Dealing with a loved one’s finances after a death is rarely straightforward, but Monzo’s bereavement process is more flexible than many traditional banks. Unlike high-street banks, Monzo is app-only with no branches – but they do have a dedicated phone line, an online form, and a specialist Life Events team who handle bereavement cases. This guide walks you through the process step by step: how to notify them, what documents you’ll need, what happens to the account and any Pots, and how the process differs if there was a joint account or outstanding borrowing.
Quick reference:
- Phone: 0800 802 1281 (UK) or +44 203 872 0620 (from abroad)
- Online form: monzo.com/bereavements
- Email: bereavements@monzo.com
- Probate required if: sole account balance exceeds £25,000
- Timeline: around 5 working days once all documents are received
Source: Monzo bereavement support, last verified May 2026.
How to notify Monzo of a death
Monzo offers three ways to notify them of a bereavement. You do not need to be the next of kin – anyone can make the initial notification.
Option 1: Online form (recommended) Fill in the form at monzo.com/bereavements. You’ll be asked for the deceased’s name, email address, phone number, and account number if you have it. You don’t need all these details to start – share what you can and the team will work with you.
Option 2: Phone Call 0800 802 1281 (free from UK mobiles and landlines). If you’re calling from abroad, use +44 203 872 0620. Monzo’s Life Events team handles all bereavement calls.
Option 3: Email Send details to bereavements@monzo.com. This works well if you prefer written communication or are dealing with multiple organisations at the same time.
| Contact method | Details |
|---|---|
| Online form | monzo.com/bereavements |
| UK phone | 0800 802 1281 |
| International | +44 203 872 0620 |
| bereavements@monzo.com |
Once Monzo receives your notification, they’ll freeze the account and their Life Events team will guide you through the next steps.
No branches – what that means in practice
Because Monzo is app-only, there’s no branch to visit and no in-person appointments. For most people this makes no practical difference – you can notify them online or by phone, and everything else is handled digitally. The one area where it can complicate things is if the deceased’s phone was their primary means of identity verification. Monzo uses the app as a two-factor authentication device; if no one has access to it, the Life Events team can still process the bereavement – just let them know the situation when you make contact.
Documents you’ll need
The documents Monzo requires depend on the account balance. You don’t need to have everything before you start – notify Monzo first, and they’ll tell you exactly what to submit.
Proof of death:
- Death certificate (a clear scan or photo is accepted; the original is not required)
- If the certificate is not in English, a professional translation must be provided
Proof of your identity (one of the following):
- Passport
- Driving licence
- Other government-issued photo ID
Indemnity form: Required if the account balance is over £100. Monzo will send you this form after notification. It can be completed by the next of kin, a third-party representative with the next of kin’s consent, or a solicitor.
Grant of probate or letters of administration: Only required if the account balance exceeds £25,000. If the deceased left a will, you’ll need the grant of probate. If they died without a will (intestate), you’ll need letters of administration. Source: Monzo balance transfer guidance, last verified May 2026.
| Account balance | Documents needed |
|---|---|
| Under £100 | Death certificate, proof of your ID, destination bank account details |
| £100–£25,000 | Death certificate, proof of your ID, completed indemnity form |
| Over £25,000 | Death certificate, proof of your ID, indemnity form, grant of probate or letters of administration |
If you need certified copies of the death certificate for multiple organisations, they cost £11 each in England and Wales – order them from the register office when you register the death. See gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate.
What happens to the account and Pots
Sole accounts
When Monzo receives notification of a death, they will freeze the sole account. Direct debits, standing orders, and card payments stop. If any of those payments covered shared household bills – utilities, insurance, council tax – you’ll need to contact those providers and arrange new payment methods. Monzo’s freezing of the account is automatic once they’re notified.
Any outstanding debt (loans, overdraft, or Flex balance) is recovered from the estate before the remaining funds are released.
Monzo Pots
Savings Pots held by the deceased close automatically as part of the bereavement process. Any money held in Pots is returned to the main Monzo account, and then released to the next of kin along with the rest of the account balance. You do not need to do anything separately for Pots – they are handled as part of the same process.
Monzo Plus and Monzo Premium subscriptions
If the deceased had a Monzo Plus or Monzo Premium account (paid subscription plans), the membership terminates as part of the account closure. Monzo corrects any recent automated subscription fees that were charged close to the date of death. You do not need to cancel the subscription manually – it is handled by the Life Events team.
Monzo Flex (buy now, pay later)
If there is an outstanding Monzo Flex balance, the Life Events team will discuss repayment options with you. Like any other debt, Flex balances are a liability of the estate – they are repaid from estate funds before beneficiaries receive anything. If the estate has insufficient funds, Monzo’s team can discuss the options. Source: Monzo bereavement support, last verified May 2026.
Accounts for under-16s
If the deceased was the adult account holder linked to a Monzo under-16 account, that account will be closed as part of the process.
