How to Notify first direct After a Death in the UK

How to Notify first direct After a Death in the UK

If someone who used first direct has died, you can notify the bank online, by phone, through the Death Notification Service, or via an HSBC branch. In many cases, first direct will freeze sole accounts, transfer joint accounts to the survivor, and ask for documents before releasing funds.

The process can feel overwhelming, especially when you are juggling funeral arrangements and other admin. This guide explains what usually happens, what first direct may ask for, and how to avoid common delays.

How to tell first direct that someone has died

first direct says you can notify it in four main ways:

• by using its online bereavement form
• by calling its Bereavement Support Team
• through the Death Notification Service
• in person via an HSBC branch

The Death Notification Service can be useful if you are contacting several banks and building societies at once. But if you need urgent access to funds for a funeral or inheritance tax, it is often sensible to contact first direct directly as well.

What details you should gather first

Before you start, it helps to have:

• the full name, date of birth and last address of the person who died
• their first direct sort code or account details, if you have them
• your own contact details
• a copy of the death certificate or interim certificate if one has been issued
• details of whether there is a will
• the name of the executor or the nearest relative dealing with the estate

You do not need to solve everything before making contact. The key first step is simply making sure the bank knows about the death.

What documents first direct may ask for

first direct’s bereavement guidance says the exact documents depend on the account and the balance involved. Common requests include:

• the death certificate or coroner's / interim certificate
• identification for the person dealing with the estate
• a closure or authority form for releasing money
• probate documents if needed later

If you are not already a first direct customer, the bank may ask for proof of identity and address before discussing or closing the account.

What usually happens to sole accounts

When first direct is told about a death, it will usually freeze sole accounts. That means regular outgoing payments such as direct debits and standing orders should stop, and most incoming payments will also stop apart from things like refunds.

This is meant to protect the estate, but it can create practical issues if bills for an occupied property are still due. Make a list of essential payments quickly so you can work out what needs to be handled from estate funds and what needs to be moved into someone else's name.

What happens to joint accounts

Joint accounts are usually treated differently from sole accounts. first direct says a joint account will normally pass into the sole name of the surviving account holder once it has the death certificate.

That can be a relief because day-to-day banking can continue. But it is still worth checking:

• whether any direct debits need updating
• whether savings products linked to the joint account are treated separately
• whether there are credit cards, loans or overdrafts in only one name

Does first direct always require probate?

Not always. first direct publishes thresholds that suggest it may release money without a grant in some cases:

Situation	Published threshold before legal grant may still be needed
Estate with a will	Up to £50,000
Estate without a will	Up to £25,000
Joint account	Usually no probate for the joint balance alone

These figures are useful, but they are not a guarantee. The bank can still ask for probate or letters of administration if the case is more complicated.

Can first direct release money for funeral costs?

Usually, yes, if there is enough money in the account. first direct says it may release funds directly to pay:

• funeral invoices
• funeral-related reimbursements with receipts
• inheritance tax to HMRC using form IHT423

If you need this, ask about it early. Funeral directors are used to dealing with banks after a death, so do not be afraid to request an invoice addressed clearly for the bank's bereavement team.

What if the person who died owed money?

Debts do not normally disappear when someone dies, but they are paid from the estate rather than personally by family members, unless a debt was joint or separately guaranteed.

first direct says a specialist partner may contact the estate if there is an overall debit balance. That does not automatically mean you personally owe the money. It usually means the estate has to settle valid debts before beneficiaries receive their share.

If you are unsure, take it slowly and avoid paying anything from your own money unless you are clear why you are doing it.

A simple step-by-step checklist

1. Notify first direct

Use the online form, phone line, HSBC branch or Death Notification Service.

2. Ask what happens to the specific accounts

Check whether there are sole accounts, joint accounts, savings products, loans or credit cards.

3. Send the death certificate and ID if requested

Do this promptly, because the bank usually cannot move forward without it.

4. Ask whether urgent funds can be released

This matters if you need to pay funeral costs or inheritance tax.

5. Confirm whether probate will be needed

If there is a will, ask whether the balance is within the bank's published limit. If there is no will, ask what evidence of authority is needed.

6. Keep notes of every conversation

Write down dates, names and what was agreed. It saves time later.

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming the Death Notification Service solves everything

It can save time, but it does not replace provider-specific follow-up when money is needed urgently.

Forgetting linked borrowing

A current account may not be the only product. Ask specifically about loans, credit cards, savings and any other accounts.

Distributing money too early

Do not treat released funds as inheritance until debts, tax and estate costs have been checked.

Missing proof-of-identity requests

These can slow everything down if the representative is not an existing customer.

Where GetPassage can help

When you are dealing with several organisations at once, the hardest part is often keeping track of forms, deadlines and who asked for what. A tool like GetPassage can help you keep those tasks, notes and documents in one place so the admin feels less scattered.

Final thought

first direct does have a dedicated bereavement route, and that helps. The main thing is to notify the bank early, ask what products are involved, and get clarity on whether money can be released before probate.

If anything feels unclear, ask the bank to explain the next step in plain English. That is not a nuisance. It is part of doing the job properly at a difficult time.