Royal Bank of Scotland Bereavement Service: How It Works

Tell RBS through its online form or by phone, then send the documents by email with your BER reference. RBS contacts you within 10 working days to explain what happens next.¹

How to tell RBS

• Online: the "tell us about a death" form on RBS's bereavement page. You then use a second online form to close the accounts, which needs your BER reference.¹
• Phone: 0800 161 5904; Relay UK users dial 18001 0800 161 5904; from outside the UK +44 (0)1204 684 659. Lines are open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays.¹
• Webchat: Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.¹
• Documents by email: berdocuments@rbs.com, quoting the BER reference in the subject line. RBS says this address is only for sending documents.¹

RBS takes part in the Death Notification Service.² Don't mix up RBS's number (0800 161 5904) with NatWest's (0800 161 5903); if the person banked with NatWest too, see our NatWest guide.

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Documents RBS asks for

• the death certificate (a certified translation if it is from outside the UK or not in English)
• the will
• the Grant of Representation (England and Wales) or Certificate of Confirmation (Scotland), where needed
• the account closure form
• if you don't bank with RBS: photo ID and proof of address

Source: RBS's bereavement page.¹ RBS does not publish a general balance limit for releasing money without a grant; its glossary mentions an indemnity agreement to release funds without a Grant of Representation, so ask your advisor whether it applies.¹

Timescales, funerals and joint accounts

• First contact: within 10 working days RBS contacts you to explain what happens next.¹
• Funeral bills: RBS can pay the funeral company directly, in full or in part, from the accounts; it says it pays funeral bills within five working days. It cannot reimburse costs the family has already paid.¹
• Closing the accounts: up to 10 working days once RBS has all the documents.¹
• Joint accounts: RBS updates the account into the survivor's name only, and they can keep using it as before.¹
• MyRewards: claim any balance within 90 days of the account closing.¹

Common questions

What is the RBS bereavement phone number?

0800 161 5904, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. From outside the UK, +44 (0)1204 684 659. Relay UK users dial 18001 0800 161 5904.

Where do I send documents to RBS after a death?

Email them to berdocuments@rbs.com with your BER reference in the subject line. RBS says the address is only for sending documents.

Can RBS pay for the funeral?

Yes. RBS can pay the funeral company directly from the accounts, in full or in part. It cannot reimburse costs the family has already paid.

How long does RBS take to close accounts after a death?

RBS says it contacts you within 10 working days of notification, and closing the accounts and releasing the money takes up to 10 working days once it has all the documents.

What happens to an RBS joint account when one holder dies?

RBS updates the account into the surviving holder's name, and they can keep using it as before.

Every phone number, address, limit and document list on this page was read on rbs.co.uk on 19 October 2026. Where Royal Bank of Scotland does not publish something, we say so rather than guess: ask its bereavement team.