How to Notify Banks After a Death
When someone dies, one of the most important practical tasks for the executor is notifying their bank and financial institutions. This process can feel overwhelming at a difficult time, but understanding the steps involved makes it manageable. This guide explains everything you need to know about notifying banks after a death in the UK.
What you will need before you start
- The original death certificate or a certified copy
- The deceased person's full name and date of birth
- Their account numbers if known
- Your own identification as the executor or next of kin
- Grant of Probate if the estate is over a certain value
What is the Death Notification Service
The Death Notification Service (DNS) is a free UK service operated by a consortium of major banks. It allows executors to notify multiple participating banks simultaneously using a single online submission. Participating banks include Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group including Halifax and Bank of Scotland, NatWest, Santander, and many others. Once you submit a DNS notification, each participating bank receives the information and begins their internal bereavement process.
How long does it take for banks to respond
Most UK banks aim to acknowledge a death notification within five to ten working days. Closing or transferring accounts typically takes between two and six weeks depending on the complexity of the estate and whether probate is required.
How SafeKept helps
SafeKept organises every institution in the estate into a single dashboard. DNS-participating banks are grouped together so the executor can prepare and submit them to the DNS website in one go. Non-DNS institutions are sorted into postal and email queues, with pre-filled letter templates ready to review and send.