Notifying Banks and Building Societies After a Death

The account is frozen.

The moment you tell a bank that an account holder has died, the account is locked. No one can withdraw money, transfer funds, or access anything.

This happens automatically. It's not a punishment; it's the bank protecting themselves legally. An account can't be in the hands of someone without legal authority to deal with it.

The account stays frozen until:

• Probate is granted (if it's needed), or
• An Indemnity is provided (if the amount is below the bank's threshold), or
• The bank agrees to release funds for specific purposes (like funeral costs)

This can take weeks or months. It's one of the most frustrating parts of bereavement admin. If you need to understand whether probate is required at all, see our Do I Need Probate? guide.

When you call or write to a bank about a death, they'll ask:

1. The deceased's name and account number: have this ready
2. Your relationship to the deceased: are you the Executor, next of kin, spouse?
3. The death date: they'll check this
4. Whether there's a will: and if so, whether you're the executor
5. The approximate estate value: they need this to know if probate is required

Have the death certificate ready (original or certified copy). You might need to send it.

Most banks ask for:

• Death certificate: Original or certified copy
• Your proof of identity: Passport, driving licence
• Your proof of address: Utility bill, council tax letter (not more than 3 months old)
• Proof of your relationship to the deceased: Marriage certificate (if spouse), probate (if executor), birth certificate (if child)
• A completed bereavement form: Specific to the bank

Some banks ask for all of this. Some ask for less. One bank might ask for documents you've already sent to another.

Pro tip: Ask the bank for a checklist. Most have a printed list of what they need. Request it, check it, and bring everything at once instead of playing postal tennis.

Many banks don't need to see a grant of probate if the account is below a certain threshold. They'll release funds on the provision of an indemnity (a guarantee) instead.

Important: These thresholds change. The figures above are accurate for early 2026, but phone your bank to confirm.

What “threshold” means: If an account holds £30,000 and the threshold is £50,000, the bank will likely release funds with an indemnity, without needing probate. If an account holds £60,000 and the threshold is £50,000, the bank will ask to see a grant of probate.

For a more detailed comparison, see our Bank Probate Thresholds guide.

An indemnity is a form the bank uses to release funds without seeing probate. By signing it, you're guaranteeing that:

1. You have the legal right to deal with the account
2. You'll cover any losses if someone later challenges this
3. You're taking responsibility if creditors come forward

Indemnities are usually free, but some banks charge £50–£200 for this service.

The gamble: If no one contests the will and no creditors come forward, the indemnity was a free money-releasing tool. If, 2 years later, someone comes forward with a legal claim, you might have to repay what you released.

This is rare. But it's not zero risk.

For most straightforward estates, an indemnity is fine. If there's any hint of dispute (a contested will, a potential child from a previous relationship, a large estate with beneficiaries who might challenge), get probate instead. It's the safer route.

If the account (or the combined balance across that bank) exceeds the threshold, you need a grant of probate before the bank will release funds.

You'll need to:

1. Apply for probate (see our How to Apply for Probate guide)
2. The probate service grants probate and issues a certified copy
3. Send the certified copy to the bank
4. The bank processes the release within 2–4 weeks

This is the normal path for larger estates.

If the account was in joint names and was a “joint account with right of survivorship” (the legal term), the money passes automatically to the surviving account holder.

You don't need probate. You just need to notify the bank.

The bank will freeze it temporarily while they check the paperwork, then transfer it into the surviving account holder's sole name. This takes 2–4 weeks, but no probate is needed.

Check the account paperwork or ask the bank: Is it joint with “right of survivorship”? If yes, it passes automatically. If “joint tenants in common,” probate might be needed (check the small print on the original documents).

Premium Bonds are held differently. If someone owned Premium Bonds, they don't form part of the probate process in the usual way.

Contact National Savings (NS&I) directly: 08085 007 007 (free, open 8am–8pm Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm weekends).

You'll need the deceased's name and Premium Bond holding number. NS&I will then pay the bondholder (you, the next of kin, or the executor, depending on the registration).

You don't need probate for Premium Bonds unless the will specifically mentions them as forming part of the estate. For more on how different financial assets are handled, see our guide to debt after death.

If you need money urgently for funeral costs and the account is frozen, some banks will release a specific amount before full probate is granted.

The process:

1. Phone the bereavement team and ask: “Can you release money for funeral costs?”
2. They'll ask: How much and what for? Get a quote from the funeral director.
3. They might: Release £2,000–£5,000 against the funeral director's invoice.
4. The funeral director can also claim: Some funeral directors can contact the bank directly and claim payment.

This isn't automatic. Some banks are flexible, some aren't. But it's worth asking.

If the bank refuses and you need the money:

• Use the Funeral Expenses Payment (a government benefit)
• Use your own money and claim reimbursement once probate is granted
• Ask family or friends for a loan

When you notify a bank that someone has died, they'll often ask: “Are there direct debits on the account?” This is because direct debits will bounce once the account is frozen.

If there are:

• Essential bills (council tax, mortgage, utilities): Contact those organisations and explain the situation. Ask them to pause or suspend while the estate is being sorted. Most will do this without fuss.
• Subscriptions and services: Cancel them. No point paying for Netflix after someone dies.
• Insurance: Don't cancel. Insurance on the property (buildings insurance, contents insurance) needs to stay active until the estate is settled and the house is sold or transferred.

When probate is granted and funds are released, you can restart essential bills or let beneficiaries know to set up their own arrangements.

For probate purposes, you need the exact balance in the account on the date the person died.

The bank will provide a “date-of-death balance statement”: a certificate showing exactly how much was in the account at the moment of death.

Request this immediately. It takes the bank 2–4 weeks to produce.

You'll need this for:

• Probate forms (to declare the estate value)
• Tax purposes (to work out inheritance tax)
• Beneficiary statements (to show what you're distributing)

Ask the bank to write it on headed notepaper and sign it officially. A photocopy of an online statement won't do.

Some banks have a rule that if you have multiple accounts with them, and the combined total is above their threshold, they'll ask for probate - even if each individual account is below the threshold.

This varies by bank. Ask.

Building societies work almost identically to banks. Call the bereavement team, ask for the probate threshold, provide documents, and follow the process above.

Common thresholds:

• Nationwide: £50,000
• Coventry Building Society: £50,000
• Leeds Building Society: £50,000
• Skipton Building Society: £50,000
• Yorkshire Building Society: £30,000

Again, these change. Confirm with the individual institution.

Banks sometimes ask for the same documents twice: once when you first notify them, and again when you're applying for probate.

This is normal (they're checking different systems) but infuriating.

Keep copies of everything. When they ask the second time, send photocopies immediately. Don't re-request from the issuing organisation (death certificate, probate documents, etc.). Just send copies.

If the bank knows the account is part of a probate estate, and probate has been granted, but they can't trace a Beneficiary (the will says “to my daughter Jane Smith” but Jane isn't responding), the bank will freeze that share of the money.

After 12+ months, they're entitled to hand it to the National Savings Scheme for Lost Accounts.

The money isn't lost (it's held by a government body), but it's a headache to reclaim.

If you're the executor and you know a beneficiary isn't being reached, try harder: phone, email, registered post, hire a tracing agent. Don't rely on the bank to chase them.

The process is almost identical.

• Compare thresholds in detail with our Bank Probate Thresholds guide
• Check whether you need probate with our Do I Need Probate? guide
• If you used Tell Us Once, note that banks are not covered; you must contact them individually
• See our full what to do when someone dies checklist for everything else