Closing a First Direct Account After Death

First Direct is a telephone and online-only bank: it has no branches. It is part of the HSBC Group and is consistently rated highly for customer service, which extends to its bereavement support. If the person who has died held accounts with First Direct, whether a current account, savings account, or regular saver, you will need to notify the bank so the accounts can be frozen, a date-of-death balance obtained, and funds eventually released to the estate. The absence of branches means all contact happens by phone or online, but First Direct's team is well set up to handle bereavement cases efficiently. This guide walks through the full process.

How to notify First Direct of a death

Because First Direct operates without branches, you have two routes for the initial notification:

• By telephone: Calling First Direct is the primary and most direct way to start a bereavement case. The team can freeze the accounts immediately and tell you which documents to provide.
• Online: First Direct offers an online notification option, allowing you to begin the process without needing to call.

Because there are no branches to visit, you cannot hand documents in person. Documents will need to be sent by post or uploaded online, depending on the process First Direct asks you to follow when you make contact. They will give you precise instructions.

Follow up any telephone notification with a written record: note the date and time you called, the name of the person you spoke to, and any reference number provided. This creates a clear trail for the estate records.

If the deceased held accounts at multiple banks, the free Death Notification Service (deathnotificationservice.co.uk) lets you notify First Direct and other participating banks through a single online form. You will still need to follow up with First Direct directly to provide documents and receive the date-of-death balance confirmation.

Documents you will need

First Direct will require documents to confirm the death and to release funds. The list is standard across most UK banks:

• Original death certificate or a certified copy from the register office. When you register the death, order at least eight to ten certified copies. They are significantly cheaper at that stage than ordering additional copies later, and you will need one for each institution involved.
• Proof of your identity: a current passport or driving licence in the name of the person making the notification.
• Proof of your address: a utility bill or bank statement issued within the last three months.
• The original will (if one exists): First Direct may ask to see this to confirm you are the named executor, particularly where the balance is close to or above their threshold.
• Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration: required if the total balance across all First Direct accounts exceeds their probate threshold. First Direct will confirm whether this applies when you make the initial notification.

You do not need the Grant of Probate to make the initial notification. That stage comes later, if the balance threshold is exceeded.

First Direct's probate threshold

First Direct, as part of the HSBC Group, sets its own threshold for releasing estate funds without a Grant of Probate. Below this amount, they will typically release funds on sight of the death certificate, identification, and a small estates declaration. Above it, accounts remain frozen until the executor provides a sealed Grant of Probate from the Probate Registry.

First Direct's threshold is understood to be approximately £50,000, though this figure can change and you should confirm the current amount directly with First Direct when you notify them. The threshold applies to the combined total across all First Direct accounts, not to each account individually.

If the combined First Direct balance is below their threshold, funds can typically be released without probate once you have provided the necessary documents. If it is above, you will need to apply for a Grant of Probate. Our guide to do I need probate? explains the process in full. For a comparison of approximate thresholds across major banks, see our guide to bank probate thresholds.

What happens to direct debits and standing orders

Once First Direct is notified of the death and the account is frozen, all direct debits and standing orders are cancelled automatically. No further payments will be collected or sent from the account.

There are important practical consequences to be aware of:

• Any bills paid by direct debit from the deceased's First Direct account will stop being paid. Contact each relevant company to notify them of the death and to make alternative arrangements where needed.
• If regular payments were covering property costs such as buildings insurance, council tax, or a water bill, ensure those payments continue from elsewhere in the estate to avoid coverage lapses or penalties.
• Any standing order paying rent or a mortgage will also stop. If the estate includes a property with an outstanding mortgage, check immediately whether that mortgage payment was going out of the First Direct account.

Ask First Direct for a statement showing all active direct debits and standing orders as at the date of death. First Direct, as a telephone bank, can usually provide this promptly on request.

Joint accounts

If the deceased held a First Direct account jointly with another person, the account typically passes to the surviving account holder by right of survivorship. First Direct will update the account to the survivor's sole name on receipt of the death certificate, and the surviving holder retains access to funds throughout. No Grant of Probate is required for this process.

The notification still needs to be made formally, even for a joint account. The account does not update automatically. The surviving account holder should contact First Direct's bereavement team with the death certificate and their own identification.

For inheritance tax purposes, the balance in a joint account at the date of death may still be relevant to the estate, depending on how the account was funded and the nature of the ownership between the parties. This is a separate matter from the bank notification process.

ISAs held with First Direct

An ISA held in the deceased's sole name at First Direct forms part of the estate and is subject to the same probate threshold as any other account. If the combined balance including the ISA exceeds the threshold, the ISA will remain frozen until the Grant of Probate is produced.

A surviving spouse or civil partner may be able to benefit from the Additional Permitted Subscription (APS) rule. This allows the survivor to invest an additional amount into their own ISA equal to the value of the deceased's ISA at the date of death, without it counting against their annual ISA allowance. This preserves the tax-free benefit of those savings even after the original ISA has been wound up.

There is a time limit for claiming the APS from the date of death. The surviving spouse or civil partner should raise this with First Direct's team early in the process to avoid missing the deadline.

How long does it take

The timescale depends primarily on whether probate is required:

• Below the probate threshold: Once First Direct has received all necessary documents, they will typically aim to process the account closure and release funds within a few weeks. First Direct's customer service reputation means they often handle these cases efficiently.
• Above the probate threshold: Accounts remain frozen until the Grant of Probate is issued by the Probate Registry. Applying for probate can take several months depending on complexity and court waiting times. Once First Direct receives the sealed grant, they should process the release within a similar timeframe to the below-threshold route.

Delays are most common when documents are missing or incomplete. As a telephone-first bank, First Direct's team is generally responsive to follow-up calls. If you have not received an update within four weeks of sending documents, call the bereavement team directly.

First Direct bereavement team contact details

Contact First Direct's dedicated bereavement team rather than the general customer service line. The bereavement team has the authority to freeze accounts, process documentation, and move the case forward.

• Telephone: Confirm the current number at firstdirect.com/bereavement.
• Online: firstdirect.com/bereavement

Phone numbers and web addresses can change. Always confirm current contact details on the First Direct website before calling. Because First Direct operates purely by phone and online, their team is accustomed to guiding customers through processes remotely and can advise on sending documents without visiting a branch.

For a comparison of probate thresholds across all major UK banks and building societies, see our guide to bank probate thresholds. For a full walkthrough of closing accounts across multiple institutions, see closing bank accounts after death. Our guides on notifying banks after death and do I need probate? are also useful at this stage.