How to Notify Bank of Ireland UK of a Death: Bank Bereavement Guide 2026

How to notify Bank of Ireland UK of a death — step by step

1. Call Bank of Ireland UK on 0800 055 6655

   Call the bereavement line and have the deceased's account details, full name, date of birth, and date of death to hand. Bank of Ireland UK serves customers primarily in Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

2. Use the Death Notification Service

   Bank of Ireland UK is a member of the Death Notification Service at deathnotificationservice.co.uk. If the deceased held accounts at multiple DNS member banks, use the service to notify all of them simultaneously.

3. Provide documentation

   Bank of Ireland UK will require a certified copy of the death certificate. For estates over their small estate threshold, grant of probate or confirmation (in Scotland) will be required.

4. Arrange account closure and fund transfer

   Bank of Ireland UK will freeze accounts on notification and release funds to the estate once all required documentation has been provided and verified.

What documents does Bank of Ireland UK need?

• Death certificate (certified copy)
• Bank of Ireland UK account number or sort code
• Grant of probate or letters of administration (for most estates)
• Completed bereavement form from Bank of Ireland UK

Have multiple certified copies of the death certificate ready. Banks and financial institutions each require an original or certified copy — you cannot usually pass a single copy between organisations. See our guide to how many death certificates you need.

How long does Bank of Ireland UK take?

Bank of Ireland UK typically takes 4–8 weeks to process a bereavement notification once all required documents have been received.

During this period, accounts or services will typically be frozen until the estate is administered. This means no new transactions can be authorised. Frozen bank accounts cannot send or receive money, so it is important to ensure the estate has an accessible source of funds for ongoing costs such as funeral expenses.

In Northern Ireland, the probate process is handled by the Probate Office (part of the Royal Courts of Justice, Belfast) rather than HMCTS in England and Wales. If the deceased was based in Northern Ireland, the process differs slightly.

Using the Death Notification Service for Bank of Ireland UK

Bank of Ireland UK is a member of the Death Notification Service (DNS). The DNS lets you notify multiple banks and building societies at once, saving time if the deceased held accounts at several institutions. You can use the service online at deathnotificationservice.co.uk or by telephone on 0800 158 2227.

However, notification via the DNS is the first step only. You must still contact Bank of Ireland UK directly to close accounts, transfer funds, and release assets to the estate. The DNS does not replace the full bereavement process — it simply triggers an initial notification.

For more on services that help manage death administration, see our complete guide to UK death administration services.

What happens after you notify Bank of Ireland UK?

Once Bank of Ireland UK receives your notification and confirms receipt, the account or service will be frozen and no new transactions will be authorised. Estate administration can then begin.

Bank of Ireland UK will write to you with a bereavement reference number and a list of the documents they require to proceed. At that stage you will need to provide the grant of probate (or letters of administration) along with certified copies of the death certificate before funds can be released to the estate. Once the grant is in hand, you can proceed to close the deceased's bank account and release funds to the estate.

What cannot wait