What to do when someone dies

An executor account is an account which allows the executor(s) to gather payments due to the deceased's estate before being distributed to the beneficiaries, such as the proceeds from the sale of a house.

This type of account also allows payments to be made on behalf of the deceased, such as a payment for maintenance of a house belonging to the deceased's estate.

What steps do I need to take to open an executor account?

Firstly you will need to open an everyday bank account. You can do this online. Available to UK residents aged 18 or over. Lending criteria, terms and conditions apply.

Once the account is open you can complete an Executor(s)/Administrator(s) Account mandate form in order to change the account to an executor account. Once completed, take this in to your local branch with the deceased’s will and the grant of probate/certificate of confirmation (if this isn't obtained yet you can still proceed, but with restrictions on the account), a form of photo identification and proof of address. 

Providing there are sufficient funds, we are able to pay the Final Funeral Bill (this does not cover estimated bills) from the deceased's sole account(s). 

If you would like this to happen, you can supply a funeral bill to one of our team.

If the deceased had a joint account, we’ll transfer it to the name of the other person once we’ve seen the death certificate and completed a review of any joint facilities.

If our customer had joint accounts and the remaining customer is registered for text alerts, they may receive a text message advising of a change of address a few days after notifying us. This is because we're updating our records and there's nothing you need to do if this happens.

You can find more information on dealing with a deceased person's money and property, including help with inheritance tax, on this nidirect.gov.uk page.

You will require photo ID and proof of address, such as a utility bill or bank statement. You will also need the death certificate.

Review the full list of required documentation outlined further up this page.

We want to support you through this time. If you are an existing customer our service Banking My Way allows you to record information about the support or adjustments you need to make banking easier.

You can let us know of any additional support you may need to ensure all our colleagues are aware of this. The information will be shared on our internal systems and therefore you will not need to repeat these requirements every time you interact with us.

You can find out more about the service and how to register via the Banking My Way information pages on our website.

We can help you during this difficult time by guiding you through the process of dealing with a bereavement within your Business and giving you relevant support. Visit our business bereavement page for more information.