Notifying Banks After a Death in Scotland

Step 1: Notify Each Bank of the Death

As soon as possible after the death, contact each bank where the deceased held an account. You can do this by phone, in branch, or in some cases online. You will need to provide:

• The deceased's full name, address, and date of birth
• The date of death
• Account numbers where known
• Your own name and relationship to the deceased

The bank will freeze the sole accounts to prevent further transactions. Direct debits and standing orders should be cancelled (though essential utility payments should be managed carefully during the transition period).

The Death Notification Service is a free service that allows you to notify multiple participating banks simultaneously with a single notification. It is available across the UK including Scotland and can save considerable time.

The Role of Confirmation in Releasing Funds

Scottish banks will generally not release funds from a sole account without confirmation, unless the amount falls below their informal threshold. Most major high street banks in Scotland have a threshold of around £5,000–£10,000; some building societies operate at higher levels.

Contact each bank individually to ask:

• What is your threshold for releasing funds without confirmation?
• What documentation do you require (death certificate, copy of the will)?
• Will you provide a date-of-death balance statement for the confirmation inventory?

For more on the confirmation process and when it is needed, see our guides on the confirmation threshold and how to apply for confirmation.

Joint Accounts: Different Rules

Joint accounts pass automatically to the surviving account holder following the death of one holder. The survivor can continue to use the account. They should notify the bank of the death and provide a death certificate so the account can be converted to a sole account in the survivor's name. No confirmation is required for this process.

However, joint accounts are taken into account for IHT purposes — the deceased's share (typically half) is included in their estate for IHT calculation, even though the account passes automatically. See our inheritance tax guide.

Requesting Date-of-Death Balances

As part of the confirmation application, you need to list all estate assets with their date-of-death values. When notifying each bank, also request a formal statement of the account balance at the date of death. This is needed for the confirmation inventory and for IHT calculations.

Banks should provide this information to an executor or close relative on production of a death certificate. If a bank is reluctant, explain that you need this for probate/confirmation purposes — it is a routine request and they are legally obliged to cooperate.

After Confirmation: Releasing the Funds

Once confirmation is obtained, you can release the estate funds from each bank account. Send each bank a certified copy of the confirmation (or the original, keeping copies). The confirmation lists all assets — each bank will check their account appears on the confirmation before releasing funds.

Open an executor's bank account to receive all estate funds, pay debts and expenses from it, and distribute the residue to beneficiaries. Keep clear records of all transactions — see our guide on executor duty to account.

Further Reading

• What is confirmation in Scotland?
• Estate administration checklist
• Applying for probate (England and Wales)
• Complete UK probate guide
• What documents do you need?
• Inheritance tax guide 2026–27

Farra helps you manage every aspect of estate administration.