Do banks charge to close an account after death?

Normally no. Some investment providers charge a dealing or transfer fee, which is an estate expense.

Process · 4 min read

How long do banks take to release funds after probate?

Most banks pay out within two to six weeks of receiving the grant. Almost every delay comes from an incomplete form or a mismatch in the paperwork, not from the bank's queue.

Written and reviewed by Ramani Gill, Founder & CEO — Solicitor, TEP, BA, LLM. Last reviewed 2026-08-19.

Typical timescales

Holder	Usual time after the grant
High street current or savings account	2 – 4 weeks
Building society passbook account	2 – 5 weeks
NS&I Premium Bonds and savings	4 – 8 weeks
Investment platform or stockbroker	4 – 8 weeks
Life insurance policy	2 – 6 weeks after full claim forms

What actually causes delays

The name on the grant does not exactly match the name on the account
The bank's own closure form has not been completed and signed by every executor
The estate account you have nominated is in one executor's sole name and the bank objects
A joint account has been reported as a sole account, or the reverse
The photocopy sent was not a sealed copy of the grant

The fastest approach

Send a sealed copy of the grant, the bank's own completed closure form, and a covering letter listing every account number and the exact payment destination. Ask for written confirmation of the closing balance and interest.

Doing this yourself?

Our guided service walks an executor through valuations, the HMCTS forms and the estate accounts for a one-off £349.

Check if I can do probate myself

If a bank goes quiet

Chase in writing after 14 days, quoting your bereavement case reference
Ask for the case to be escalated to the bereavement team leader after 28 days
Make a formal complaint after eight weeks; the Financial Ombudsman Service can then look at it

GOV.UK — Distributing the estate

Common questions

Do banks charge to close an account after death?: Normally no. Some investment providers charge a dealing or transfer fee, which is an estate expense.

Not sure whether this estate is straightforward?

The free suitability checker asks about jurisdiction, disputes and complexity, and tells you in a few minutes whether a self-help route is sensible — or whether you should speak to a solicitor. No account needed.

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