To notify banks after a death, tell each bank the person held an account with as soon as you can, either through the free Death Notification Service (which contacts several banks at once) or by ringing each bank’s bereavement team. You will need to provide the death certificate and proof of your identity. The accounts are then frozen, and funds are released once the bank has seen a grant of probate or, for smaller balances, its own paperwork. This full UK guide explains exactly how it works in 2026.
| What you usually need to send | Notes |
|---|---|
| Death certificate | Original, a certified copy, or an interim certificate from the coroner |
| Proof of your identity | Passport or driving licence, plus proof of address |
| The will (if there is one) | Shows who the executors are |
| Grant of probate | Only needed once the balance is above the bank’s threshold |
Plain-English guide written by Simon Jenkins — covering every stage of the probate process.
Start with the Death Notification Service
The Death Notification Service is a free, secure online tool that lets you tell several banks and building societies about a death using a single form. Most major names take part, including Barclays, HSBC, the Lloyds Banking Group brands (Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland), NatWest Group, Santander, Nationwide, TSB and the Co-operative Bank. You register once, list the accounts you know about, and the service passes the notification on. Any bank not signed up must be contacted directly through its dedicated bereavement line.
What happens to the account once you notify the bank
As soon as a bank is told of the death it will normally:
- Freeze the sole account so no further withdrawals or card payments can be made.
- Cancel direct debits and standing orders, though it is wise to redirect essential ones first.
- Stop any overdraft and add the balance to the estate’s debts if the account is overdrawn.
- Keep paying certain bills. Banks will usually release money directly to cover the funeral, inheritance tax and probate fees, even while the account is frozen.
Joint bank accounts are treated differently. In most cases the balance passes automatically to the surviving account holder by survivorship, and the account simply continues, so probate is not needed for the money itself.
When you need a grant of probate to release the money
Each bank sets its own limit above which it will only release funds once it has seen a grant. These thresholds vary widely, typically anywhere between £5,000 and £50,000. Below the limit, the bank can usually pay out on its own bereavement forms, an indemnity and sight of the will. Above it, you must obtain the grant first. Our detailed guide on how to get money out of a deceased bank account sets out each major bank’s process.
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Step by step: notifying banks after a death
- Gather the paperwork: death certificate, the will, and your own identification.
- List the accounts: current accounts, savings, ISAs, credit cards, loans and mortgages.
- Register with the Death Notification Service for the banks that take part.
- Contact any other banks directly using their bereavement teams.
- Ask for date-of-death balances in writing, as you will need these figures for the estate accounts and any inheritance tax return.
- Arrange release of funds for the funeral, tax and fees where needed.
- Close the accounts once the grant is in place and the estate is ready to distribute.
How long does it take?
Notifying a bank is quick, often a single online form or phone call. Releasing the money takes longer. Smaller balances can be paid within a couple of weeks of the bank receiving its forms. Larger balances wait on the grant of probate, which usually takes around 16 weeks from a complete application. Requesting written date-of-death balances early keeps the wider estate administration moving while you wait.
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Speak to a probate specialist
If the accounts are numerous, spread across several banks, or large enough to need a grant, Curtis Legal can deal with the correspondence for you. We act for families across Torfaen and South Wales. Call 0800 214 216 for a same-day callback.
About the author
Written by Simon Jenkins, Director and Solicitor at Curtis Legal. SRA 167489. Firm SRA 450129. Simon leads the Curtis Legal private client team and has helped families across South Wales deal with banks, pensions and asset holders after a bereavement for more than twenty years.
This article is general information about the law in England and Wales and is not a substitute for tailored legal advice. Sources: the Death Notification Service and GOV.UK, what to do after someone dies.
