{ "id": "bank-bereavement-thresholds", "title": "UK bank bereavement release thresholds", "description": "How much each UK bank and building society will release to a bereaved executor without a grant of probate — each figure read from the institution's own published bereavement guidance, with the banks that publish no figure recorded as publishing none.", "publisher": { "name": "Valoren", "url": "https://valoren.uk" }, "page": "https://valoren.uk/figures/bank-bereavement-thresholds", "licence": { "id": "valoren-citation", "name": "Free to quote and cite with attribution", "url": "https://valoren.uk/verify", "note": "Quote any figure or row with attribution to Valoren and a link to the page it came from. Bulk redistribution of the dataset is not granted." }, "record_count": 59, "last_checked": "2026-09-24", "next_check_due": "2027-01-22", "checked_by": "a person, prompted by scripts/bank-thresholds-scan.mjs", "methodology": [ "Every figure comes from the institution's own published bereavement guidance, on the date shown — never from a third-party table.", "Where an institution publishes no general threshold, the row says exactly that. A blank is an answer, not a gap.", "A weekly watch re-reads each institution's page and reports a figure that has vanished. It never confirms that a bank publishes nothing — that is a negative, and no fetch can prove it, so a person re-reads instead." ], "coverage": { "included": "59 institutions: 34 banks and savings providers (the high-street banks, app-only banks and NS&I among them) and 25 building societies.", "notYet": "The remaining smaller building societies, credit unions, and the share registrars and investment platforms where executors are hit hardest.", "omittedBecause": "An institution is added only once its own published guidance has been read; a widely-repeated third-party figure is not sufficient to open a row." }, "distribution": [ { "format": "application/json", "url": "https://valoren.uk/data/bank-bereavement-thresholds.json" }, { "format": "text/csv", "url": "https://valoren.uk/data/bank-bereavement-thresholds.csv", "bytes": 53136 } ], "source_file": "src/data/bankBereavementIndex.js", "generated_by": "scripts/generate-dataset-endpoints.mjs", "rows": [ { "id": "barclays", "institution": "Barclays", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 50000, "what_they_publish": "Barclays DOES publish a stated threshold: no grant of probate / letters of administration / grant of confirmation is required if the deceased held £50,000 or less in total across their SOLE (non-joint) Barclays accounts. Above £50,000 in sole accounts, Barclays requires the legal document before releasing funds. Joint accounts never require probate at Barclays, regardless of balance — the surviving joint holder simply has the account renamed into their sole name. (Note: one narrow exception found — jointly-held INVESTMENT accounts are frozen until a grant of probate is produced, unlike joint current/savings accounts.)", "source_url": "https://www.barclays.co.uk/what-to-do-when-someone-dies/", "source_label": "Barclays official site — \"What to do when someone dies\" bereavement hub, FAQ accordion item \"Other legal documents\" (page content last modified per its own metadata 2026-05-12/2026-05-20)", "checked": "2026-08-30", "page": "https://valoren.uk/figures/bank-bereavement-thresholds/barclays", "institution_id": "barclays" }, { "id": "hsbc-uk", "institution": "HSBC UK", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 50000, "what_they_publish": "HSBC UK does publish explicit numeric “amount limits” below which a Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration is not automatically required: £50,000 if the deceased left a will (Grant of Probate route), and £25,000 if there was no will (Letters of Administration route). However HSBC immediately hedges this with a discretionary override, quoted verbatim from the page: “Every situation is different, and what we need can change if we get new information. We may still ask for a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration even if the balance is below the amount limits above, before we release any money or close accounts.” So treat these as soft guideline ceilings, not guarantees.", "source_url": "https://www.hsbc.co.uk/help/life-events/bereavement/what-to-do-when-someone-dies/", "source_label": "HSBC UK — “What To Do When Someone Dies | Account Holders” (Bereavement section, hsbc.co.uk)", "checked": "2026-08-30", "page": "https://valoren.uk/figures/bank-bereavement-thresholds/hsbc-uk", "institution_id": "hsbc-uk" }, { "id": "natwest", "institution": "NatWest", "publishes_a_threshold": false, "threshold_gbp": null, "what_they_publish": "NatWest does not publish a general/blanket balance figure below which they will release a deceased customer's funds without a Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration — for typical small-estate cases this is handled case-by-case through their internal \"(Indemnity) Agreement\" process (a signed, witnessed document; witness must be 18+ and not a family member), and NatWest's own page does not state an upper balance limit for when that route is offered. The one exact figure NatWest DOES publish is much narrower: in their own glossary they define an \"Indemnifying Letter\" as a document that lets them release funds to an executor/next of kin \"when the total balances held are under £50, and grant of probate/letters of admin are not being applied for\" — i.e. a separate, lighter-weight instrument for trivial balances, not the general small-estate threshold that third-party sites (which quote figures like £25,000) claim. Do not treat that £25,000 figure as NatWest's own published number — it appears only on third-party guide sites (withfarra.co.uk, afterloss.uk, settleprobate.co.uk, legacytrail.co.uk), none of which are NatWest, and NatWest's own pages do not state it.", "source_url": "https://www.natwest.com/life-moments/bereavement.html", "source_label": "NatWest — \"What to do when someone dies\" (official Bereavement guide, natwest.com), including its embedded glossary and FAQ sections", "checked": "2026-08-30", "page": "https://valoren.uk/figures/bank-bereavement-thresholds/natwest", "institution_id": "natwest" }, { "id": "lloyds-bank", "institution": "Lloyds Bank", "publishes_a_threshold": false, "threshold_gbp": null, "what_they_publish": "No published fixed threshold exists. Lloyds Bank's own bereavement page states, on the Grant of Probate: \"The grant of probate is the legal document issued by the Probate Registry. We may not need to see this - it will depend on the products and services held with us.\" This is a direct, explicit case-by-case answer (driven by which products/accounts and their balances are involved), not a published number — do not substitute a figure seen elsewhere for this bank.", "source_url": "https://www.lloydsbank.com/help-guidance/support-and-wellbeing/life-events/bereavement.html", "source_label": "Lloyds Bank — \"Bereavement support\" (official, live page, plus its linked Executor Account, Estate Administration Service and Estate administration checklist pages)", "checked": "2026-08-30", "page": "https://valoren.uk/figures/bank-bereavement-thresholds/lloyds-bank", "institution_id": "lloyds-bank" }, { "id": "santander-uk", "institution": "Santander UK", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 50000, "what_they_publish": "Yes — Santander UK does publish a fixed threshold. Their own Bereavement guide states: \"For Santander, this is required when the total value of all accounts held with us in the sole name of the deceased is more than £50,000\" (and restated later: \"You only need this if the total value of all accounts held with us in the sole name of the deceased is £50,000 or more.