typically takes one to four weeks after the bank receives the sealed grant. Keep the bank's closure confirmation and final balance statement - these go into the estate accounts you are required to prepare for the beneficiaries.

How to get money out of a deceased person's bank account

Nobody can simply withdraw the money: the account holder's authority ends at death, and so does any lasting power of attorney. Do not use their card, PIN or online banking, even to pay their bills. The legitimate routes are:

• The funeral bill, paid direct. Most banks will pay the funeral director's invoice from the frozen account before probate. NatWest and RBS say within 5 working days, and Santander within 5 days of receiving the invoice.
• The probate fee and Inheritance Tax. Nationwide says it can pay the funeral, the probate fee and Inheritance Tax before the grant. Many banks will pay Inheritance Tax straight to HMRC; see paying Inheritance Tax before probate.
• Below the bank's threshold. The bank pays the balance to the executor or next of kin on its own declaration form, without a grant.
• Above the threshold. The bank pays the executor or administrator once it has seen the sealed grant.

In every case the money should go into an estate or executor account, not your own, so the estate accounts are easy to prepare later.

How long does it take to close a bank account after death?

Once the bank has everything it needs, usually days to a few weeks. Several banks publish their own timescales:

• NatWest and RBS: they aim to be in touch within 10 working days and to close the account within up to 10 working days.
• Nationwide: a reply within 10 working days, and closure within up to 2 weeks.
• Santander: online notifications answered within 10 working days.
• Barclays: sole accounts are frozen within 24 hours of being told.

If the bank needs the grant, add the time to get it: GOV.UK says probate is usually granted within 12 weeks of applying.² See how long probate takes for the whole timeline.

Joint accounts

Joint accounts work differently. The surviving account holder does not lose access when the other account holder dies. The account passes automatically by right of survivorship, no probate required. You notify the bank, provide the death certificate, and the bank removes the deceased's name. The balance stays with the survivor.

But the balance at the date of death is still included in the deceased's estate for inheritance tax purposes. Most joint accounts between spouses or civil partners will not attract tax because of the spousal exemption. But joint accounts held with adult children or siblings - where the deceased contributed the funds - include the deceased's share in the estate valuation.

See our guide to joint bank accounts after death for the full picture on survivorship, probate and the IHT treatment.

ISAs after death

An ISA in the deceased's sole name is part of the estate and goes through the same process as any other bank account. After the death the ISA becomes a 'continuing account of a deceased investor', so income and gains stay tax-free until the estate is settled, the account closes or 3 years pass (whichever is first). A surviving spouse or civil partner can also use an Additional Permitted Subscription (APS), which lets them pay an amount equal to the deceased's ISA value (the higher of its value at death and when it stops being a continuing account) into their own ISA. See our guide to ISAs after death for how APS works in practice.

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NS&I and Premium Bonds

NS&I has a lower threshold than most banks. NS&I says it may ask for a grant if the total NS&I savings are £5,000 or over. Premium Bonds can stay in the prize draw for up to 12 months after death, and prizes won in that period are paid by warrant to whoever is entitled to the money. After 12 months no more prizes can be won; NS&I keeps holding the money until the claim is completed. See our NS&I bereavement guide.

Bereavement contact details for major UK banks

Call the bereavement team directly rather than a branch. Numbers change, so check the bank's website if these do not connect:

• Barclays bereavement team: 0800 068 2238
• HSBC bereavement team: 0800 085 1992
• Lloyds bereavement team: 0800 015 0012
• Halifax bereavement team: 0800 015 0012
• NatWest bereavement team: 0800 161 5903
• Santander bereavement team: 0800 587 5870
• Nationwide bereavement team: 0800 464 3018
• NS&I bereavement: 08085 007 007

Frequently asked questions

How do you close a bank account when someone has died?

Notify the bank's bereavement team with the death certificate and your ID. The bank will freeze the account and open a bereavement case. For balances below the bank's threshold, they will release the funds directly. For larger balances, you will need the Grant of Probate first. The steps above cover the full process from start to finish.

How do I close a deceased parent's bank account?

The process for closing a deceased parent's bank account is the same as for any other account holder. Contact the bereavement team with the death certificate and your proof of identity. If you are named as executor in the will, you act in that capacity. If there is no will, you may need to apply for Letters of Administration before the bank will release the funds to you.

What documents are required to close a bank account after someone dies?

