Sorting out a loved one’s bank accounts is one of the first practical tasks after a death. Other organisations often ask whether the bank has been told, and direct debits from the deceased’s account may still be going out. This guide explains how to notify Bank of Scotland step by step: the right phone number, what documents to have ready, what happens to the accounts, and when you are likely to need probate.
Quick reference:
- Phone: 0800 161 5904 (9am–5pm, Monday–Friday, excluding bank holidays)
- Online: Bank of Scotland bereavement notification form
- Probate required if: sole accounts total more than £50,000
- Part of Lloyds Banking Group – notifying Bank of Scotland can also update Halifax, Lloyds Bank, and other group companies
How to notify Bank of Scotland of a death
Bank of Scotland offers three ways to make the initial notification: online, by phone, or in branch.
Online form – The Bank of Scotland bereavement notification form lets you start the process at your own pace. You do not need every document to hand before you begin – the form accepts the basic details first and you can provide supporting documents separately.
By phone – Call the Bank of Scotland Bereavement Service on 0800 161 5904. Lines are open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. If you need to speak to someone about executor accounts or you are dealing with a mortgage or other lending product, ask to be transferred to the Bereavement and Power of Attorney Unit.
In branch – Any Bank of Scotland branch can accept the initial notification. If you are an existing Bank of Scotland customer, bring your debit card. If you are not a customer, bring two forms of identification.
| Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Online form | bankofscotland.co.uk – bereavement notification |
| Phone | 0800 161 5904, 9am–5pm, Mon–Fri (exc. bank holidays) |
| In branch | Any Bank of Scotland branch; take ID with you |
| Death Notification Service | deathnotificationservice.co.uk – free, notifies multiple banks at once |
The Death Notification Service is worth using if the deceased held accounts at more than one bank. It lets you notify multiple participating institutions through a single free form. You will still need to deal with Bank of Scotland directly to settle accounts and release funds, but the DNS handles the initial notification across all participating banks simultaneously.
What to tell Bank of Scotland when you get in touch
For the initial contact, you will need:
- The deceased’s full name, usual address, and date of birth
- The date of death
- Account details if available (sort code, account number, or card number)
- Your name, relationship to the deceased, and contact details
You do not need every document before you start. Bank of Scotland can log the notification and follow up on supporting documents separately.
Does one notification cover Halifax and Lloyds?
Bank of Scotland is part of Lloyds Banking Group – the same parent company as Halifax, Lloyds Bank, Scottish Widows, Clerical Medical, MBNA, and Birmingham Midshires. When you notify Bank of Scotland of a death, the bank will pass the information to other group companies provided the deceased held accounts or products with them.
This means a single notification to Bank of Scotland may cover multiple group institutions. Confirm with the bereavement team which group companies they have updated. Do not assume all group accounts have been captured without asking.
If the deceased held accounts primarily with Lloyds Bank or Halifax, you can notify those brands directly instead and they will cover Bank of Scotland through the group process. See our guides to notifying Lloyds Bank and notifying Halifax.
What documents you’ll need
Bank of Scotland requires two categories of documentation: proof of death and proof of your identity.
Proof of death – one of the following:
- Original death certificate from the register office
- Interim death certificate issued by a coroner
- Coroner’s certificate (where the full certificate is delayed)
Proof of your identity:
- By phone: Bank of Scotland verifies identity through security questions – no documents are needed to start the conversation
- In branch: your Bank of Scotland debit card if you are a customer; or two forms of ID (such as a valid passport or driving licence alongside a utility bill or council tax statement) if you are not a customer
If you are dealing with several organisations at the same time, it is worth ordering several certified copies of the death certificate from the register office. In Scotland, copies cost £10 each from the National Records of Scotland (NRS). In England and Wales, each copy costs £11 – see gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate. Keep originals safe and send certified copies wherever possible.
If the estate requires probate (or confirmation in Scotland), Bank of Scotland will also ask for the grant of probate (if there is a will) or letters of administration (if there is no will). In Scotland this is called a certificate of confirmation.
| Document | When needed |
|---|---|
| Death certificate (original or certified copy) | Always |
| Proof of your identity | Always |
| Grant of probate or letters of administration | If sole accounts exceed £50,000 |
| Certificate of confirmation (Scotland) | If sole accounts exceed £50,000 and estate in Scotland |
| Passbooks, debit/credit cards, cheque books | When closing or transferring accounts |
Source: Bank of Scotland bereavement information and Bank of Scotland bereavement form, last verified May 2026.
What happens to the accounts
Sole accounts
When Bank of Scotland is notified of a death, any accounts held solely in the deceased’s name are frozen. This means:
- All cards are cancelled
- Cheque books are cancelled
- Direct debits and standing orders are stopped
- Interest charges and fees are halted
- The balance is held until the estate is settled
The freezing happens quickly after notification. If any household bills – council tax, utilities, broadband, insurance – were being paid from the deceased’s sole accounts, you will need to contact those providers separately and arrange alternative payments.
Any outstanding overdraft, personal loan, or credit card balance on the deceased’s account does not disappear. It becomes a debt of the estate and must be repaid from estate funds before any remaining balance is released to beneficiaries. Personal representatives are not personally liable for these debts, but they reduce what the estate ultimately passes on.