\"). So a Grant of Representation (grant of probate / letters of administration in England & Wales, Confirmation in Scotland) is required only once the deceased's combined sole-name Santander balances reach £50,000 — below that, Santander will release the funds without one. Two separate triggers override the threshold regardless of balance: a mortgage held solely in the deceased's name, or a joint mortgage held as tenants in common.", "source_url": "https://www.santander.co.uk/personal/support/customer-support/bereavement", "source_label": "Santander UK — \"Bereavement\" support page, plus Santander's own downloadable \"Bereavement guide\" PDF (santander.co.uk/assets/s3fs-public/documents/bereavement_guide_apr_20_h.pdf), both santander.co.uk domain", "checked": "2026-08-30", "page": "https://valoren.uk/figures/bank-bereavement-thresholds/santander-uk", "institution_id": "santander-uk" }, { "id": "nationwide-building-society", "institution": "Nationwide Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 50000, "what_they_publish": "On its own \"Deceased customers\" page (aimed at solicitors/professionals but publicly published, no login required), Nationwide states verbatim: \"Where the balance of the deceased's sole accounts with Nationwide is less than £50,000 and no Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration are being applied for, the accounts may be closed upon completion of the Bereavement Request to close accounts form. For balances above £50,000 we will require a Grant of Representation together with a closure form signed by the Personal Representative in order to close the account.\" The £50,000 figure is the combined total across all the deceased's sole accounts with Nationwide (current, savings, ISAs, bonds etc.) — not per-account. Note: Nationwide's separate consumer-facing \"Bereavement support\" PDF guide does not restate this figure to ordinary customers; it only says Nationwide \"will let you know\" if proof of authority (i.e. a grant) is needed — the explicit number appears only on the professional/lawyers page.", "source_url": "https://www.nationwide.co.uk/about-us/information-for-lawyers/deceased-customers", "source_label": "Nationwide Building Society — \"Deceased customers\" (Information for lawyers), official Nationwide page. Cross-referenced against Nationwide's own consumer PDF: \"Bereavement support — What to do when someone close to you dies\" (https://www.nationwide.co.uk/-/assets/nationwidecouk/documents/help/challenging-times/bereavement/bereavement-support.pdf)", "checked": "2026-08-30", "page": "https://valoren.uk/figures/bank-bereavement-thresholds/nationwide-building-society", "institution_id": "nationwide" }, { "id": "halifax", "institution": "Halifax", "publishes_a_threshold": false, "threshold_gbp": null, "what_they_publish": "For standard current/savings accounts: Halifax does not publish a fixed threshold. Their official page states: \"The grant of probate is the legal document issued by the Probate Registry. We may not need to see this; it will depend on the products and services held with us\" — and directs unsure customers to call 0800 015 0012. This is a genuine case-by-case policy, not a gap in research. However — for Share Dealing accounts/ISAs specifically (a different product line, run via Halifax Share Dealing Ltd), Halifax does publish a figure: their official \"Bereavement. Share Dealing.\" guide states \"In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, we would require a Grant of Probate if the value of the share dealing accounts exceed £50,000\" (£36,000 in Scotland, where a Certificate of Confirmation applies instead); below that, \"we may accept a Small Estates Declaration & Indemnity Form\" in place of a grant. That PDF is dated April 2020 (footer: \"This information is correct as of April 2020\") — over 6 years old as of this check — so it should be re-verified for currency before being relied on for a live claim. This £50,000 figure is not Halifax's general bank-account probate threshold; it is documented only for Share Dealing holdings.", "source_url": "https://www.halifax.co.uk/helpcentre/support-and-wellbeing/life-events/bereavement.html", "source_label": "Halifax — \"Bereavement | Life Events\" (official Help Centre page); threshold figure additionally sourced from Halifax's own PDF at halifax.co.uk/assets/pdf/bereavement-share-dealing-guide.pdf (\"Bereavement. Share Dealing.\", dated April 2020)", "checked": "2026-08-30", "page": "https://valoren.uk/figures/bank-bereavement-thresholds/halifax", "institution_id": "halifax" }, { "id": "nsi", "institution": "NS&I (National Savings and Investments)", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 5000, "what_they_publish": "NS&I DOES publish a figure: their own guidance states \"We may ask for a Grant of Representation if the customer's NS&I savings are £5,000 or over.\" Below £5,000 a grant is typically not required. However this is a guide threshold, not an absolute rule — the same NS&I source adds \"The Director of Savings also reserves the right to request a Grant of Representation for a claim of any value,\" and NS&I explicitly notes it has \"different legal obligations to other financial institutions.\"", "source_url": "https://www.nsandi.com/help/manage-money-for-others/customers-who-have-died", "source_label": "NS&I Help — \"What to do if an NS&I customer has died\" (corroborated by NS&I's official \"Guidance after a bereavement\" PDF brochure)", "checked": "2026-08-30", "page": "https://valoren.uk/figures/bank-bereavement-thresholds/nsi", "institution_id": "nsandi" }, { "id": "tsb", "institution": "TSB Bank", "publishes_a_threshold": false, "threshold_gbp": null, "what_they_publish": "TSB does not publish a general small-estate balance ceiling on its own bereavement page. It says it will tell the executor/next of kin whether a Grant of Probate (or Confirmation, or Letters of Administration) is needed once they've reported the death, rather than stating a threshold figure that applies to everyone. Separately, TSB says it can use money left in the deceased's account, before a grant, to pay the funeral invoice, Inheritance Tax, and Probate/Confirmation fees — but that's a category of permitted pre-grant payments, not a release ceiling.", "source_url": "https://www.tsb.co.uk/help-and-support/bereavement-and-coping-with-loss.html", "source_label": "TSB Bank — \"What to do when someone dies\" (help-and-support/bereavement-and-coping-with-loss.html)", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "tsb" }, { "id": "bank-of-scotland", "institution": "Bank of Scotland", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 50000, "what_they_publish": "Bank of Scotland's own bereavement processing form sets a £50,000 ceiling on sole current/savings account balances: at or below that (and with no borrowing — mortgage, loan or credit card — in the deceased's name), the sole accounts can be closed and the funds released to the primary representative in branch, on their signature alone, without a grant. Above £50,000, or if there is any debit balance or borrowing product, a grant of probate/letters of administration (England, Wales, NI) or Certificate of Confirmation (Scotland) is required, and every executor named on it must sign. This figure does not appear on Bank of Scotland's current public bereavement web pages, which describe the process without stating an amount, and the specific bank form that states it (ref. 1721 BoS-1218) is no longer live at its published web address — the figure is confirmed from an archived copy of that same institution-authored form, and is consistent with what current third-party guides report for this brand.", "source_url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20230403144314/https://www.bankofscotland.co.uk/content/dam/bos-personal/helpcentre/bos-bereavement-form.pdf", "source_label": "Bank of Scotland — Bereavement form (ref. 1721 BoS-1218), archived copy of the bank's own PDF (the live URL now 404s)", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "bank-of-scotland" }, { "id": "royal-bank-of-scotland", "institution": "Royal Bank of Scotland", "publishes_a_threshold": false, "threshold_gbp": null, "what_they_publish": "RBS does not publish a general small-balance figure that it will release to an executor/next of kin without sight of a grant of probate, letters of administration, or (in Scotland) a certificate of confirmation. Its own \"8 stages\" bereavement guide describes funds being released once \"all