How to notify TSB when someone dies

Dealing with a loved one’s bank accounts is one of the first practical tasks after a death – and for most families, it needs to happen fairly quickly. TSB has a dedicated bereavement team and several ways to get in touch, including an online form if you’d rather not call. This guide walks you through the full process: the right phone number, what documents to have ready, what happens to different types of account, and when you’re likely to need probate.

Quick reference:

• Phone: 0345 835 7834 (Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm)
• Email: ESUCustomerCare@tsb.co.uk
• Online: tsb.co.uk – bereavement support
• In branch: any TSB branch
• Mortgages: 0345 835 5404 (Monday–Friday, 8am–7:30pm; Saturday, 8am–12:30pm)
• Loans, overdrafts, credit cards: 0345 609 9283 (Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm; Saturday, 9am–1pm)

How to notify TSB of a death

TSB offers four ways to make the initial notification: by phone, online, by email, or in any branch. You do not need every document before you start – TSB can take initial details and follow up on paperwork separately.

By phone – Call 0345 835 7834 to reach TSB’s specialist bereavement team. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. This is the fastest way to speak to someone, and if you have questions about a specific account or want to discuss next steps, it is usually easier than navigating the online forms.

Online – TSB uses DocuSign forms rather than a standard web form. There are three separate forms depending on your role:

• Non-customers notifying TSB (you are not a TSB customer yourself)
• Customers notifying TSB (you hold a TSB account – this version may include a Government ID verification step)
• Legal representatives (solicitors or executors acting formally on behalf of the estate)

All three are accessible via the TSB bereavement page at tsb.co.uk. You will need a smartphone or tablet with a camera for the photo ID verification step if you use the customer version, plus an email address and the ability to upload a scan or photograph of the death certificate.

By email – You can also contact the bereavement team at ESUCustomerCare@tsb.co.uk. Email is better suited to straightforward queries or follow-ups than the initial notification.

In branch – Any TSB branch can handle the notification. Take your death certificate and photo ID with you. Branch staff will take you through the process and escalate to the specialist team where needed.

The Death Notification Service

If the deceased held accounts at more than one bank, the Death Notification Service (deathnotificationservice.co.uk) is worth using. It is a free service that lets you notify TSB and multiple other participating banks in a single form. You will still need to deal with TSB directly to close accounts and transfer funds, but it handles the initial notification across all participating institutions at the same time – saving you from making the same call repeatedly.

What to tell TSB when you get in touch

For the initial contact, you will need:

• The deceased’s full name, date of birth, and address
• The date of death
• TSB account details if you have them (sort code, account number, or card number)
• Your name, your relationship to the deceased, and your contact details

What documents you’ll need

TSB requires two categories of document: proof of the death, and proof of your identity. Depending on the size of the estate, you may also need legal documents before funds can be released.

Proof of death:

• The original death certificate from the register office, or a certified copy
• An interim death certificate (issued by the coroner) is accepted in cases where the full certificate is delayed – for example, if there has been an inquest

Proof of identity:

• By phone or email: TSB will verify your identity using security questions
• Online or in branch: photo identification – a passport or driving licence is standard
• If you are acting as a legal representative, TSB has a dedicated DocuSign form and will require evidence of your authority to act

Additional documents (where applicable):

You do not need everything before you start. TSB can accept partial documentation and follow up for the rest – particularly useful if you are waiting for a death certificate while a coroner’s inquest is under way.

What happens to TSB accounts

How TSB treats an account after a death depends on whether it was held in one name or two.

Sole accounts

When TSB is notified of a death, a sole account is secured immediately. This means:

• The account is frozen – no money goes in or out
• Debit cards and cheque books are cancelled
• Any standing orders or direct debits from the account stop

This is a protective measure. It prevents money leaving the account before the estate is properly administered and protects against fraud.

What about direct debits and standing orders? Once a sole account is frozen, any direct debits set up from that account will fail. If the deceased had utility bills or other services coming out of that account, those organisations will need to be contacted separately. If you are a surviving partner or family member dealing with these services, most will be understanding – but you will need to set up alternative payment arrangements promptly to avoid disruption.

Releasing funds from a sole account: Once TSB has verified the death and confirmed legal authority – whether through a grant of probate, letters of administration, or in simpler cases a signed indemnity – they can transfer the balance to the estate or to those entitled under the will or intestacy rules. See the probate section below for more detail.

Joint accounts

Joint accounts work differently. When one account holder dies, the account does not freeze. The surviving account holder retains full access and can continue to use the account as normal. The balance passes automatically to the survivor under the right of survivorship.

TSB should still be notified of the death, so the deceased’s name can be removed from the account and the records updated. The surviving account holder should call 0345 835 7834 or visit a branch with the death certificate to do this.

ISAs

Individual Savings Accounts held by the deceased are treated differently from current accounts. TSB will close the ISA and include the balance in the estate. The tax-free ISA status does not transfer to a beneficiary.

However, if the deceased was your spouse or civil partner, you may be entitled to claim an Additional Permitted Subscription (APS) allowance. This allows the surviving spouse or civil partner to subscribe an extra amount into their own ISA – equal to the value of the deceased’s ISA – without it counting against their own annual ISA allowance. This is a time-limited allowance and must be applied for. TSB’s bereavement team can provide details.