Cases involving a mortgage, loan, or overdrawn account are typically handled by Bank of Scotland’s Bereavement and Power of Attorney Unit. The bereavement team will transfer the case there during your initial contact.
Joint accounts
Joint accounts work differently. When one account holder dies, the surviving account holder automatically becomes the sole owner of the account and the money in it. Bank of Scotland updates the account to the surviving holder’s name.
Direct debits and standing orders on joint accounts are not automatically cancelled – they continue as before. No probate is required for a joint account to pass to the surviving holder.
Savings accounts and ISAs
Savings held in the deceased’s sole name are frozen along with current accounts. Bank of Scotland will include them in the estate administration process.
For ISAs, the surviving spouse or civil partner may be entitled to an Additional Permitted Subscription (APS) – this allows them to make a one-off additional ISA contribution equal to the value of the deceased’s ISA, preserving the tax-free status of those savings. Ask the bereavement team about this if it applies. See gov.uk guidance on ISAs after death for full details.
Mortgages
If the deceased held a Bank of Scotland mortgage, the Bereavement and Power of Attorney Unit handles this separately. They will need details of any life insurance policy held against the mortgage, as this may clear the outstanding balance. Contact them to discuss the options and next steps for the property.
Probate and the £50,000 threshold
Probate (or confirmation in Scotland) is the legal process that gives an executor formal authority to deal with an estate. Bank of Scotland requires it above a certain balance.
If sole accounts total more than £50,000, Bank of Scotland will ask for one of:
- A grant of probate (if there is a will)
- Letters of administration (if there is no will)
- A certificate of confirmation (in Scotland)
If sole accounts total £50,000 or less, Bank of Scotland may be able to release funds without probate using a small estates process. The bereavement team will confirm whether this applies during your initial contact.
Joint accounts do not count towards this threshold – they pass to the surviving holder automatically and sit outside the estate.
Source: Bank of Scotland bereavement form and LBG group bereavement documentation, last verified May 2026.
For guidance on whether probate applies to a particular estate and how to apply, see gov.uk/applying-for-probate or call the Probate Service helpline on 0300 303 0648. In Scotland, confirmation is handled through the local Sheriff Court – see our guide to applying for probate for full details.
The same £50,000 threshold applies at Halifax and Lloyds Bank, reflecting the LBG group-wide policy.
How long does it take?
The timeline depends on the complexity of the estate.
| Situation | Typical timeline |
|---|---|
| Joint accounts only | Updated within a few days of notification |
| Sole accounts, no probate needed | Several weeks once documents are received |
| Sole accounts, probate required | Several weeks after grant of probate is received |
| Full estate administration | Typically 9–12 months overall |
The most common cause of delay is incomplete documentation. Providing the death certificate and any probate documents as soon as they are available keeps the process moving. Once Bank of Scotland has everything it needs, processing moves through their internal teams.
If the estate is complex – multiple accounts, a mortgage, or contested executorship – it may take considerably longer. A solicitor can help manage the process if you are dealing with a large or complicated estate.
Things to watch out for
Sole account direct debits stop immediately. When Bank of Scotland freezes the account, any direct debits or standing orders on it stop. Work out which bills were coming from which account before you call – utilities, council tax, subscriptions, and insurance can all be affected.
The Lloyds Banking Group link is useful – but confirm it. Notifying Bank of Scotland can cover Halifax, Lloyds Bank, Scottish Widows, and other group companies in a single step. However, do not assume the group notification has been applied to every entity without asking the bereavement team to confirm which companies have been updated.
Bank of Scotland is separate from Royal Bank of Scotland. Despite the similar names, Bank of Scotland (part of Lloyds Banking Group) and Royal Bank of Scotland (part of NatWest Group) are entirely separate institutions. Notifying one will not notify the other – check which bank the deceased used.
Scotland-specific rules may apply. If the deceased was a Scottish resident and the estate is being administered under Scots law, confirmation from the Sheriff Court replaces the grant of probate used in England and Wales. Bank of Scotland is well-versed in this distinction; mention it to the bereavement team if relevant.
Outstanding debts are settled from the estate. Overdrafts, personal loans, and credit card balances are repaid from estate assets before beneficiaries receive anything. Personal representatives do not inherit personal liability, but debts reduce the estate’s value.
You can use the Death Notification Service. If the deceased held accounts at multiple banks, the free DNS (deathnotificationservice.co.uk) can notify them all simultaneously – saving separate calls to each institution. You will still need to deal with Bank of Scotland directly to release funds.
Summary
To notify Bank of Scotland after a death, use the online notification form or call 0800 161 5904 (9am–5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays). You can begin with just the deceased’s name, address, and date of death – documents can follow.
Probate is required if sole accounts total more than £50,000. For estates below that figure, Bank of Scotland can typically release funds through a small estates process.
If the deceased also held accounts with other Lloyds Banking Group companies – Halifax, Lloyds Bank, or Scottish Widows – one notification to Bank of Scotland may cover them all. Ask the bereavement team to confirm which group entities have been updated.
For guides to other UK banks, see our pages on notifying Lloyds Bank, notifying Halifax, notifying Barclays, notifying NatWest, and notifying Nationwide. For an overview of how bank accounts are handled after a death, see what happens to a bank account when someone dies.