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When someone dies, notifying Starling Bank is one of the key tasks for the executor or next of kin. This guide explains exactly who to contact, what to say, what documents you will need, and how long Starling Bank takes to process a bereavement notification.
Starling Bank bereavement contact details
Phone: 0207 930 4450 — 24/7
Online: Starling bereavement support
Webchat: Available on the Starling Bank website
Last verified: May 2026
Spotted a change? Email our team if a number, email, or link on this page is out of date and we'll update it straight away.
Call Starling on 0207 930 4450 (available 24/7) or reach out through the in-app chat. Starling also has a dedicated bereavement support page online.
Starling will ask for a certified copy of the death certificate, which can be submitted digitally. As a digital bank, Starling handles all documentation electronically.
You will need to verify your own identity and your relationship to the deceased. If you are the executor, Starling will ask for the grant of probate once it has been issued.
Starling will freeze the account and cancel all scheduled payments, including any Spaces (Starling's version of savings pots), which will be consolidated into the main balance.
Once all documentation is in order, Starling will transfer the account balance to the estate account you specify and confirm closure in writing.
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.
Starling Bank typically takes 2–4 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.
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Once Starling 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.
Starling 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.
Do not delay notifying Starling Bank
Direct debits and standing orders may continue to be charged after death. Some organisations treat the estate as the debtor for any charges incurred before notification. Notifying Starling Bank promptly protects the estate from unnecessary costs.
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