Skip to main content

Bank Bereavement Contacts UK: Every Major Bank Compared

Every bank and building society your loved one held an account with will need to know. Each has its own bereavement number, its own process, and its own probate threshold, which is a lot to keep track of. We have gathered them all here so you know what to expect before you pick up the phone.

Last reviewed: March 2026. Sources: individual bank bereavement pages (linked below). If you spot an error, please contact us.

Quick comparison: bereavement phone numbers

Every number below is the bank's dedicated bereavement line, not the general customer service number. These lines are answered by specialist teams who do this every day and who will be kind and unhurried with you.

BankBereavement PhoneHoursOnline FormProbate Threshold
Barclays0800 068 2238Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 9am-2pmYesAsk bank
HSBC0800 085 1992Mon-Fri 8:30am-6pm, Sat 9am-2pmYesAsk bank
Lloyds BankLloyds Banking Group0800 096 8560Mon-Fri 9am-5pmYesNot published, decided case by case
HalifaxLloyds Banking Group0800 028 10578am-8pm, 7 days a weekYesAsk bank
Bank of ScotlandLloyds Banking Group0345 835 5641Mon-Fri 9am-5pmYesAsk bank
NatWestNatWest Group0800 161 5903Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (excl. bank holidays)YesAsk bank
Royal Bank of ScotlandNatWest Group0800 161 5904Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (excl. bank holidays)YesAsk bank
Ulster BankNatWest Group0800 096 3612Mon-Fri 9am-5pmNoAsk bank
Santander0800 587 5870Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-2pmYes£50,000
TSB0345 835 7834Mon-Fri 9am-5pmNoAsk bank
Metro Bank0345 08 08 500Standard banking hoursYesAsk bank
Co-operative Bank03457 213 213Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-12 noonYesAsk bank
Virgin Money0800 011 3238Mon-Fri 9am-5pmNoAsk bank
Monzo0800 802 1281Standard hoursYesAsk bank
Starling Bank020 7930 445024/7NoNot published, ask them directly
RevolutSee websiteVariesYesAsk bank
Chase UK0800 376 3333Standard hoursNoAsk bank

Building societies

Building societies work in much the same way as banks. Most have their own bereavement teams and may release smaller balances without asking for probate, though the decision is always theirs.

Building SocietyBereavement PhoneHoursOnline FormProbate Threshold
Nationwide Building Society0800 464 3018Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-12pmYesAsk branch
Yorkshire Building Society0345 1669 229Mon-Fri 9am-5pmYesAsk branch
Coventry Building Society0800 587 4565Mon-Fri 8am-7pm, Sat 9am-2pmYesAsk branch
Skipton Building Society0345 266 1209Mon-Fri 9am-5pmYes£50,000
Leeds Building Society03452 682 642Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pmNo£50,000
Principality Building Society0330 333 4000Standard hoursNoAsk branch
Nottingham Building Society0344 481 4444Standard hoursNoAsk branch

What you need to know before calling

Documents to have ready

  • A certified copy of the death certificate (it is worth ordering at least 5)
  • Your own photo ID (passport or driving licence)
  • Their account details, if you have them
  • The will, if there is one
  • The grant of probate, if you have already been granted it

The Death Notification Service

The Death Notification Service (operated by UK Finance) lets you notify multiple banks and building societies through a single contact. It is free to use and saves time, but not every bank participates, so check the list before relying on it exclusively.

Probate thresholds explained

Each bank sets its own threshold below which it may release funds without requiring a grant of probate. Barclays, Santander and Nationwide each publish £50,000, as do Yorkshire, Skipton and Coventry building societies. Principality publishes £40,000, Metro Bank £25,000, and NS&I £5,000. HSBC, Lloyds and Halifax publish no figure at all and decide each case on its own facts. If the balance is above the threshold, you will need to apply for probate before the bank will release funds. Most banks will still pay funeral invoices directly from the account before probate is granted.

