Closing a West Bromwich Building Society Account After Death
Checked against current GOV.UK probate and Inheritance Tax guidance for England & Wales (2026/27).
- Tell West Bromwich Building Society early — the account is frozen from the date they are notified, and direct debits and standing orders stop.1
- You will need a certified copy of the death certificate and your own photo ID to open the bereavement case; a Grant of Probate is only needed later, if the balance is above the bank's release limit.2
- The balance at which the bank asks for probate varies by institution and can change without notice — confirm the current figure directly with them rather than relying on any published number.
- A joint account normally passes to the surviving holder by survivorship, so probate is not needed to keep using it — but you still tell the bank so the name is removed.3
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 Specialist Support team on 0800 280 0597. West Brom does not publish the team's hours on its bereavement page.4
- 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: choose "Complete our online form" on West Brom's bereavement page; the Society then tells you what happens next and what it needs.4
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 banks, the free Death Notification Service (deathnotificationservice.co.uk) can notify its member banks and building societies through a single online form. West Brom was not on that member list when we checked its member list on 20 October 2026, so contact West Brom directly as well.
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: the original grant is required for savings balances over £30,000, and below that if the estate needs a grant anyway.4
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 publishes how it closes savings accounts after a death:4
- Up to £5,000: return the "Account closure form - below £30,000".
- Over £5,000 up to £30,000: the same form, signed by the executor(s) or next of kin and witnessed by a solicitor, Commissioner for Oaths or authorised County Court official (the witness may charge a fee).
- Over £30,000: the "Account closure form - above £30,000" with the original Grant of Probate.
At any balance, if the estate needs a grant anyway, West Brom asks for the above-£30,000 form and the original grant.4 Ask the Specialist Support team what applies to this estate.
Note: West Brom asks for the original grant, not a copy, so send it by a tracked service and ask for it back. These figures were read on westbrom.co.uk on 21 October 2026 and 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: Specialist Support team, 0800 280 0597. Hours not published.4
- Online: westbrom.co.uk: help and advice following bereavement
- Post: FREEPOST THE WEST BROM (no stamp; delivered second class), or by tracked post to Specialist Support team, the West Brom, 2 Providence Place, West Bromwich B70 8AF.4
- 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.
Keeping track of every institution, document sent and response received is one of the core things the Settle workspace helps with. Start the free assessment to get your personalised checklist.
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.
Need to notify multiple banks?
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Start free assessmentCommon 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?
Not for West Brom. West Brom was not a member of the free Death Notification Service when we checked its member list on 20 October 2026, so tell West Brom directly. The service is still worth using for the person's other banks if they are members, such as Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest, Nationwide or Santander.
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
Sources & references
The figures and rules in this guide are drawn from the official UK government pages below. Each link opens the relevant GOV.UK page. Always confirm current figures on GOV.UK before you act, as fees and thresholds can change.
- Dealing with the estate of someone who's died — GOV.UK
- Applying for probate — GOV.UK
- What to do when someone dies: step by step — GOV.UK
- Help and advice following bereavement — West Brom
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