the necessary documents\" are in place, without naming any balance below which a grant is skipped. The one number that appears anywhere near this topic is a \"Letters I-L\" glossary/jargon-buster entry on rbs.co.uk defining an \"Indemnifying Letter\" as usable \"when the total balances held are under £50\" — almost certainly a website error (elsewhere on the same page RBS uses \"£50k\" shorthand for a different, unrelated bond threshold), so it is not being reported as a real, reliable release ceiling. Until RBS corrects or confirms that figure, executors should not assume a specific number and should expect the decision to be made case-by-case once documents are submitted.", "source_url": "https://www.rbs.co.uk/life-moments/bereavement.html", "source_label": "RBS \"Bereavement\" hub — Letters I-L jargon buster (Indemnifying Letter), rbs.co.uk", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "royal-bank-of-scotland" }, { "id": "first-direct", "institution": "first direct", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 50000, "what_they_publish": "first direct publishes a split figure: on a sole account it will release up to £50,000 without a Grant of Probate if the deceased left a will, or up to £25,000 without Letters of Administration if there was no will. It stresses every case is different and it may still insist on a grant even below those limits.", "source_url": "https://www.firstdirect.com/help/life-events/bereavement/frequently-asked-questions/", "source_label": "first direct — Bereavement FAQs", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "first-direct" }, { "id": "co-operative-bank", "institution": "The Co-operative Bank", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 50000, "what_they_publish": "The Co-operative Bank publishes a combined-balance ceiling, not a per-account one: a certified grant of probate (or letters of administration if there's no will) is only required once the total value of ALL the deceased's Co-operative Bank and smile accounts together exceeds £50,000. Below that combined figure, a sole account in credit can be paid out to the nominated account on a completed bereavement instruction form alone, without a grant.", "source_url": "https://www.co-operativebank.co.uk/help-and-support/financial-support/major-life-events/bereavement/", "source_label": "Co-operative Bank — Bereavement (official support page)", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "co-operative-bank" }, { "id": "virgin-money", "institution": "Virgin Money", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 50000, "what_they_publish": "Virgin Money will release money from sole accounts without a Grant of Probate, Letters of Administration or Certificate of Confirmation when the combined balance of the deceased's Virgin Money accounts (and Virgin Money Unit Trust Managers investment/pension accounts) is less than £50,000. Above that combined balance, the original or a certified copy of the grant is required. Below it, they instead ask you to complete and return a form (with ID for anyone signing it) before accounts are closed and money released.", "source_url": "https://uk.virginmoney.com/service/bereavement/", "source_label": "Virgin Money — Bereavement: what to do when someone dies", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "virgin-money" }, { "id": "metro-bank", "institution": "Metro Bank", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 25000, "what_they_publish": "Metro Bank publishes a tiered release structure by account balance, not a single \"no grant needed\" ceiling. For balances between £5,000.01 and £25,000.00 they will release funds against a Deceased Estates Indemnity Form (DEIF), signed by the personal representative, instead of a Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration. Only once the balance held with Metro Bank reaches £25,000+ do they require the original Grant of Probate (GOP). Separately, for intestate estates (no Will) they say they can still help collect the estate where the assets held with Metro Bank total less than £15,000, per gov.uk's small-estates claim guidance. Below £5,000.01 no DEIF is mentioned at all, implying release on the standard proof-of-death/ID/Bereavement Notification Form documents alone.", "source_url": "https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/ways-to-bank/i-want-some-information-about/bereavement/", "source_label": "Metro Bank — \"When someone dies | Bereavement services\"", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "metro-bank" }, { "id": "starling-bank", "institution": "Starling Bank", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 30000, "what_they_publish": "Starling will release up to £30,000 from a deceased sole customer's personal account without a grant of probate or letters of administration. Above £30,000, a grant is required. Before any grant is needed at all, Starling can also pay the funeral invoice directly to the funeral director out of the account balance.", "source_url": "https://www.starlingbank.com/faq/customer-support/bereavement/", "source_label": "Starling Bank — \"What to do when someone dies\" (Personal account tab)", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "starling-bank" }, { "id": "monzo", "institution": "Monzo", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 25000, "what_they_publish": "Monzo will release a sole account balance without a grant of probate or letters of administration provided it is below £25,000 — an indemnity form (plus ID) is required once the balance exceeds £100, but no grant. Above £25,000, Monzo additionally requires the grant of probate or letters of administration before transferring the money.", "source_url": "https://monzo.com/help/your-needs/BALANCE-TRANSFER-WHEN-A-MONZO-ACCOUNT-HOLDER-PASSES-AWAY", "source_label": "Monzo Help — Balance transfer when a Monzo account holder passes away", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "monzo" }, { "id": "revolut-uk", "institution": "Revolut UK", "publishes_a_threshold": false, "threshold_gbp": null, "what_they_publish": "Revolut's own bereavement page publishes no general amount released without a grant. Its standard document list for releasing a deceased customer's funds includes a \"Grant of Probate, Letters of Administration, or official document stating the heir or rightful person to deal with the assets\" alongside a signed Indemnity/Bereavement form — the two are asked for together, not as alternatives split by a stated sum. The Indemnity form itself refers to \"instances where a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration are required,\" implying it can sometimes substitute for a grant, but Revolut sets out no published monetary ceiling for when that applies — it reads as case-by-case discretion, not a fixed small-estate limit.", "source_url": "https://help.revolut.com/help/more/legal-topics/what-happens-to-a-revolut-account-if-the-account-holder-passes-away/", "source_label": "Revolut UK Help Centre — \"What happens if the Revolut account holder passes away?