At the notification stage you need an original death certificate, your photo ID (passport or driving licence), and proof of address. If the account balance exceeds the bank's threshold (£50,000 at many banks, lower at some), you will also need the sealed Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration. See our full guide to documents required to close a bank account after death.

When should you notify the bank after someone dies?

As soon as possible, ideally within the first week or two. Early notification stops direct debits and standing orders leaving the account, prevents further transactions, and starts the clock on the bereavement process. The bank will not begin the release process until you have notified them, so earlier is better.

Is a bank account frozen when someone dies?

Yes. When you notify the bank, they freeze the account immediately. No further card payments, direct debits or standing orders leave the account from that point. You do not need to do anything special to freeze it, notifying the bank is all it takes. See our guide to are bank accounts frozen when someone dies for the full picture.

How long are bank accounts frozen after death?

If the balance is below the bank's threshold, the account can be released within days to a few weeks of providing the death certificate. If probate is required, the account stays frozen until the Grant of Probate is issued, typically 8 to 16 weeks from application. See our guide on how long bank accounts stay frozen after death.

Can I access the account to pay the funeral?

Most banks will release funds to pay funeral costs directly to the funeral director, even before probate. This is not automatic, you need to ask the bereavement team. Bring the invoice from the funeral director and the death certificate.

What happens to direct debits when someone dies?

The bank cancels all direct debits and standing orders when they freeze the account. Any payments that went out after the date of death but before you notified the bank may be recoverable, ask the bereavement team.

The account is overdrawn. Who pays?

The overdraft is a debt of the estate. It must be paid before the remaining funds are distributed to beneficiaries. Debts come out of the estate first, in a specific order of priority. See our guide to executor duties for how debts are handled.

What happens to a bank account when someone dies?

A sole account is frozen once the bank is told, and the money in it becomes part of the estate. It is paid to the executor or administrator, on a simple declaration below the bank's threshold or on the Grant of Probate above it. A joint account usually passes straight to the surviving holder. An overdraft is a debt of the estate, paid before anything goes to beneficiaries.

How long does it take to close a bank account after someone dies?

Once the bank has everything it needs, usually days to a few weeks. NatWest and RBS say up to 10 working days and Nationwide up to 2 weeks. If the bank needs the Grant of Probate, add the time to get it: GOV.UK says probate is usually granted within 12 weeks of applying.

Does it cost anything to close a deceased person's bank account?

Banks do not normally charge to close an account after a death. The costs are the paperwork around it: certified death certificates at £12.50 each, and, if the bank needs a grant, the £526 probate application fee for an estate over £5,000.

Can I use a deceased person's bank card or online banking?

No. The account holder's authority ends when they die, and so does any power of attorney. Do not use their card, PIN or online banking, even to pay their bills. Ask the bank's bereavement team to pay the funeral bill instead, which most banks will do from the frozen account.

What if there is no will?

The bank's process is the same. But instead of applying for a Grant of Probate, you apply for Letters of Administration. The administrator is usually the closest living relative. Our guide to probate without a will explains who can apply and how.

Bank accounts after death, checklist

Use this as a working checklist when dealing with the deceased's bank accounts:

• List all accounts. Check statements, post, phone apps and HMRC returns. Record each institution, account type, approximate balance and account number.
• Check each account, sole or joint? Joint accounts pass by survivorship; sole accounts go through the bereavement process below.
• Notify each bank's bereavement team. Or use the Death Notification Service to notify multiple banks at once. Bring original death certificate and your ID.
• Ask what documents they need and confirm the bank's current probate threshold.
• Check whether probate is required. If the balance is above the threshold, you need the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration before the bank will release funds.
• Record the date-of-death balance for each account. Keep the bank's balance statement, you need it for the estate valuation and IHT forms.
• Ask about funeral costs if you need to pay the funeral director before probate is granted. Many banks accommodate this on request.
• Get written confirmation when each account is closed. Keep the final balance statement for the estate accounts you must prepare for beneficiaries.

For the complete list of documents to have ready, see our guide to documents required to close a bank account after death. To put the notification in writing, copy our bank notification letter template.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Notifying before redirecting bills. A frozen account stops paying buildings insurance and council tax — sort those first.
• Guessing balances. Always get the figure in writing at the date of death, not a rough online balance.
• Under-ordering death certificates. Every institution wants its own certified copy.