How to Notify Close Brothers Savings After a Death in the UK

How to Notify Close Brothers Savings After a Death in the UK

If the person who died held savings with Close Brothers Savings, you should notify Close Brothers before trying to move money, close accounts or use funds for estate costs. Close Brothers has a dedicated bereavement process and may need different documents depending on the balance, the will and whether probate is required.

This guide explains how to contact Close Brothers Savings, what documents may be needed, and what to ask about funeral expenses, inheritance tax and fixed-rate bonds.

Quick answer

You can tell Close Brothers Savings about a death by calling 020 3857 3050 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm excluding bank holidays, emailing savings.bereavements@closebrothers.com, or writing to Close Brothers Savings, 10 Crown Place, London, EC2A 4FT. If possible, have the customer number or postcode to hand.

What to do before contacting Close Brothers

You do not need to have the whole estate sorted before making the first notification. The first step is simply to tell Close Brothers that the customer has died and ask what they need next.

Gather what you can:

• the deceased person’s full name and address
• their Close Brothers customer number, if available
• account details or product paperwork
• the date of death
• an original or official copy of the death certificate
• the will, if there is one
• your contact details and relationship to the deceased person
• details of the executor or administrator, if known

If you cannot find the account details, do not delay. Close Brothers says a customer number or postcode is helpful, but the team can guide you on what is needed.

How to notify Close Brothers Savings

Close Brothers lists three notification routes.

Route	Details
Phone	020 3857 3050, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, excluding bank holidays
Email	savings.bereavements@closebrothers.com
Post	Close Brothers Savings, 10 Crown Place, London, EC2A 4FT

If you email, do not send unnecessary sensitive documents until Close Brothers confirms what they need and how they want to receive it. If you post original or official copies, use a tracked service and keep copies for your records.

What documents might Close Brothers ask for?

Close Brothers’ bereavement guidance explains that document requirements depend on the circumstances. Common requests include proof of death, the will, executor details and bank details for where money should eventually be paid.

Where the total value of accounts with Close Brothers Savings is less than £20,000, Close Brothers says a Grant of Representation is not needed. In that situation, its public guidance says it needs:

• the original death certificate or an official copy
• the original or official copy of the last will and testament
• an indemnity form signed by all executors
• evidence of the bank account the funds will be paid into

For higher balances or more complex estates, Close Brothers may require a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration before releasing funds.

What if probate is needed?

Probate is the legal authority that allows an executor to deal with the estate when there is a will. If there is no valid will, the equivalent process is usually letters of administration. In Scotland, the process and terminology differ; the relevant authority is confirmation.

Close Brothers says that once it has been told about the death and has received an original or official copy of the death certificate, it will send a valuation letter and an executor’s instruction form. These can help the executor apply for probate and complete estate paperwork.

If you are using a solicitor, the solicitor can apply for probate and contact Close Brothers directly about the deceased person’s deposits. If you are handling the estate yourself, you can apply through GOV.UK where probate is required in England and Wales.

What happens if a fixed-rate bond matures?

Fixed-rate savings products can create a timing problem. The account may mature before probate has been granted.

Close Brothers says that if a Fixed Rate Bond matures before it receives the Grant of Probate, it will move the balance into a temporary account in the deceased customer’s sole name while it waits for the required documents. The interest rate for that temporary account should be shown in the valuation letter.

Ask Close Brothers to confirm:

• the maturity date
• whether the bond has already matured
• where the money will sit while probate is pending
• the interest rate on any temporary account
• what documents are needed before funds can be returned

Close Brothers’ guidance says it is not able to transfer ownership of this type of account.

Can Close Brothers release money for funeral costs?

Close Brothers says it may be able to release money from an account to support funeral expenses. Its guidance says it needs all three of the following:

• an original or official copy of the death certificate
• an original or official copy of the will
• a funeral invoice or receipt

These documents can be sent by post to Close Brothers Savings at 10 Crown Place, London, EC2A 4FT.

Before relying on this, check directly with Close Brothers. Funeral invoices often have payment deadlines, and each estate is different. If the funeral has already been paid by a family member, ask whether reimbursement is possible and what evidence is required.

Can savings be used to pay inheritance tax?

Sometimes inheritance tax needs to be paid before probate can be granted. Close Brothers says it can release funds to HMRC for inheritance tax where the correct paperwork is supplied, including a completed IHT423 form, an inheritance tax reference number and the original or official copy of the last will and testament.

Do not guess this step. If inheritance tax might be due, get guidance from HMRC, a solicitor or a probate professional. Paying tax from estate funds is possible in some cases, but the paperwork needs to be right.

Questions to ask on the first call

Use the first call to pin down the process:

• What accounts or products did the person hold?
• What is the total balance for probate purposes?
• Do you need probate, letters of administration or confirmation?
• Will you send a valuation letter?
• Are any fixed-rate products due to mature?
• Can funds be released for funeral costs or inheritance tax?
• What forms do executors need to sign?
• How long are documents taking to process?
• Will original documents be returned?

Write down the answers and keep them with the estate file.

Avoid these common mistakes

Do not assume all banks use the same probate threshold. Close Brothers’ under-£20,000 process is specific to Close Brothers Savings guidance and may change. Always confirm it for the account in front of you.

Do not send the only official death certificate unless you know how and when it will be returned. Several organisations may need official copies, so it is often worth ordering more than one.

Do not treat estate money as personal money. Even if you are a close relative, savings normally belong to the estate until the right person has authority to distribute them.

How GetPassage can help

GetPassage can help you keep a list of financial organisations, documents sent, probate requirements and follow-up dates. That reduces the chance of missing a savings account or losing track of who has the death certificate.

Final checklist

Before moving on, make sure you have:

• notified Close Brothers Savings of the death
• confirmed the account value and product type
• asked whether probate or letters of administration are required
• requested a valuation letter if needed
• checked whether funeral expenses or inheritance tax payments can be made from the account
• kept copies of all forms and correspondence
• recorded the next action and expected timescale

Close Brothers’ bereavement team exists to guide you through the process. Use it early, and keep the paper trail simple.