\"", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "revolut-uk" }, { "id": "chase-uk", "institution": "Chase UK", "publishes_a_threshold": false, "threshold_gbp": null, "what_they_publish": "Chase UK publishes no small-estate release figure at all. Its bereavement page lists the documents it wants — a death certificate and, notably, \"a grant of representation ... if you have one\" — which implies the grant isn't always demanded, but the page never states a balance below which funds are released without one; Chase says only that it will guide the notifier \"through every step of the process,\" leaving the account-by-account decision undisclosed.", "source_url": "https://www.chase.co.uk/gb/en/hub/bereavement/", "source_label": "Chase UK — \"What to do when someone dies\" (Hub article, updated 18 November 2024)", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "chase-uk" }, { "id": "coventry-building-society", "institution": "Coventry Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 50000, "what_they_publish": "Coventry Building Society will release money from a sole account without a grant of representation only below £50,000 (their published \"probate limit\"): with the death certificate, a signed account closure form, and ID/EID, they'll pay out balances under £50,000 without probate; £50,000 or over, they require the grant (court-sealed or certified copy) regardless of any other documents supplied — and they note they may ask for a grant at any balance if they choose.", "source_url": "https://www.coventrybuildingsociety.co.uk/member/help/member-support/register-a-bereavement/bereavement-faqs.html", "source_label": "", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "coventry-building-society" }, { "id": "yorkshire-building-society", "institution": "Yorkshire Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 50000, "what_they_publish": "Yorkshire Building Society publishes a £50,000 release threshold on sole accounts: for balances under £50,000 the executor/administrator completes a Declaration and Indemnity form (with the death certificate) and no grant is needed; for balances of £50,000 or over, a separate Closure Authority form must be completed AND a copy of the grant of representation (grant of probate, letters of administration, or Scottish certificate of confirmation) must be included.", "source_url": "https://www.ybs.co.uk/help/bereavement", "source_label": "YBS — \"Help and guidance after bereavement\" (own page, ybs.co.uk)", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "yorkshire-building-society" }, { "id": "skipton-building-society", "institution": "Skipton Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 50000, "what_they_publish": "Skipton publishes a tiered release schedule, not one flat figure. For a direct relative (spouse/civil partner, adult child or parent) acting as personal representative: balances up to £5,000 are released on an Account Closure form plus ID for the personal representative; balances over £5,000 and below £50,000 additionally need a signed Statutory Declaration (witnessed by a solicitor, commissioner for oaths, or JP) instead of a grant; at £50,000 or more, an original or certified Grant of Representation (Probate / Letters of Administration / Certificate of Confirmation) is required. Someone who is NOT a direct relative faces a lower bar: only balances up to £5,000 are released without a grant (closure form + Statutory Declaration); anything over £5,000 needs the grant regardless of size. A solicitor acting as personal representative can close any account below £50,000 with just the closure form, no Statutory Declaration. Separately, and irrespective of the account balance, Skipton will release money before a grant specifically to pay Inheritance Tax (via the HMRC Direct Payment Scheme, form IHT423), the funeral bill, or probate fees.", "source_url": "https://www.skipton.co.uk/content/dam/sbs-sites/skipton-co-uk/documents/help-and-support/extra-support/bereavement/bereavement-guide.pdf", "source_label": "Skipton Building Society — Bereavement Guide (PDF), p.13", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "skipton-building-society" }, { "id": "leeds-building-society", "institution": "Leeds Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 50000, "what_they_publish": "Leeds Building Society sets its release line at total balance held with the Society, not per account. Below £50,000: if there's a Will, they'll close the account on an Account Closure Form plus an original/certified copy of the Will OR Probate and ID for the Executor/Personal Representative signing it — Probate itself is optional; if there's no Will, only an Account Closure Form and ID for the first named Personal Representative is needed, with no Letters of Administration required. £50,000 and above always requires an original or certified copy of Probate (or Letters of Administration) and ID for each Executor, whether or not there was a Will.", "source_url": "https://www.leedsbuildingsociety.co.uk/bereavement-support/", "source_label": "Leeds Building Society — Bereavement support", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "leeds-building-society" }, { "id": "ulster-bank", "institution": "Ulster Bank", "publishes_a_threshold": false, "threshold_gbp": null, "what_they_publish": "Ulster Bank publishes no general small-estate release ceiling — no \"we'll release up to £X without a grant\" figure appears on its bereavement page. What it does publish is narrower: it will pay the deceased's final funeral bill (not an estimated one) directly from a sole account before any Grant of Representation/Certificate of Confirmation is produced, provided there are enough funds, plus a defined list of other pre-grant priority payments (probate fees, council tax, utility bills, professional/solicitor fees). Without a Grant of Representation or Certificate of Confirmation, a representative can still be added to the account \"but with limited capabilities\" — restricted to paying the final invoice and receiving payments — rather than a stated cash sum being handed over.", "source_url": "https://www.ulsterbank.co.uk/help-and-support/bereavement.html", "source_label": "Ulster Bank — \"What to do when someone dies\" bereavement guide (help-and-support/bereavement.html)", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "ulster-bank" }, { "id": "ms-bank", "institution": "M&S Bank", "publishes_a_threshold": false, "threshold_gbp": null, "what_they_publish": "M&S Bank publishes no fixed release ceiling. Its own bereavement guide says that above £5,000 in sole-name assets, probate \"may be required\" as a general industry point, but immediately adds that M&S Bank itself reviews every case individually and does not decide solely on the estate's value — so there is no stated number at which it will or won't release funds without a grant. What it does commit to, without a grant, is releasing money from accounts with an available credit balance to pay the funeral bill and directly-associated costs (flowers, the wake, repatriation if uninsured), paid straight to the funeral director. A sole-name property always needs probate before sale or transfer, whatever the account balances are.", "source_url": "https://bank.marksandspencer.com/pdf/bereavement-guide.pdf", "source_label": "M&S Bank Bereavement Guide (PDF)", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "ms-bank" }, { "id": "tesco-bank", "institution": "Tesco Bank", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 50000, "what_they_publish": "Tesco Bank (now run by Barclays under the Tesco Bank brand, following the November 2024 transfer of its retail banking business) only asks for a Grant of Probate, Letters of Administration or Certificate of Confirmation where the total value of the deceased's sole-name account(s) with them exceeds £50,000 — implying accounts at or under that combined figure can be released without a grant, though the page does not separately spell out a release process or timescale for the sub-threshold case.", "source_url": "https://www.tescobank.com/help/bereavement-support/", "source_label": "Tesco Bank — Bereavement Support (tescobank.com/help/bereavement-support)", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "tesco-bank" }, { "id": "atom-bank", "institution": "Atom Bank", "publishes_a_threshold": false, "threshold_gbp": null, "what_they_publish": "Atom Bank (an app-only savings and mortgage bank, no current accounts) publishes no small-estate release figure at all. Its FAQ answer on \"What happens when an account holder dies?\" describes only the notification process — send details, provide the death certificate, and ID if you're not a customer — with no mention of any sum released without a grant of probate/letters of administration, and no mention of a general small-estate ceiling.", "source_url": "https://www.atombank.co.uk/help/faqs/", "source_label": "Atom Bank FAQs — \"What happens when an account holder dies?