Joint accounts
If the deceased held a joint Monzo account with another person, the process is different from a sole account. The joint account remains open after the death is notified, and the surviving account holder retains full access to the funds in it. The money is legally theirs.
Steps for the surviving joint account holder:
- Notify Monzo via the form or phone so they can update the account to your name only
- Move funds to your sole account at your own pace
- Review any direct debits and standing orders – those set up in the deceased’s sole name will be cancelled; check nothing essential has been missed
- Rearrange any payments that need to continue
Important: Any joint debt (for example, a joint overdraft) becomes the sole responsibility of the surviving account holder after the other holder dies. Source: Monzo: what happens to a joint account when someone dies, last verified May 2026.
Joint accounts do not count towards the £25,000 probate threshold – that threshold applies only to sole accounts.
Probate and the £25,000 threshold
Probate (or, in Scotland, confirmation) is the legal process that gives an executor authority to manage and distribute an estate. Monzo’s threshold for requiring probate is lower than most high-street banks.
If the sole account balance is £25,000 or less, Monzo can release funds without probate – using an indemnity form instead (for balances over £100).
If the sole account balance exceeds £25,000, you will need to provide either:
- A grant of probate (if the deceased left a valid will), or
- Letters of administration (if the deceased died without a will)
Source: Monzo balance transfer guidance, last verified May 2026.
Monzo’s £25,000 threshold matches Chase UK, and is notably lower than major high-street banks such as Barclays (£50,000), HSBC (£50,000), Lloyds (£50,000), and Nationwide (£50,000). Of the major digital banks, Starling has a lower threshold of £10,000 and Revolut lower still at £5,000. If the deceased held accounts at multiple institutions, probate requirements will vary by bank – check each one individually.
If you need to apply for probate, you can do so yourself through the government service at gov.uk/applying-for-probate, or use a solicitor or probate specialist.
How long does it take?
Once Monzo has everything they need from you, the transfer to the nominated account typically takes around 5 working days. Source: Monzo balance transfer guidance, last verified May 2026.
The main variable is how quickly documents can be gathered and submitted:
| Situation | Typical timeline |
|---|---|
| Under £100 balance – ID only needed | A few working days once ID provided |
| £100–£25,000 – indemnity form required | 5 working days once form and ID received |
| Over £25,000 – probate required | 5 working days after grant of probate received (probate itself typically takes 16 weeks: gov.uk) |
| Joint account – name update | A few working days after notification |
Monzo’s Life Events team will follow up if they need anything else, and will keep you updated on progress.
Things to watch out for
No branches means no in-person visits. Unlike NatWest, Halifax, or other high-street banks, there’s no branch to walk into with a death certificate. Everything goes through the form, phone, or email. For most people this is fine; just be aware of it if the deceased’s next of kin is not comfortable with online forms.
Two-factor authentication on the app. Monzo uses the app as a verification tool. If the deceased’s phone is unavailable, locked, or the login details are unknown, this won’t prevent Monzo from processing the bereavement – but mention it when you contact them so the team knows not to send verification requests to the deceased’s device.
The £25,000 probate threshold is lower than high-street banks. This catches some families by surprise. If the deceased kept modest savings in Monzo – say, £30,000 – you’ll need probate even though the same sum at Barclays or HSBC would not require it.
Funeral payments can be made directly. Monzo can send payment directly to a funeral director from the deceased’s account, even before the estate is formally settled, provided you submit the final invoice (estimates are not accepted). This can ease cash-flow pressure during a difficult time – ask the Life Events team about this specifically.
You can notify Monzo via Settld. If you’re dealing with a lot of organisations at once, Monzo can be notified through Settld (settld.care), a free service that lets you report a death to multiple banks and institutions in one process. Note that Monzo is not a member of the Death Notification Service (deathnotificationservice.co.uk) – if you use that service, you will still need to notify Monzo separately. Either way, you’ll deal with Monzo directly to complete the account closure and balance release.
Outstanding Flex debt is the estate’s liability. Flex (Monzo’s buy now, pay later product) is a credit facility, and any outstanding balance must be repaid from the estate. Beneficiaries do not inherit personal liability for the deceased’s debts, but those debts are settled before the estate is distributed.
Summary
To notify Monzo after a bereavement, use the form at monzo.com/bereavements, call 0800 802 1281, or email bereavements@monzo.com. Monzo’s probate threshold is £25,000 – lower than most traditional banks – so have that figure in mind when gathering paperwork. Once Monzo has all the documents they need, the balance transfer takes around 5 working days.
Key contacts:
- Form: monzo.com/bereavements
- Phone: 0800 802 1281
- Email: bereavements@monzo.com
What to have ready:
- Death certificate (scan or photo is fine)
- Your own photo ID
- Indemnity form (Monzo sends this – required for balances over £100)
- Grant of probate or letters of administration (only if balance exceeds £25,000)