Three things are worth knowing before you rely on a threshold. It is a discretionary ceiling, not a right: banks word these limits as what they “may” do, and they reserve the right to ask for a grant at any balance. It applies to sole accounts only, and it is aggregated, so the bank adds up everything held in their sole name across that brand rather than looking at each account separately; joint accounts are left out of the calculation because they pass to the surviving holder anyway. And you will usually have to sign an indemnity or a statutory declaration, sometimes witnessed by a solicitor, taking on responsibility if it later turns out the money should have gone elsewhere.

Joint accounts

Joint accounts with right of survivorship pass automatically to the surviving account holder. Once you provide the death certificate, the bank simply removes their name from the account. The surviving holder keeps full access the whole time, so there is no risk of being locked out. Accounts in their sole name are frozen straight away, and the money is released as part of settling the estate.

Step-by-step: notifying banks after a death

  1. 1

    Gather documents

    Gather certified copies of the death certificate, the will if there is one, and your own photo ID.

  2. 2

    Identify all accounts

    Look through bank statements, recent post, and their paperwork. Our finding accounts guide has more places to check.

  3. 3

    Try the Death Notification Service first

    Notify multiple banks in one go. Then contact any remaining banks individually using the phone numbers above.

  4. 4

    Request funeral invoice payment

    If it would help, ask the bank to pay the funeral invoice directly from their account. Most banks will do this before probate.

  5. 5

    Apply for probate if needed

    If any account exceeds the bank's probate threshold, you will need to apply for probate before funds are released.

Useful tools

Template Letters

Ready-to-use letters for notifying banks, utilities, and other organisations.

Call Scripts

Word-for-word scripts for making difficult phone calls to banks and other organisations.

Phone Directory

All 60+ bereavement phone numbers in one place, organised by category.

Document Vault

Track which documents you have gathered and which you still need.

Frequently asked questions

How do I notify a bank when someone dies?

Call the bank's dedicated bereavement number, or fill in their online bereavement form. Most major UK banks have a specialist team for this. You will need a certified copy of the death certificate and your own photo ID. If you would rather not repeat yourself several times, the Death Notification Service lets you tell multiple banks at once.

Do I need probate to access a deceased person's bank account?

Not always, and often not at all. Each bank sets its own probate threshold, usually somewhere between £5,000 and £50,000. If the balance sits below it, the bank may release the funds without a grant of probate. Barclays, Santander and Nationwide each publish £50,000, counting only money held in the deceased's sole accounts. Metro Bank publishes £25,000 and NS&I £5,000. HSBC, Lloyds and Halifax publish no figure at all and decide case by case. Treat any threshold as a discretion rather than a right: every bank reserves the right to ask for a grant whatever the balance, and you will usually be asked to sign an indemnity before funds are released.

What happens to joint bank accounts when someone dies?

Joint accounts with right of survivorship pass automatically to the surviving account holder. The bank removes their name, and the surviving holder keeps full access throughout. You do still need to let the bank know and provide a death certificate. Accounts in their sole name are frozen until the estate is settled.

Can the bank pay funeral costs from the deceased's account?

Yes. Most banks will pay funeral invoices directly from their account as a priority, even before probate is granted. You just need to give them the funeral director's invoice. This is standard practice across the major UK banks, so please do ask.

What is the Death Notification Service?

The Death Notification Service is a free service operated by UK Finance that allows you to notify multiple banks and building societies through a single contact point. Not all banks participate, so you may still need to contact some individually. It does not cover utility companies, insurers, or government departments.

How long does it take to close a bank account after death?

Most banks take 4 to 8 weeks to process account closures once all documents are received. If probate is required, the total process can take 6 to 12 months. Simple estates below the probate threshold are typically resolved in 2 to 4 weeks.

Important

This information is for general guidance only. It is not legal or financial advice. Bank processes and thresholds can change. Always verify current details directly with the bank. Last reviewed: March 2026.

Related guides

Probate Guide

When you need probate, how to apply, and whether to DIY or use a solicitor

Template Letters

Ready-to-use letters for banks, utilities, HMRC, employers, and more

Call Scripts

Word-for-word scripts for difficult phone calls

Bank Accounts After Death

What happens to bank accounts, how to close them, and when you can release money without probate