\"", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "atom-bank" }, { "id": "zopa-bank", "institution": "Zopa Bank", "publishes_a_threshold": false, "threshold_gbp": null, "what_they_publish": "Zopa Bank publishes no small-estate release ceiling. Its own help article on an account holder's death states that a certified death certificate and a Grant of Probate (Grant of Confirmation in Scotland) are required before it will make \"any changes, such as early closure or withdrawals once the fixed term is complete\" — with no balance-based exception mentioned anywhere on that page or its companion bereavement-process page.", "source_url": "https://www.zopa.com/help/article/what-happens-if-the-account-holder-passes-away", "source_label": "Zopa Help Centre — \"What happens if the account holder passes away?\"", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "zopa-bank" }, { "id": "danske-bank-uk", "institution": "Danske Bank UK", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 50000, "what_they_publish": "Danske Bank UK (Northern Bank Limited, trading as Danske Bank) will release money from a deceased's sole accounts held with them without a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration provided the total held with them is under £50,000, using what they call a \"Small Estates Indemnity\", dealt with at any branch. Above £50,000 held with them, they require a Grant of Probate (where there is a Will) or Letters of Administration (where there isn't).", "source_url": "https://danskebank.co.uk/personal/help/bereavement-guide", "source_label": "Danske Bank UK — \"What to do about bank accounts when someone dies\" (bereavement guide)", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "danske-bank-uk" }, { "id": "bank-of-ireland-uk", "institution": "Bank of Ireland UK", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 50000, "what_they_publish": "Bank of Ireland UK publishes a £50,000 release ceiling: if the combined total of the deceased's Bank of Ireland UK accounts is under £50,000, funds can be released to the executor(s) or next of kin against a certified death certificate, a certified extract of the will naming the executor(s) (if there is a will), ID proof and a signed payment authorisation form — no Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration required. Once the total is £50,000 or more, a certified copy of the Grant of Probate (or Letters of Administration if there is no will) is required alongside the same documents. The page states this as \"total value of Bank of Ireland UK accounts\", not explicitly scoped to sole-name accounts, though sole-name accounts are frozen on notification while joint accounts pass by survivorship/removal of the deceased's name.", "source_url": "https://www.bankofirelanduk.com/help-and-support/extra-help-centre/bereavement/getting-started/", "source_label": "", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "bank-of-ireland-uk" }, { "id": "aib-ni", "institution": "AIB (NI) / Allied Irish Bank GB", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 25000, "what_they_publish": "AIB (NI) will release funds from a deceased customer's sole accounts, using its Small Estates Declaration and Indemnity Form, without a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration where the combined balance across all sole accounts is £25,000 or less. Above £25,000 combined, a Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration (Confirmation in Scotland) is required. The bank's own guide adds that even under the £25,000 limit, if the deceased left a Will, it still needs that Will presented (not just the small-estates indemnity route on its own). The Death Certificate and proof of ID for the Executor(s)/Next of Kin are required in all cases, including below the threshold.", "source_url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20260115110437/https://aibni.co.uk/personal-docs/help-and-guidance/Bereavement/aibni-bereavement-indemnity-form.pdf", "source_label": "AIB (NI) Small Estates Declaration and Indemnity Form (archived copy of aibni.co.uk PDF, live site blocks automated fetches)", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "aib-ni" }, { "id": "handelsbanken-uk", "institution": "Handelsbanken UK", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 20000, "what_they_publish": "Handelsbanken states that probate (or letters of administration) will be required if the deceased's Handelsbanken account held £20,000 or more — the flip side being that a sole account under that amount can be dealt with without a grant. The bank does not use the words \"release without probate\" itself; this is its own stated probate-trigger threshold, taken from its bereavement support page.", "source_url": "https://www.handelsbanken.co.uk/en/support/bereavement", "source_label": "Handelsbanken UK — Bereavement support page", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "handelsbanken-uk" }, { "id": "triodos-uk", "institution": "Triodos Bank UK", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 25000, "what_they_publish": "Triodos will release a deceased sole customer's funds to the executor/administrator on a Death Certificate alone, without needing to see a Grant of Probate, Letters of Administration or (in Scotland) a Certificate of Confirmation, provided the total value of the customer's assets held with Triodos is under £25,000. At or above £25,000 they require sight of the grant/letters/certificate before releasing funds or closing the accounts.", "source_url": "https://www.triodos.co.uk/help/supporting-you/bereavement", "source_label": "Triodos Bank UK — Bereavement support hub (FAQ: \"What are Grant of Probate, Letters of Administration, and Certificate of Confirmation documents?\")", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "triodos-uk" }, { "id": "aldermore", "institution": "Aldermore Bank", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 35000, "what_they_publish": "Aldermore publishes a clear released-without-grant ceiling for sole personal savings accounts: if the combined balance across all the deceased's Aldermore accounts is under £35,000, they'll close the account and pay out the personal representatives against a death certificate, a completed \"Administration of Small Estates Form\" and a signed Account Closure Form — no grant of probate, confirmation, or letters of administration needed. At £35,000 or more, they require the original sealed Grant of Probate/Confirmation (or Letters of Administration) plus the signed Account Closure Form. Separately, and regardless of balance, Aldermore will release money early for a funeral (against the original funeral invoice, paid directly to the funeral director) or for Inheritance Tax (via HMRC's Direct Payment Scheme, form IHT423) — these are not general small-estate releases but earmarked, no-grant-needed payments toward specific bills.", "source_url": "https://www.aldermore.co.uk/savings-accounts/personal-savings-accounts/personal-savings-help-and-support/bereavement-guide-for-personal-savings-customers/", "source_label": "", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "aldermore" }, { "id": "shawbrook", "institution": "Shawbrook Bank", "publishes_a_threshold": false, "threshold_gbp": null, "what_they_publish": "Shawbrook publishes no general small-estate release ceiling anywhere on its own site or in its savings terms. For a sole savings account, its own terms say it will \"usually\" require a grant of probate, letters of administration or certificate of confirmation before a personal representative can give instructions or receive funds — no monetary carve-out or exemption amount is stated. Shawbrook is a savings-and-mortgage-only bank (it has no current accounts), so this covers every sole holding it offers. It does separately say it can arrange to pay funeral costs directly from the account before a grant is produced.", "source_url": "https://www.shawbrook.co.uk/media/0gyhdzr3/personal-savings-tcs-120526.pdf", "source_label": "", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "shawbrook" }, { "id": "paragon-bank", "institution": "Paragon Bank", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 20000, "what_they_publish": "Paragon Bank will release savings without seeing a Grant of Probate (or Certificate of Confirmation in Scotland) as long as the customer held £20,000 or less with Paragon in total — above that, a grant is required to