Closing a West Bromwich Building Society Account After Death

Notify West Bromwich Building Society as soon as you can, send a certified copy of the death certificate, and let the bereavement team freeze the accounts and give you a date-of-death balance.¹ Whether you need a Grant of Probate before the money is released depends on how much was held — and that threshold is set by the bank, not by law.²

West Bromwich Building Society (often shortened to West Brom) is a mutual building society headquartered in the West Midlands. It offers savings accounts, ISAs, and mortgages, primarily serving members in the Midlands and beyond. If the person who has died held an account with West Brom, you will need to notify the society so accounts can be frozen, a date-of-death balance obtained, and funds released to the estate.

How to notify West Bromwich Building Society of a death

West Brom can be contacted by telephone or in branch to start the bereavement process:

• By telephone: Call West Brom's customer services or bereavement team. A number commonly associated with their service is 0800 051 4321, but you should verify the current number at westbrom.co.uk before calling, as contact details can change.
• In branch: You can visit a West Brom branch with the death certificate and your identification. Branch staff can take the notification and refer it internally to the appropriate team.
• Online: Check the West Brom website for any online bereavement notification option.

Record the date of your notification, the name of anyone you speak to, and any reference number provided. Ask for written confirmation that the account has been frozen. This protects you if any dispute arises later.

If the deceased held accounts at several institutions, the free Death Notification Service (deathnotificationservice.co.uk) allows you to notify West Brom and other participating organisations through a single submission. You will still need to follow up with West Brom directly to provide physical documents.

Documents you will need

West Brom will ask for documents at two stages: to freeze the account, then to release funds. Have the following ready:

• Original death certificate or a certified copy from the register office. Order at least eight copies when you register the death. They are cheaper to obtain at registration than to request individually later.
• Proof of your identity: a current passport or driving licence.
• Proof of your address: a utility bill or bank statement dated within the last three months.
• The original will (if one exists): West Brom may ask to confirm your status as executor, particularly where the balance is near or above their threshold.
• Passbook or account details: If a passbook was issued, providing it helps locate the account quickly.
• Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration: required if the total balance across all West Brom accounts exceeds their probate threshold.

The Grant of Probate is not needed to make the initial notification. It becomes relevant only when you are ready to close the account and release funds, and only if the balance exceeds the threshold.

West Brom's probate threshold

West Bromwich Building Society sets its own internal figure for the amount it will release without a Grant of Probate. Below this, funds can typically be released on sight of the death certificate, your identification, and a small estates declaration. Above it, accounts remain frozen until the executor produces a sealed Grant of Probate.

West Brom's threshold is understood to be in the range of £15,000 to £25,000, which is lower than many larger building societies. This means probate is more likely to be required for West Brom accounts even where the estate is relatively modest. Always confirm the current figure with West Brom directly when you first make contact, as this can change.

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

Joint accounts

If the deceased held an account jointly with another person, the account ordinarily passes to the surviving holder by right of survivorship. West Brom will update the account to the survivor's sole name on receipt of the death certificate. The surviving holder retains access to funds throughout the notification process.

The notification still needs to be made formally. The surviving account holder should contact West Brom with the death certificate and their own identification.

ISAs held with West Brom

A cash ISA held in the deceased's sole name forms part of the estate. If the ISA balance, combined with any other West Brom accounts, exceeds their probate threshold, the ISA will remain frozen until the Grant of Probate is produced.

A surviving spouse or civil partner may be entitled to claim an Additional Permitted Subscription (APS), allowing them to invest an extra amount into their own ISA equal to the value of the deceased's ISA at the date of death, without counting against their annual ISA allowance. Raise this with West Brom's bereavement team early, as there is a time limit for making the claim.

How long does it take

The timescale depends on whether the balance is above or below West Brom's probate threshold:

• Below the threshold: Once all documents are received, West Brom typically processes the account closure within a few weeks.
• Above the threshold: Accounts remain frozen until the Grant of Probate is issued. Obtaining probate can take several months. Once West Brom receives the sealed grant, account closure should follow within a few weeks.

If you have not had an update within four weeks of sending documents, contact West Brom with your case reference number to follow up.

West Bromwich Building Society bereavement contact details

Contact the bereavement or estates team rather than general customer services where possible.

• Telephone: 0800 051 4321 (verify this number at westbrom.co.uk before calling, as it may have changed)
• Online: westbrom.co.uk/bereavement
• Post: 374 High Street, West Bromwich B70 9LD
• In branch: Visit any West Brom branch with the death certificate and your identification.

Contact details and processes can change. Always check the West Brom website for current information before getting in touch.

For a full walkthrough of closing accounts across multiple institutions, see closing bank accounts after death. For the notification process, see notifying banks after death. For a complete list of documents, see documents to close a bank account after death.

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 West Bromwich Building Society 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