How to Notify Lloyds Bank of a Death: Bank Bereavement Guide 2026

How to notify Lloyds Bank of a death — step by step

1. Notify Lloyds

   Call the dedicated bereavement line on 0800 015 0012 or complete the online notification form. Lloyds also allows you to walk into any branch and speak to a member of staff if you would prefer face-to-face support.

2. Provide the death certificate and your details

   Lloyds will ask for a certified copy of the death certificate and your own identification. If you have any account numbers or recent statements, have those to hand — but you can still notify Lloyds without them.

3. Accounts are frozen

   All sole accounts in the deceased's name will be frozen. Where an account is held jointly, Lloyds deals with the surviving holder and the account is put into their sole name. Lloyds will provide a statement of balances and a list of any regular payments that were in place.

4. Submit grant of probate or letters of administration

   Send a certified copy of the grant of probate, letters of administration or, in Scotland, confirmation as soon as it is available. Lloyds says it may not need to see a grant at all — it depends on the products held — so ask the bereavement team before you assume one is required.

5. Funds distributed and accounts closed

   Lloyds will transfer the balance to the estate account you specify. You will receive written confirmation of account closure. The process typically completes within 2–4 weeks of providing all documents.

What documents does Lloyds Bank need?

• Certified copy of the death certificate
• Grant of probate or letters of administration (when available)
• The executor's or administrator's ID (passport or driving licence)
• The executor's or administrator's proof of address (utility bill or bank statement, dated within 3 months)
• Account numbers or bank statements if known

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 Lloyds Bank take?

Lloyds Bank does not publish a processing time, so we do not give one. Ask when you notify them, and ask for a reference so you can chase it.

Accounts or services are usually frozen until the estate is administered, which 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.

Using the Death Notification Service for Lloyds Bank

Lloyds Bank 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 Lloyds Bank 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 Lloyds Bank?

Once Lloyds Bank 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.

Lloyds Bank 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