Free letter templates for executors
Letter to a bank after a death
Fill in what you know and get a finished letter telling a bank or building society about the death. It asks for the balance on the date of death and whether they need probate. A second letter closes the accounts once you have the grant. There are letters for pension providers, life insurers and utility companies too.
Nothing you type is sent to us or stored: the letter is made in your browser. Print it, save it as a PDF, or copy it into an email. Guidance, not legal advice.
your address
today’s date
Bereavement teamorganisation name
their address
Dear Sir or Madam
their full name, deceased
Date of birth: date of birth
Date of death: date of death
Last address: their last address
I am writing to tell you that their full name died on date of death. I enclose a copy of the death certificate.
I am an executor named in their full name’s will, and I am dealing with the estate.
Please could you:
- freeze any accounts in their full name’s sole name, and cancel any standing orders and direct debits from them
- tell me every account, savings, investment, loan, credit card or safe deposit box their full name held with you, and which were joint
- send me the balance of each one on date of death, with any interest earned up to that date, so that I can value the estate
- tell me whether you need to see a grant of probate before you release the money, and if not, the most you will release without one
- send me any forms you need me to fill in, and tell me if you need to see the original death certificate or proof of my identity
Please send all letters about this to me at the address above.
Thank you for your help.
Yours faithfully
your name
For the estate of their full name
Enclosed: A copy of the death certificate
Highlighted words are gaps. Fill them in above, or leave them: they print as lines to write on by hand. Sign the letter before you post it.
Which letter to send, and when
- Straight away, to every bank, pension and insurer. Ask each one for the balance on the date of death, which you need to value the estate, and whether they need probate. See how much each big bank releases without probate.
- As soon as you can, to energy, water and phone companies. Give a meter reading if you have one. If the home will be empty for a while, ask them to keep the supply on in the name of the estate.
- Once the grant arrives, to each bank again. Send an official copy of the grant and ask them to close the accounts. Order one copy per bank when you apply: £2 each then, £16 each later.
Not sure what else needs doing? See the full executor checklist.
What to send with each letter
| Letter | Send with it |
|---|---|
| Bank or building society, telling them | A copy of the death certificate. The letter asks whether they need the original. |
| Bank or building society, sending the grant | An official copy of the grant of probate or letters of administration. |
| Pension provider | A copy of the death certificate. |
| Life insurer | A copy of the death certificate. |
| Energy, water or phone company | Nothing. Add a meter reading for gas and electricity if you can. |
Writing to everyone is one job. Keeping track is another.
We’re building an estate organiser to hold it all, for one fixed fee that’s a small part of what a solicitor charges:
- One list of every account, policy and debt, with what you’ve heard back from each
- A letter to every bank, pension provider and utility, filled in for you from that list
- Estate accounts that add up, ready for the beneficiaries
- Share it with family, so everyone can see where things are
Questions about writing to banks
How do I tell a bank that someone has died?
Contact its bereavement team by letter, phone or its online form. Give the person’s full name, date of birth, date of death and last address, any account numbers you have, and a copy of the death certificate. Ask for the balance on the date of death and whether the bank needs probate before it releases the money.
Do I need to send the original death certificate?
Send a copy and keep the original. The letter asks the bank to tell you if it needs to see the original or proof of your identity. It helps to order several copies of the certificate when you register the death.
Can the bank pay for the funeral before probate?
Ask. Many banks will pay the funeral director’s invoice straight from the person’s account before probate, but they don’t have to, and each bank sets its own rules. Tick “Ask if they can pay the funeral bill” and the letter asks for you.
What happens to a joint bank account when someone dies?
It usually passes to the other account holder automatically, without probate. The letter asks the bank which accounts were joint, so you know which ones belong to the estate.
When do I send the grant of probate to the bank?
Once it arrives. Send each bank an official copy with the second letter, asking it to close the accounts and pay you or the estate’s bank account. Official copies cost £2 each if you order them when you apply, or £16 each later.
Can I email the letter instead of posting it?
Yes, if the bank offers it. Copy the letter into an email or the bank’s online bereavement form and attach a scan of the death certificate. Otherwise print it, sign it and post it.