How to tell Santander UK that someone has died: the bereavement phone number, online options, documents you'll need and what happens next. Calm, step-by-step UK guidance.
Losing someone is hard enough without a pile of admin on top. This page explains, in plain steps, how to tell Santander UK that someone has died, what they will ask for and what happens next.
You can notify Santander UK by phone or using an online bereavement form. You do not need every document ready before you get in touch. Tell them first, and they will explain exactly what to send and at what pace.
If the person banked with more than one provider, the free Death Notification Service lets you tell Santander UK and other members in a single submission at deathnotificationservice.co.uk. The records are updated and the team gets in touch within about ten days.
Once Santander UK has what it needs, it will freeze the accounts, stop any cards and explain how the money is dealt with. Santander usually needs a grant of probate or letters of administration when the person’s sole accounts total more than £50,000. Below that it can often release the money without one. Joint accounts usually pass to the surviving holder rather than counting towards this. Timescales vary, so ask the bereavement team what to expect for your situation.
Do I need probate to close a Santander UK account?
Santander usually needs a grant of probate or letters of administration when the person’s sole accounts total more than £50,000. Below that it can often release the money without one.
Can I notify Santander UK and other banks at once?
Yes. Santander UK is a member of the free Death Notification Service, so you can notify it and other member banks in one submission at deathnotificationservice.co.uk.
Who can report the death?
Anyone can make the first contact. Santander UK can only release money to the person entitled to deal with the estate, usually the executor named in the will or the next of kin.
Last reviewed June 2026. Details such as phone numbers and thresholds can change, so please confirm with Santander UK on its official page before you act. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.
Source: https://www.santander.co.uk/personal/support/bereavement