close the account(s).", "source_url": "https://www.paragonbank.co.uk/resources/paragonbank/documents/savings/a-guide-to-bereavement", "source_label": "Paragon Bank — \"A guide to bereavement\" (Savings), PDF PSAV0100-006 (07/2024)", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "paragon-bank" }, { "id": "investec-uk", "institution": "Investec Bank UK (Private Bank)", "publishes_a_threshold": false, "threshold_gbp": null, "what_they_publish": "Investec Private Bank publishes no small-estate release ceiling. Its own bereavement guide says that for every sole-name account it requires an original or certified copy of the Grant of Representation (probate/letters of administration) before dealing with the estate — there is no balance below which this is waived. The only funds it says it may release before a grant is issued are reasonable funeral expenses, paid directly to the funeral director against the original invoice. Joint accounts pass to the surviving holder(s) without a grant.", "source_url": "https://www.investec.com/content/dam/united-kingdom/downloads-and-documents/private-banking/investec-private-bank-help-with-bereavement.pdf", "source_label": "Investec Private Bank — Bereavement guide (PDF)", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "investec-uk" }, { "id": "coutts", "institution": "Coutts", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 50000, "what_they_publish": "Coutts publishes a general \"small estates\" release threshold of £50,000: where the value of assets held with Coutts is under that amount, the executor (or, on intestacy, the next of kin) can use the bank's own small-estates instruction form to have funds and investments released without a grant of probate, letters of administration, or (for a death abroad) a resealed/UK grant. Above £50,000 the standard \"Agreement for release of bank funds and/or investments\" route applies and, per the FAQ, a grant (or resealed grant) is required. Before any grant, Coutts will still pay a funeral invoice direct to the funeral director and can release cash (not stocks/shares if intestate) to cover an inheritance tax bill.", "source_url": "https://www.coutts.com/bereavement", "source_label": "Coutts — \"What to do when someone dies\" (bereavement page) and the linked \"Small estates - Agreement for release of bank funds and/or investments\" PDF (form ref COU92821, 10/24)", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "coutts" }, { "id": "al-rayan-bank", "institution": "Al Rayan Bank", "publishes_a_threshold": false, "threshold_gbp": null, "what_they_publish": "Al Rayan Bank publishes no general small-estate release ceiling in pounds. Its bereavement page says that for sole accounts it usually needs a Death Certificate, an executor's request to close the account, and ID/proof of address for the executor — and that \"in some cases\" it may also ask for the Grant of Probate, Letters of Administration, or the Will, implying a discretionary, undisclosed threshold rather than a published figure. Once documentation is approved, the balance is released to the executor, usually within 3–5 working days; the bank separately says it \"may be able to release funds early\" for funeral costs with supporting documents, but again gives no cap.", "source_url": "https://www.alrayanbank.co.uk/dealing-bereavement", "source_label": "Al Rayan Bank — \"Dealing with bereavement\"", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "al-rayan-bank" }, { "id": "cumberland-building-society", "institution": "Cumberland Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 30000, "what_they_publish": "Cumberland Building Society publishes a clear sole-account release threshold: below £30,000, it will close the account on a bereavement declaration alone, with no Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration/Certificate of Confirmation needed. At or above £30,000, the grant (or Letters of Administration) plus a closure instruction signed by all named Executors is required.", "source_url": "https://www.cumberland.co.uk/help-support/bereavement-support/what-happens", "source_label": "The Cumberland — Support for Bereavement: What happens to the account?", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "cumberland-building-society" }, { "id": "principality-building-society", "institution": "Principality Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 39999, "what_they_publish": "Principality publishes a three-tier balance table for closing a sole account after death. Up to £19,999, the personal representative can close the account with two forms of ID and a signed closure form — no probate. From £20,000 to £39,999, the same applies but the signed closure form must be witnessed by a solicitor — still no Grant of Probate. At £40,000 or above (or wherever Probate has already been obtained), the personal representative must produce Probate as well. So the ceiling for release without a grant is £39,999, and above £19,999 it comes with a solicitor-witnessing condition. Separately, regardless of balance, Principality says an executor may still be able to withdraw money before a grant specifically to pay funeral costs, Inheritance Tax, probate application fees and solicitor's certification fees.", "source_url": "https://www.principality.co.uk/home/contact-us/help-and-support/closing-an-account-after-someone-dies", "source_label": "Principality Building Society — \"Closing an account after someone dies\"", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "principality-building-society" }, { "id": "west-bromwich-building-society", "institution": "West Bromwich Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 30000, "what_they_publish": "West Bromwich Building Society (the West Brom) publishes a clear £30,000 line for sole accounts: if the total balance held with them is below £30,000, an executor or next of kin can close the account(s) by completing an 'Account closure form – below £30,000' (co-signed/witnessed by a solicitor, Commissioner for Oaths or Authorised County Court Official once the balance is over £5,000) with no Grant of Probate needed. Above £30,000, an 'Account closure form – above £30,000' plus the original Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration is required. The £30,000 route only holds, though, if the wider estate doesn't otherwise require a Grant of Probate — if it does, the above-£30,000 form and grant are needed regardless of the West Brom balance. Separately, and before any grant, they say funds can be released at their discretion from the deceased's sole account to cover funeral costs, probate fees or inheritance tax.", "source_url": "https://www.westbrom.co.uk/support/bereavement/", "source_label": "", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "west-bromwich-building-society" }, { "id": "newcastle-building-society", "institution": "Newcastle Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 30000, "what_they_publish": "Newcastle Building Society frames £30,000 as the trigger point, not a plain ceiling: a Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration/Certificate of Confirmation \"may\" be needed once the deceased's sole savings account(s) exceed £30,000, implying balances up to that figure can be released without one, at the Society's discretion. A grant can still be required below that figure if another bank or company has already asked for probate, or if a mortgage is held in the deceased's sole name.", "source_url": "https://www.newcastle.co.uk/help-and-support/bereavement", "source_label": "Newcastle Building Society — \"Bereavement: Support and guidance for managing accounts with us\"", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "newcastle-building-society" }, { "id": "nottingham-building-society", "institution": "Nottingham Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 50000, "what_they_publish": "Nottingham Building Society publishes a tiered release scale rather than a single ceiling. Sole-account balances (plus accrued interest) of £5,000 or less can be closed with an indemnity closure form alone; balances from £5,001 up to and including £50,000 also use an indemnity closure