How to close a deceased person’s account
05/02/2026
When a bank account holder dies, it is normal for doubts and conflicts to arise about the funds in the account and transactions.
To avoid misunderstandings, the first step always is to find out whether the account was individual or joint and, if joint, what each account holder could do, i.e. whether the account was set up on an “any-to-sign” or “all-to-sign” basis.
This distinction is essential because it determines what transactions can be carried out (cash withdrawals, setting up direct debits, etc.), who can continue to use the account and what authorisations must be provided by the surviving joint owners and heirs.
A deceased person’s account can be closed (unless otherwise stipulated in the account contract) both on the initiative of the bank itself and at the request of the other surviving joint holders and/or heirs, as follows:
- If the bank decides to close the account on its own initiative, it must give at least two months’ notice, to the heirs in the case of individual accounts or to the surviving joint holders and heirs in the case of joint accounts.
- Closing the account at the request of the heirs and/or surviving holders will require the consent of all the heirs in the case of individual accounts and of the joint holders and heirs in that of joint accounts.
If the closure is delayed for reasons attributable to the bank, in accordance with good banking practice, it should not charge any maintenance fees during the delay.
Don’t forget that banks will only remove the deceased person’s name from the account once the probate process has concluded, a procedure you must carry out with the bank after having paid the corresponding inheritance tax.
