How to Deal With a Chip Account After Someone Dies in the UK

How to Deal With a Chip Account After Someone Dies in the UK

If someone who has died used Chip, the first thing to know is that the process is not the same as dealing with a high street bank. Chip is app-based, and its bereavement process is handled directly by its support team rather than through branches.

In most cases, the executor or a solicitor should contact Chip by email, provide the key documents, and wait for the account to be restricted before any money is released or transferred.

What makes Chip different?

Chip is not a traditional bank with a branch network. It offers app-based savings and investment products, and some customers may also hold Chip shares or pay for a ChipX membership.

That matters, because after a death you may be dealing with more than one type of product:

• cash savings
• a Cash ISA
• investment products
• a pension
• Chip shares
• paid membership fees

The safest approach is to pause, identify exactly what the person held, and then contact Chip with one clear pack of information.

Who should contact Chip?

Chip says the executor of the estate or a solicitor should contact it directly. The contact route published by Chip is hello@getchip.uk.

If you are a family member but you are not the executor, it is usually better to coordinate with the person who is legally handling the estate before contacting the provider. That helps avoid duplicate requests and delays.

What information Chip asks for

Chip says it may ask for:

• the deceased person's full name
• their email address
• their phone number
• a copy of the death certificate
• a copy of the will or letters of administration
• proof of ID for the executor
• proof of address for the executor

If a solicitor is contacting Chip, the firm may also need to provide a Law Society ID or SRA number.

Chip's published guidance also says that if the total holdings exceed £10,000, it will require probate or letters of administration before releasing funds.

That threshold is important. If you are still at the early stage of the estate administration process, it can change the order you tackle things in.

What happens once Chip is notified?

According to Chip's bereavement guidance, once it is informed of the death it will restrict the account immediately. In practical terms, that means:

• no further deposits
• no further withdrawals
• no ongoing self-managed activity in the app

If the person was paying for ChipX, Chip says it will also stop the monthly membership fee.

That is useful because it prevents avoidable charges building up while the estate is being sorted out.

What to do before you send documents

Before emailing Chip, gather a short checklist:

1. Confirm who is acting as executor or administrator.
2. Check whether there is a will.
3. Find any evidence of the person's Chip products.
4. Make a note of whether the estate is likely to need probate.
5. Keep scanned copies of the documents you send.

If you are using a tool like GetPassage to keep track of post-death admin, this is a good task to log early so nothing gets missed.

What if the person held savings, investments or a pension?

Not every Chip account is the same. Some people may only have held cash savings, while others may have used investment or pension products.

That matters because the next step may depend on what sits inside the account:

• cash can usually be released or transferred once Chip's checks are complete
• investments may need valuation and administration before transfer
• pension benefits may follow nomination and beneficiary rules rather than simply falling into the estate

If you are unsure, ask Chip to confirm which products are held and what document path applies to each one.

What if the person held Chip shares?

This is one of the clearest ways Chip differs from a standard savings provider.

Chip says that if the deceased held Chip shares, it can facilitate a transfer of those shares to a beneficiary or to the estate, but it cannot facilitate their sale or exchange as part of the bereavement process.

That means the key question is not only “how do I close the account?” but also “what exactly is being transferred, and to whom?”

If shares are involved, ask for written confirmation of:

• what shares are held
• whether they will transfer to the estate or directly to a beneficiary
• what documents are needed for that transfer
• whether any further valuation or legal steps are required

A simple step-by-step process

1. Gather the legal documents

Start with the death certificate, the will if there is one, and the executor's ID and proof of address.

2. Identify the Chip products involved

Try to confirm whether the person held cash only, an ISA, investments, a pension, shares, or multiple products.

3. Contact Chip directly

Email hello@getchip.uk and explain that the account holder has died. Ask Chip to confirm the exact documents required for that account.

4. Wait for the account to be restricted

Chip says it will restrict the account once notified. That helps prevent further movement of money.

5. Provide any follow-up paperwork promptly

If the estate is above Chip's threshold, probate or letters of administration may be needed before money is released.

6. Keep a written record

Save copies of every email, attachment, and response. This makes it easier if you need to update other family members or a solicitor later.

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming Chip works like a branch bank

It does not. There is no branch visit route, and the process is built around direct contact with support.

Contacting too early without the key details

A rushed email with no account details and no legal documents can create back-and-forth when you are already under pressure.

Forgetting about product differences

A cash balance, a pension, and shares may each need slightly different treatment.

Missing the probate threshold

If the total holdings exceed the level Chip allows for informal release, you may need to pause and wait for formal authority.

When to ask for extra help

If the estate is complicated, there is no will, or multiple fintech and investment accounts are involved, it may be worth asking a probate solicitor for advice. Chip itself suggests getting professional help if you are unsure about the documentation.

That can feel like an extra burden, but it is often cheaper than making a mistake and having to unwind it later.

Final thought

Dealing with a Chip account after someone's death is usually manageable, but it works best when you treat it as a structured admin task rather than an ordinary bank closure. Gather the paperwork, contact the right team, and confirm exactly what type of product you are dealing with before you push ahead.

One small, organised step at a time is enough. That is how most bereavement admin gets done.