Credit cards

If the deceased held a TSB credit card, the outstanding balance becomes a debt of the estate. TSB will advise on the balance and the process for settling it. If the deceased was an additional cardholder on someone else’s TSB credit card, that additional card will be cancelled – but the primary cardholder’s account is not affected.

Mortgages

If the deceased had a TSB mortgage, contact the mortgage team on 0345 835 5404 (Monday–Friday, 8am–7:30pm; Saturday, 8am–12:30pm). The process depends on whether the mortgage was held in one name or jointly, and whether there is life insurance that covers it. TSB will discuss the options and can pause payments temporarily in some circumstances while the estate is being dealt with.

Probate and when you’ll need it

Probate is the legal process that gives you authority to deal with a deceased person’s estate. In England and Wales, this produces a grant of probate (if there is a will) or letters of administration (if there is no will). In Scotland, the equivalent is confirmation, obtained from the Sheriff Court.

Does TSB require probate?

TSB does not publish a fixed probate threshold on its website. Whether they require a grant before releasing funds depends on the circumstances – primarily the total balance held across TSB accounts and the complexity of the estate.

For smaller estates, TSB may release funds without probate, using a signed indemnity form to protect themselves legally. For larger estates, or where the situation is more complex, a grant of probate or letters of administration will almost certainly be required before funds are released.

Our advice: contact TSB’s bereavement team directly and ask them what they require for this specific estate. Do not assume a threshold applies based on figures quoted online for other banks – each bank sets its own rules, and TSB’s threshold is not publicly confirmed. For general background on when probate is required, see our guide to do I need probate?.

Small estates

Where the estate is small and straightforward – a modest savings balance, no property, and no dispute about who is entitled – banks sometimes agree to release funds on the strength of a death certificate and a signed indemnity, without requiring a formal grant. TSB handles this case by case. It is worth asking explicitly whether this is possible for the estate you are dealing with.

How to obtain probate

If TSB does require probate, our guide to how long does probate take explains the process and typical timescales. The short answer is that straightforward probate in England and Wales currently takes three to six months from application to grant – though the Probate Registry is subject to delays.

TSB has a partnership with Farewill, which offers a probate service for England and Wales. This is available to executors and administrators dealing with TSB accounts. TSB can provide details – but you are not obliged to use it, and may prefer to use a solicitor or apply yourself through the Probate Registry.

How long does the process take?

For straightforward cases – a sole account with a modest balance, death certificate provided, no probate required – TSB aims to respond within a week if they need any additional documentation. In practice, fund transfers for simpler estates are often completed within two to four weeks of notifying TSB.

Where probate is required, the timeline extends significantly. The grant of probate process itself typically takes three to six months (see our probate timeline guide), after which TSB can begin releasing funds. Once probate is granted and documents submitted to TSB, processing generally takes one to two weeks.

What causes delays?

• Waiting for a full death certificate (when an inquest is ongoing, an interim certificate is available but some processes require the full certificate)
• Probate application backlogs at the Probate Registry
• Complex estates – multiple accounts, overseas assets, or disputes about entitlement
• Missing documents – TSB will write to you if something is outstanding, and the one-week response window refers to this notification, not completion

Things to watch out for

TSB uses DocuSign, not a standard web form. The online process requires a smartphone or tablet for ID verification in some cases. If you – or the person dealing with the estate – is not comfortable with this, calling or going in branch is simpler.

Joint accounts still need notifying. Even though a joint account is not frozen, TSB still needs to be told so that the deceased’s name is removed and the account records are updated. This is also important for the estate valuation – the account balance on the date of death may be needed for inheritance tax purposes.

The Farewill partnership is optional. TSB promotes Farewill on their bereavement pages. Farewill is a legitimate probate service, but you are not required to use it. You can apply for probate yourself through the GOV.UK Probate Registry or use any solicitor of your choice.

Keep a note of what you’ve told them. TSB will give you a reference or case number when you make the initial notification. Keep it. Every subsequent contact should reference this number to avoid repeating yourself.

Funeral costs can be paid directly. If you have a final funeral invoice and want TSB to pay the funeral director directly from the deceased’s account (before the estate is fully administered), TSB can do this – but only from a final invoice. Estimated bills are not accepted. This is a useful provision; it means funeral costs do not have to come out of your own pocket while you wait for the estate to be settled.

If there is debt in the account. TSB will provide information about any outstanding loans, overdrafts, or credit card balances. These become debts of the estate and are settled before anything is distributed to beneficiaries. TSB will not chase you personally for these unless you were a joint borrower. For detailed guidance on what happens to bank accounts when someone dies, including how debt is handled, see our dedicated guide.

Summary

Notifying TSB after a death is straightforward once you know the right contact. The specialist bereavement team is available on 0345 835 7834 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm), or you can use the online DocuSign form or visit any branch. TSB will freeze a sole account on notification, provide guidance on balances and debt, and release funds once legal authority is established.

For the full picture of what needs doing after a death – banks, utilities, government departments, and more – see our guide to what to do when someone dies.

Source: TSB – what to do when someone dies. Last verified March 2026.