form, but it must be witnessed by a solicitor or commissioner for oaths. Above £50,000 combined across all accounts, they require sight of a grant of probate or letters of administration and a withdrawal form — so £50,000 is the top figure released without a grant.", "source_url": "https://www.thenottingham.com/contact-us/bereavements", "source_label": "Nottingham Building Society — Bereavements (contact-us/bereavements)", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "nottingham-building-society" }, { "id": "progressive-building-society", "institution": "Progressive Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 50000, "what_they_publish": "Progressive Building Society will close a sole account and release the balance without a Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration for estates up to £50,000, but the paperwork tightens in two steps within that ceiling: under £5,000 needs only the completed Bereavement form plus a death certificate; £5,000–£50,000 needs the same form additionally witnessed by a solicitor. Above £50,000 the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration is required. Separately, before any grant, they will release funds from the account to pay the funeral bill, the probate court fee, and inheritance tax directly to HMRC, against original invoices/the IHT423.", "source_url": "https://theprogressive.com/support/general-support/bereavement", "source_label": "Progressive Building Society – Bereavement Support & Guidance", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "progressive-building-society" }, { "id": "cambridge-building-society", "institution": "The Cambridge Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 20000, "what_they_publish": "The Cambridge splits sole accounts into three bands. Up to £500, the account is simply closed on production of the death/interim death certificate plus a signed withdrawal form and two forms of ID — no probate and no statutory declaration needed. Between £500 and £20,000, funds can still be released before a grant of probate/letters of administration, but only via a witnessed Statutory Declaration form (Solicitor or Commissioner for Oaths), which carries its own fee. At £20,000 and above, a grant of probate or letters of administration is required before funds are released.", "source_url": "https://www.cambridgebs.co.uk/more/help-centre/faqs-and-guides/additional-support/life-events/bereavement-guide-for-savings", "source_label": "", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "cambridge-building-society" }, { "id": "saffron-building-society", "institution": "Saffron Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 15000, "what_they_publish": "Saffron Building Society will close a deceased member's sole savings account without a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration provided the closing balance is £15,000 or under (a Death Certificate, or Certificate of the Fact of Death, is required in all cases); above £15,000 they require the Grant before releasing the funds.", "source_url": "https://www.saffronbs.co.uk/sites/default/files/2021-11/Bereavement%20guide%20-%20final%20%283%29.pdf", "source_label": "Saffron Building Society — Bereavement Support Guide (PDF), p.3 \"Additional information required — Savings customers\"", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "saffron-building-society" }, { "id": "furness-building-society", "institution": "Furness Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 30000, "what_they_publish": "Furness will release a sole account without a Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration up to £30,000, but only where the claimant is the deceased's spouse, civil partner, parent or child (Furness's own definition of \"beneficiary\" on this page) — proved instead by a statutory declaration, ID and a withdrawal form. Above £30,000, or where the claimant does not fit that relationship list, the original Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration is required. Note: the same page's \"if you are not the beneficiary\" section lists the Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration as a required document even for balances under £5,000 — an apparent inconsistency in Furness's own published wording that a bereaved executor outside that four-relation list should be aware could apply to them regardless of balance.", "source_url": "https://www.furnessbs.co.uk/bereavement-support/", "source_label": "Furness Building Society — Bereavement Support", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "furness-building-society" }, { "id": "hinckley-rugby-building-society", "institution": "Hinckley & Rugby Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 15000, "what_they_publish": "Hinckley & Rugby publishes a clear two-tier release ladder for sole accounts, with no grant needed up to £15,000 combined balance. Under £250 combined (excluding joint accounts), Personal Representatives claim by completing and signing a simple Declaration and Indemnity Form. Between £250 and £15,000 combined, they need a Statutory Declaration and Indemnity Form signed in front of, and witnessed by, a solicitor or Commissioner of Oaths. Above £15,000 combined, the Society will only release funds once it receives the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration — though even above that threshold it will release money early specifically to cover funeral expenses or a tax demand, paid directly to the funeral director or to HMRC/the Probate Registry.", "source_url": "https://www.hrbs.co.uk/bereavement/", "source_label": "Hinckley & Rugby Building Society — Bereavement page", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "hinckley-rugby-building-society" }, { "id": "darlington-building-society", "institution": "Darlington Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 30000, "what_they_publish": "Darlington Building Society will release a sole-name account WITHOUT a Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration provided the total held is £30,000 or less. Under £1,500, the household simply completes the Society's own 'Indemnity Closure' form (or 'Intestacy Indemnity Closure' form if there is no will). Between £1,500 and £30,000, the same indemnity form must additionally be signed by a solicitor confirming the claimant is rightfully entitled to the proceeds. Above £30,000, a Grant of Probate (or Letters of Administration) is required before the account is closed.", "source_url": "https://www.darlington.co.uk/being-a-member/member-support/bereavement/", "source_label": "Darlington Building Society – \"Bereavement\" guidance page (Being a Member → Member Support)", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "darlington-building-society" }, { "id": "melton-building-society", "institution": "The Melton Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 20000, "what_they_publish": "The Melton publishes a tiered small-estate release ladder in its own \"Guide to Bereavement\" PDF, keyed to the total balance across the deceased's accounts with the Society. Below £20,000, a Statutory Declaration form (banded \"less than £500\" or \"£500.01 to £20,000\") stands in for a Grant, whether or not there was a will. At £20,000 and above, a Grant of Representation (Probate) or Letters of Administration is required before the account/s closure form can be actioned. So £20,000 is the ceiling below which The Melton will close/release sole balances on a Statutory Declaration alone, without sight of a grant.", "source_url": "https://www.themelton.co.uk/tmbs-content/uploads/2025/01/Guide-to-Bereavement-0824.pdf", "source_label": "Melton Building Society — Guide to Bereavement (PDF), p.2, \"Savings Account Closure Requirements\" table", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "melton-building-society" }, { "id": "marsden-building-society", "institution": "Marsden Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 15000, "what_they_publish": "Marsden Building Society will close sole savings accounts without a grant, provided the combined balance across all the deceased's sole accounts is under £15,000 and a solicitor-witnessed