Farra is a death administration assistant for UK families. Get step-by-step guidance for registering a death, applying for probate, notifying banks, and managing bereavement admin. From essential documents to practical checklists, Farra simplifies estate paperwork and funeral-related tasks so you can focus on what matters.
One of the most common questions executors face is whether a specific bank or financial institution requires a grant of probate before releasing funds. The answer varies — some banks release up to £50,000 without probate, while others require it for any amount. Find your institution below.
abrdn investment accounts have a ~£36,000 probate threshold. Learn what documents abrdn require, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long fund release takes.
Aegon investment accounts always require probate; pensions bypass probate. Learn what documents Aegon need, their bereavement contact details, and fund release timelines.
AJ Bell always requires probate for investment accounts. Discover their bereavement process, required documents, DNS status, and typical timelines.
Aldermore Bank's probate threshold is approximately £15,000 (as of 2026). Learn what documents Aldermore requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long fund release takes.
Atom Bank's probate threshold is £5,000 (as of 2026) — one of the lowest among UK digital banks. Learn what documents Atom Bank requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long fund release takes.
Aviva has one of the highest probate thresholds at £100,000 for life insurance and bonds. Learn the full bereavement process and documents required.
Barclays probate threshold is £50,000 (as of 2026). Find out what documents Barclays requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long it takes to release funds.
Charter Savings Bank's probate threshold is approximately £15,000 (as of 2026). Learn what documents Charter Savings Bank requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long fund release takes.
Chase UK probate threshold is £25,000 (as of 2026). Learn what documents Chase UK requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long it takes to release funds.
Co-op Bank probate threshold is £50,000 (as of 2026). Find out what documents Co-op Bank requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long funds take to release.
Fidelity always requires probate for investment accounts. Find out what documents they need, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long it takes.
First Direct probate threshold is £25,000 (as of 2026). A division of HSBC UK with its own bereavement process. Learn what documents are required and expected timelines.
Ford Money's probate threshold is approximately £15,000 (as of 2026). Learn what documents Ford Money requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long fund release takes.
Freetrade always requires a grant of probate for investment accounts — there is no small-estate threshold. Learn what documents Freetrade requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long it takes to release assets.
Halifax probate threshold is £50,000 (as of 2026). Part of Lloyds Banking Group with its own bereavement process. Learn what documents Halifax requires and how long it takes.
Hargreaves Lansdown always requires probate for investment accounts. Cash accounts require probate above £10,000. Learn what documents HL requires and how long the process takes.
HSBC probate threshold is £50,000 for most accounts (as of 2026), with some account types lower. Learn what documents HSBC requires and how to use the Direct Payment Scheme.
ICICI Bank UK's probate threshold is approximately £5,000 (as of 2026). Learn what documents ICICI Bank UK requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long fund release takes.
Interactive Investor (ii) always requires probate for investment accounts. Learn their bereavement process, required documents, and typical timelines for releasing funds.
Investec's probate threshold is £20,000 for savings; investment accounts always require probate. Learn what documents Investec requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long fund release takes.
Legal & General investment bonds have a ~£36,000 probate threshold. Pensions bypass probate entirely. Find out the full bereavement process and timeline.
Lloyds Bank probate threshold is £50,000 (as of 2026). Find out what documents Lloyds requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long it takes to release funds.
M&G Investments has a ~£36,000 threshold for some products; investment accounts above this always require probate. Learn the documents needed and bereavement process.
M&S Bank's probate threshold is £15,000 (as of 2026). Learn what documents M&S Bank requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long fund release takes.
Metro Bank probate threshold is £25,000 (as of 2026). Metro Bank has 7-day stores for in-person support. Learn what documents are required and expected release timelines.
Moneybox has a ~£5,000 threshold for cash accounts; pensions bypass probate. Learn the bereavement process, what documents you need, and how long fund release takes.
Monzo probate threshold is £10,000 (as of 2026) — lower than most traditional banks. Learn how Monzo's digital bereavement process works and what documents are required.
Nationwide Building Society probate threshold is £50,000 (as of 2026). Learn what documents Nationwide requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and release timelines.
NatWest probate threshold is £25,000 (as of 2026) — lower than many high street banks. Find out what documents NatWest requires and how to contact their bereavement team.
NEST pension death benefits bypass probate entirely and are paid to nominated beneficiaries. Find out how to claim, what documents NEST need, and how long it takes.
Newcastle Building Society's probate threshold is approximately £15,000 (as of 2026). Learn what documents Newcastle BS requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long fund release takes.
NS&I requires probate for estates with over £5,000 in NS&I holdings. Learn the rules for Premium Bonds, what documents NS&I need, and how to claim.
Nutmeg always requires probate for investment accounts. Find out what documents you need, how to contact Nutmeg's bereavement team, and how long fund release takes.
Paragon Bank's probate threshold is approximately £20,000 (as of 2026). Learn what documents Paragon Bank requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long fund release takes.
Post Office Savings probate threshold is £30,000 (as of 2026). Products are provided by Bank of Ireland UK. Learn what documents are required and how to begin the process.
Prudential bonds have a ~£30,000 probate threshold; pensions bypass probate. Learn what documents Prudential need and how to contact their bereavement team.
Revolut does not publish a fixed probate threshold. In practice, probate is typically required for any meaningful balance. Learn how to contact Revolut's bereavement support.
Royal London has a ~£36,000 probate threshold for investment bonds; pensions bypass probate. Discover documents required, DNS status, and fund release timelines.
Sainsbury's Bank's probate threshold is approximately £20,000 (as of 2026). Learn what documents Sainsbury's Bank requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long fund release takes.
Santander probate threshold is £50,000 (as of 2026). Find out what documents Santander requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long it takes to release funds.
Scottish Widows pensions bypass probate; savings and bonds have a ~£50,000 threshold. Find out what documents to send and how to contact their bereavement team.
Shawbrook Bank's probate threshold is approximately £15,000 (as of 2026). Learn what documents Shawbrook Bank requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long fund release takes.
Skipton Building Society's probate threshold is £30,000 (as of 2026). Learn what documents Skipton requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long fund release takes.
Standard Life investment bonds have a ~£36,000 probate threshold; pensions bypass probate. Learn the full bereavement process, documents needed, and timelines.
Starling Bank probate threshold is £10,000 (as of 2026). Learn how Starling's digital bereavement process works, what documents are required, and how long it takes.
Tesco Bank's probate threshold is £50,000 — one of the highest in UK retail banking. Learn what documents Tesco Bank requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long fund release takes.
Trading 212 always requires probate for investment accounts. Learn what documents Trading 212 requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long it takes to release assets.
Triodos Bank's probate threshold is approximately £25,000 (as of 2026). Learn what documents Triodos requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long fund release takes.
TSB probate threshold is £25,000 (as of 2026). Find out what documents TSB requires, how to contact their bereavement helpline, and how long it takes to release funds.
Vanguard always requires probate for investment accounts. Learn their bereavement process, required documents, DNS participation status, and typical fund release timelines.
Virgin Money probate threshold is £35,000 (as of 2026). Find out what documents Virgin Money requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long funds take to release.
West Bromwich Building Society's probate threshold is approximately £15,000 (as of 2026). Learn what documents West Brom requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long fund release takes.
Yorkshire Building Society's probate threshold is £30,000 (as of 2026). Learn what documents YBS requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long fund release takes.
Zopa Bank's probate threshold is approximately £10,000 (as of 2026). Learn what documents Zopa Bank requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long fund release takes.
Zurich pensions bypass probate; investment bonds and policies have a ~£30,000 threshold. Learn the bereavement process, required documents, and typical timelines.