In this guide
In short
To notify a bank of a death, use its bereavement route or the Death Notification Service where the bank participates, and provide the evidence requested. A sole account is normally frozen while the bank checks who can deal with it and whether a grant or other proof of authority is needed. A joint account may continue for a surviving holder, but the account terms and beneficial ownership still need to be checked.
Useful next steps
EstateManager can help organise this work
Use EstateManager as a notification tracker so you can record which banks have been told, what documents they asked for, and when to chase them.
Open EstateManagerWhat should you do with bank accounts after someone dies?
Notify the banks once you have the death certificate or an interim death certificate. Use the Death Notification Service for participating banks, then contact any remaining banks, building societies, NS&I, pension providers, and insurers directly. Sole accounts are usually frozen while the bank checks who can deal with the estate. Joint accounts usually continue in the surviving account holder's name, although the beneficial ownership still depends on the facts.
EstateManager can help you record each institution, the date notified, the document sent, the reference number, the balance confirmed, and the next action needed.
When someone dies, banks need formal notice before they can protect the account, confirm balances, stop unsuitable payments, or release money to the right person. If there are accounts across several banks, the process can take time unless you keep a clear notification record.
Use the free Death Notification Service for participating organisations, then contact the others directly. Keep the provider's reference, the balance it confirms, the evidence it requests and the next action in one record.
The first thing to do
Start by listing every known account and finding each provider's current bereavement route. You can give initial notice promptly; the provider will tell you whether it needs a death certificate, interim certificate or other evidence before it changes or closes the account.
If you need another certificate, GOV.UK says a standard copy in England and Wales currently costs £12.50. Scotland and Northern Ireland use separate ordering systems. Before posting an original, ask whether the provider accepts an uploaded or certified copy and how it will return documents.
The Death Notification Service is a useful starting point when it lists the organisations you need to contact.
The Death Notification Service
The Death Notification Service (DNS) is a free online form for notifying participating banks and financial organisations. Select the organisations you need from its current list; each one then follows its own bereavement process.
Start here
Visit deathnotificationservice.co.uk, check whether the relevant organisations participate and follow the form. Have the person's name, date of birth, date of death and any account details you can find ready.
The DNS covers many UK banks and building societies. After you submit the notification, each participating institution checks its own records and contacts you separately if it finds a live account and needs more evidence or next steps.
For banks, savings providers, and digital institutions not in the DNS, contact the bereavement team directly. Each provider's website sets out its current bereavement contact details and what evidence it needs.
Tell Us Once — notify government departments at the same time
When you register the death, ask the registrar about Tell Us Once — a free government service that notifies HMRC, DWP, the Passport Office, DVLA, and local council in one go. It does not cover banks, but it saves a significant amount of time on the government side. Available in England, Scotland, and Wales.
What you will need
Requirements differ. Gather the details below, then use each provider's instructions to confirm exactly what it wants and in what format.
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Death certificate | The provider may accept an original, certified or uploaded copy. Check before sending it. |
| Your photo ID | A passport or driving licence may be requested to verify your identity. |
| Proof of your address | Ask which documents and issue dates the provider accepts. |
| The will (if there is one) | A provider may ask for it when checking who is dealing with the estate. |
| Proof of authority | The provider will tell you whether it requires a grant of probate, letters of administration, Scottish confirmation or other applicable proof of authority before releasing a sole balance. |
| Account details | Sort code, account number, or any bank statements you can find. Helpful but not always essential. |
Step by step
The broad sequence is similar, but each provider controls its forms, evidence and timing.
Notify the bank
Use the Death Notification Service for participating organisations, or contact the provider's bereavement team directly. Give the death details, then ask which evidence and submission method it requires.
The bank restricts the account
Once notified, the bank will normally restrict sole accounts while it checks who can deal with the estate. Money can usually still be paid in, but withdrawals are stopped. Joint accounts normally continue in the surviving account holder's name.
Complete the bank's forms
Each bank has its own closure or bereavement form. Some are online, some are paper. The bank will tell you which one you need and how to submit it.
Send the evidence requested
Follow the provider's instructions for certificates, identity evidence and proof of authority. Ask how originals will be returned before posting them.
Wait for confirmation
The provider confirms the balance and tells you whether it requires a grant of probate, letters of administration, Scottish confirmation or other applicable proof of authority before releasing a sole account.
Record the outcome
Keep the balance, reference number, next action and any money released in the estate records.
Paying funeral costs before probate
A bank may agree to pay an essential funeral invoice directly from the deceased's account before probate is granted. This is discretionary, so ask what it will pay before committing personal money.
MoneyHelper says providers normally ask for the death certificate and funeral invoice and may also request identity evidence. Check whether the bank requires a final invoice, how it makes payment and whether any limit applies.
Probate fees too
Some banks will also pay the probate application fee directly from the deceased person's account. Ask the bank before paying personally, and check the current HMCTS fee before you apply because probate fees can change.