Personal Indemnity Form is provided. Above £15,000 (after allowable deductions), the money is held until a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration is produced.", "source_url": "https://www.themarsden.co.uk/files/savings/other-downloads/bereavement-guide.pdf", "source_label": "Marsden Building Society — Bereavement guide (PDF), linked from \"What to do when a loved one passes away\"", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "marsden-building-society" }, { "id": "tipton-coseley-building-society", "institution": "Tipton & Coseley Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 15000, "what_they_publish": "The Tipton publishes a three-tier release scale for sole accounts, keyed to statutory declaration rather than a single flat ceiling. Up to £5,000, executors/next of kin can release funds with just a statutory declaration form plus two forms of ID each (no solicitor witness needed) — cash for balances under £2,500, cheque above. Between £5,000 and £15,000, the same statutory declaration route applies but must be witnessed by a solicitor or Commissioner of Oaths, and funds are released by cheque only. Above £15,000, the Society requires the original Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration — no discretionary release above that line. Before any hold-release, they will also pay funeral invoices, funeral supplier invoices (flowers, order of service, wake catering), probate/statutory-declaration fees, and HMRC inheritance tax (via IHT423) directly from the frozen account regardless of balance.", "source_url": "https://www.thetipton.co.uk/bereavement-support-for-our-members/", "source_label": "", "checked": "2026-09-24", "page": null, "institution_id": "tipton-coseley-building-society" }, { "id": "monmouthshire-building-society", "institution": "Monmouthshire Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 35000, "what_they_publish": "Monmouthshire Building Society will release funds from a sole (individual) account without seeing a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration for balances up to £35,000: under £1,000 using its own \"MBS Small Estates Indemnity form\", and from £1,000.01 up to £35,000 using a statutory declaration instead. Only balances of £35,000.01 and over require the original Grant of Representation.", "source_url": "https://www.monbs.com/help-and-support/bereavement-support/bereavement-savings/", "source_label": "Monmouthshire Building Society — \"Bereavement Savings\" page", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "monmouthshire-building-society" }, { "id": "newbury-building-society", "institution": "Newbury Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": false, "threshold_gbp": null, "what_they_publish": "Newbury Building Society does not publish a general small-estate balance below which sole-account funds are released without sight of a grant of probate/letters of administration. Its bereavement page and guide instead name three specific purposes for which it will allow a withdrawal from a deceased's savings account before a grant is produced — funeral expenses, the HMRC inheritance tax bill, and the Court of Probate fee — each against an original invoice, rather than a general sum released at the bank's discretion. For full closure of a sole account it asks whether a grant of probate or letters of administration will be sought, which implies a statutory-declaration route may apply in some cases, but no threshold amount is stated anywhere on the page or in the guide.", "source_url": "https://www.newbury.co.uk/news-knowledge/help-and-support/bereavement-support/", "source_label": "Newbury Building Society — Bereavement support page", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "newbury-building-society" }, { "id": "dudley-building-society", "institution": "Dudley Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 15000, "what_they_publish": "Dudley Building Society publishes a tiered release table for a deceased member's sole savings accounts, based on the total aggregate balance held: up to £1,000 needs only a Letter of Indemnity; from £1,000 up to and including £15,000 needs a Statutory Declaration Form (sworn before a Solicitor or Commissioner for Oaths); above £15,000 they require a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration. So the release-without-a-grant ceiling is £15,000, reached via a Statutory Declaration rather than automatically.", "source_url": "https://d1la6kc2zx90wr.cloudfront.net/dudleybuildingsociety/media/dudley-building-society/documents/mortgage%20documents/bereavement-guidance.pdf", "source_label": "Dudley Building Society — Bereavement Guidance (PDF, linked from the \"Bereavement Support\" savings page)", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "dudley-building-society" }, { "id": "leek-building-society", "institution": "Leek Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 30000, "what_they_publish": "Leek Building Society will release funds from a sole account without a Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration where the total balance held across the deceased's accounts is £30,000 or less. A Bereavement Closure Form must be completed by the Personal Representative(s); for balances of £1,500 or less it is witnessed by a Leek Building Society Branch Manager, and for balances over £1,500 up to £30,000 it must instead be witnessed by a Solicitor or Commissioner for Oaths. Above £30,000 — or at any balance if the documents are needed to settle the estate — Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration is required regardless.", "source_url": "https://www.leekbs.co.uk/content/images/page/files/Bereavement%20Advice%20Leaflet%202023%20WEB%20v006.pdf", "source_label": "", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "leek-building-society" }, { "id": "mansfield-building-society", "institution": "Mansfield Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 20000, "what_they_publish": "Mansfield publishes a clear small-estate ceiling of £20,000 across an investor's sole savings accounts. Below that figure the executor/next of kin does not need a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration at all — they use Mansfield's own \"small claims form\" instead, with the process split by exact balance and channel: under £5,000 can be settled in branch with 2 forms of ID; £5,000–£20,000 (or anything £0–£20,000 done by post) needs the same small claims form but it must additionally be witnessed by a solicitor, JP or Commissioner of Oaths. Once the combined balance exceeds £20,000, Mansfield requires the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration before it will release funds.", "source_url": "https://www.mansfieldbs.co.uk/download/20750/?tmstv=1708429570", "source_label": "\"Guidance Following Bereavement of a Savings Account Holder\" (Mansfield Building Society PDF, dated May 2026), linked from mansfieldbs.co.uk/bereavement-support/", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "mansfield-building-society" }, { "id": "market-harborough-building-society", "institution": "Market Harborough Building Society", "publishes_a_threshold": true, "threshold_gbp": 25000, "what_they_publish": "Market Harborough Building Society publishes a general small-estate release threshold of £25,000: if the value of all the deceased's sole accounts held within the Society (including accrued interest to the date of death) is £25,000 or under, no Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration is needed to close them. Above £25,000 a grant is required. There is a separate, lower cross-institution trigger: if a grant is already being obtained for any other institution or reason and the sole-account holdings at MHBS exceed £1,000, the Society will still require the grant before closing accounts even though the £25,000 threshold itself is not breached.", "source_url": "https://mhbs.co.uk/savings-information/deceased-member/", "source_label": "Market Harborough Building Society — \"Deceased Member\" bereavement support page", "checked": "2026-09-06", "page": null, "institution_id": "market-harborough-building-society" } ] }