Closing a Monzo Account After Death

Monzo is an app-based bank with FSCS-protected deposits. Start the bereavement process through the app or website, send a certified copy of the death certificate, and the team will freeze the account and work out how the balance is released to the estate.¹

Monzo is a digital bank that operates entirely through its app, with no branches. If the person who has died held a Monzo account, you will need to contact Monzo online to freeze the account, obtain a date-of-death balance, and eventually release the funds to the estate. The entire bereavement process is handled digitally. Whether you need a Grant of Probate before funds can be released depends on the total balance held with Monzo.

How to notify Monzo of a death

Because Monzo has no physical branches, you cannot walk in to start the process. There are two ways to get in touch:

• By email: Send a notification to support@monzo.com. Include the full name of the deceased, their date of death, and a brief explanation that you are the executor or next of kin. Monzo will respond to confirm the account has been flagged and tell you what documents to provide.
• Via in-app chat: If you have access to the Monzo app (for example as a joint account holder or if the device is accessible), you can contact Monzo through the in-app chat function. The chat routes to the same support team.

Unlike traditional high street banks, Monzo does not have a dedicated bereavement phone line at the time of writing. All communication is written, which does at least mean you automatically have a record of everything that is said. Keep copies of all emails and chat transcripts.

If the deceased held accounts at several banks, consider using the Death Notification Service (deathnotificationservice.co.uk) to notify multiple participating institutions at once. Check whether Monzo is listed as a participant, as this can save significant time.

Documents you will need

Monzo will ask you to provide evidence before any action is taken on the account. Prepare the following:

• Original death certificate or a certified copy. When you register the death, order at least five to ten certified copies from the register office. They cost around £12.50 each and are far cheaper to order upfront than to request later.
• Proof of your identity as executor or next of kin. A passport or driving licence is usually sufficient.
• Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration, if the balance exceeds Monzo's threshold (see below). You will not need this at the initial notification stage, but you will need it later if the balance is above the threshold.
• Small estate declaration, if the balance is below the threshold. Monzo may ask you to complete a written declaration confirming you are entitled to the funds and will repay any valid claim made against the estate.

Because there is no branch where you can hand over original documents, Monzo may ask you to email clear photographs or scans of these documents, or to use a verification process they specify. Follow their instructions carefully to avoid delays.

Monzo's probate threshold

Like all UK banks, Monzo sets its own internal threshold for how much it will release without a Grant of Probate. If the total balance across the deceased's Monzo account (including any Pots) is below this threshold, Monzo will release the funds on the basis of the death certificate, your identification, and a small estate declaration. If the balance exceeds the threshold, the account will remain frozen until you provide the sealed Grant of Probate.

For a comparison of thresholds across major UK banks, see our guide to bank probate thresholds.

What happens to Pots

Monzo Pots are separate savings areas held within the same Monzo account. They are not separate legal accounts, but they do hold balances that sit alongside the main account balance. For the purposes of the probate threshold, the total across all Pots and the main account is treated as the overall Monzo balance.

When you request a date-of-death balance from Monzo, ask them to confirm the balance of each Pot separately as well as the main account balance. You will need this breakdown when valuing the estate for probate purposes and for the estate accounts.

Monzo also offers Savings Pots that are held with partner providers (such as third-party banks or investment providers). If the deceased held one of these, it may involve a different institution that you will need to notify separately.

What happens to scheduled payments

Monzo does not support traditional standing orders or direct debits in the same form as conventional banks. Instead, Monzo uses scheduled payments and recurring card payments. When Monzo freezes the account after notification of a death, scheduled payments will stop.

Be aware of the practical consequences:

• Any recurring bills paid from the Monzo account, such as subscriptions, utilities, or insurance, will cease. You will need to notify each provider that the account holder has died and make alternative arrangements.
• Property-related costs are particularly important. If the deceased used Monzo to pay buildings insurance, council tax, or rent, check immediately that these are covered from another source during the administration period.
• Request a statement from Monzo showing all recurring or scheduled payments active as at the date of death, so you have a complete picture of what was going out.

Joint accounts

Monzo offers joint accounts shared between two people. If the deceased held a joint account with another person, the account ordinarily continues in the name of the surviving account holder by right of survivorship. Monzo will remove the deceased's name from the account on sight of the death certificate, and the surviving holder retains access to the funds throughout.

You still need to notify Monzo of the death even for a joint account. The account does not update automatically. The surviving account holder should contact Monzo via email or in-app chat with the death certificate and their own identification.

The balance in a joint account at the date of death may still be relevant for inheritance tax purposes, depending on how the account was funded. This is a separate matter from the bank notification process.

FSCS protection

Monzo is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). This means that deposits held with Monzo are protected up to £85,000 per person in the event that Monzo were to fail. For the purpose of administering the estate, this protection is relevant context but does not affect the bereavement process itself.

How long does it take

Timescales with Monzo depend primarily on whether the balance is above or below the probate threshold and how quickly documents are provided and verified:

• Below the threshold: Once Monzo has verified the documents, they typically aim to release funds within a few weeks, though the entirely digital process means there is no in-person step to cause delay.
• Above the threshold: The account will remain frozen until the sealed Grant of Probate is provided. Obtaining a grant takes several weeks to several months, depending on the complexity of the estate and court waiting times. Once Monzo has the grant, they should process the closure and fund release within a similar timeframe.

Because all communication is via email or chat, keep a clear record of what has been sent, when, and what response was received. If you do not hear back within two weeks of sending documents, follow up with a reference to your original message.

Monzo bereavement contact details

• Email: support@monzo.com
• In-app chat: available through the Monzo app
• Help page: monzo.com/help

There are no branches and no dedicated bereavement phone line. All contact must be in writing. This has the advantage that every instruction and response is automatically recorded.

For the full process of closing all accounts across multiple institutions, see our guide to closing bank accounts after death. For a comparison of bank thresholds, see bank probate thresholds.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming a published threshold is current. Banks change these limits quietly. Ask the bereavement team what applies to this estate before deciding whether to apply for probate.
• Letting property bills lapse. When the account freezes, buildings insurance or council tax paid by direct debit stops too. Move essential payments so cover does not drop.
• Ordering too few death certificates. Each institution wants its own certified copy. Order several when you register the death — they are far cheaper up front than requested later.
• Waiting for probate before notifying. You notify first; probate (if needed at all) comes later. Freezing the account early protects the estate.¹

Frequently asked questions

Do I need probate to close a Monzo account?

Only if the balance is above the bank's own release limit. Below it, most banks pay out on the death certificate, your ID and a short estate declaration; above it they hold the money until you produce a sealed Grant of Probate.²

How long does it take to release the money?

For balances under the threshold, usually a few weeks once the paperwork is in. Above the threshold the account stays frozen until probate is granted, which itself is usually within 12 weeks of a complete application, then a short release window after.

What happens to a joint account?

It passes automatically to the surviving account holder by right of survivorship, so it is not frozen and does not need probate. You still notify the bank so the deceased's name is removed.³

Can I use the Death Notification Service instead of calling?

Yes. The free Death Notification Service lets you tell several banks and building societies at once through one online form, which saves repeating yourself if the person banked in more than one place.

What documents will they ask for?

A certified copy of the death certificate, your photo ID and proof of address, the will if there is one, and — for larger balances — the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration once you have it.²