Joint accounts
Joint accounts are handled differently from sole accounts. The bank normally continues the account in the surviving account holder's name once it has the death certificate, and a grant is not usually needed just for that. When you notify the bank, send the death certificate and ask each provider what other evidence it needs and in what format — do not assume the certificate alone completes the process.
Who owns the money, how the account was held, and what happens if the bank restricts access while it checks the notification are covered in our dedicated guide to what happens to bank accounts after death.
ISAs and savings accounts
Notify an ISA or savings provider in the same way as a bank account: use the Death Notification Service where the provider is covered, and otherwise contact the bereavement team directly. Send the death certificate and your ID, and ask each provider what other evidence it needs and in what format — providers differ, so do not assume one set of documents covers all of them. Sole savings accounts are normally frozen while the provider confirms who can deal with the estate, then closed and paid to the estate.
Two points are worth raising when you call. A surviving spouse or civil partner may have an extra ISA allowance — the Additional Permitted Subscription — based on the value of the deceased's ISA. And fixed-term savings may be released early after a death without the usual penalty, though this varies by provider. Our guide to shares and ISAs after death covers valuations, the APS allowance and its deadlines in detail.
Finding unknown accounts
It is common to discover accounts you did not know about: old savings accounts, dormant current accounts, or forgotten ISAs. Start with the paperwork — statements, post and email — then use free tracing services such as My Lost Account. The personal representative or an authorised agent can contact HMRC about the deceased's tax affairs after HMRC has recorded who is dealing with the estate. Do not treat a death notification alone as authority for disclosure.
Our guide to finding all assets after death walks through each tracing route, what it covers and how long it takes. Do not finalise the estate until you have made a proper tracing pass.
FSCS protection on death
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protects eligible deposits with UK-authorised banks, building societies, and credit unions. From 1 December 2025, the deposit protection limit is £120,000 per person per authorised firm. Temporary high balance protection may cover up to £1.4 million for six months where the depositor, account and funds meet the scheme conditions, including certain proceeds from a property sale or inheritance. Eligibility and the date the six-month period starts depend on the event and when the money becomes legally yours or is paid into the account, so check the current FSCS rules for the estate account before relying on the higher limit.
This matters if the estate holds a large cash sum, for example after a property sale or after money has been collected into one estate account. Check whether the bank, building society, or credit union shares a banking licence with another brand before leaving large balances in one place.
Temporary high balance protection
If the estate account holds more than £120,000, ask the bank how FSCS protection applies and keep evidence showing where the money came from. Temporary high balance protection is time-limited, so do not leave large sums sitting without checking the protection position.
Common questions
Do I need to notify every bank separately?
Not necessarily. The free Death Notification Service lets you notify participating organisations in one online form. Contact any bank or savings provider that is not listed there directly.
Can I access money from the account before probate?
A bank may agree to pay an essential funeral invoice, and sometimes the probate application fee, directly from a sole account before a grant is issued. This is the bank's decision. Ask what it will pay and which documents it requires before paying personally.
What happens to direct debits and standing orders?
A bank will normally restrict a sole account after notification, but the treatment of incoming and outgoing payments depends on its process. Ask what will stop, then arrange another payment method for anything essential, such as buildings insurance on an empty property.
What if the bank keeps sending letters addressed to the person who died?
Some correspondence may already be in production when you notify the bank. If letters continue, ask the bereavement team to confirm that its records show the death and that future correspondence will be addressed correctly.
What if there is an overdraft or debt on the account?
An overdraft or other sole debt is normally a liability of the estate. Personal liability can arise under a joint borrowing agreement, guarantee or another contractual obligation, so check the account terms before deciding who owes it.
How long do I have to notify the banks?
There is no single statutory deadline for notifying banks, but you should do it once you have the death certificate or interim death certificate. Early notification protects the account, stops unsuitable payments, and starts the bank's bereavement process.
What if I cannot find all the bank accounts?
Start with paperwork, statements, post and email notifications, then use free tracing services such as My Lost Account. The personal representative or an authorised agent can contact HMRC about the deceased's tax affairs after HMRC has recorded who is dealing with the estate; do not treat a death notification alone as authority for disclosure. Our guide to finding all assets after death covers each route in detail — make a proper tracing pass before you finalise the estate.
What to read next
Next step
Do I Need Probate?
Now that you have notified the banks, the next question is whether you need a Grant of Probate to deal with the rest of the estate. The answer depends on what assets are involved and their value.
Read guideHow to Register a Death
The registration timetable, what to bring, and how the medical examiner or coroner/procurator fiscal process can affect the next step.
Read guideHow to Apply for Probate
Step-by-step guide to the probate application process.
Read guideWhat to Do When Someone Dies
The full picture of what needs to happen in the weeks after a death.
Read guideUK Benefits After a Bereavement
Financial support you may be entitled to, including Bereavement Support Payment.
Read guideLegal disclaimer: This guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws and procedures can change, and individual circumstances vary. If you need advice specific to your situation, please consult a qualified solicitor or legal professional.
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