Closing bank accounts on behalf of survivor

[Deleted User]

Can't she just write to them and ask them to close it? I had to write to Halifax to close an a current account even though I'd opened it online, and they sent me a closing statement by post.

Newly_retired

 Maybe your father was very MSE savvy and opened several bank accounts
a) to spread money within FSCS limits for safety
b) to take advantage of various switch offers. Some have rules about keeping the account for a certain period, or having direct debits to qualify.

My husband has recently died and I have been able,  through Lloyds Bereavement Service,  to provide the necessary documents to get the accounts frozen and to open one with them in my sole name, and ask them to transfer the balances into my new account. I am expecting statements and lists of DDs and SOs through the post within 30 days. So far, so good.
RBS and Santander have been equally easy to deal with over the phone or online. It is much harder dealing with other companies, the ones with DDs or Subscriptions on his accounts, however. One company promised a refund, but to his now frozen account, so I don’t know what happens there.

I would strongly advise everyone who does not use online banking to have another trusted person authorised to access their account online.

sheramber

Can you not register your mother for online banking  for the accounts?

bunnygo

if you have the power of attorney, use it - I don't see why there would be any need to involve solicitors. Get it scanned to make an electronic copy, and if you only have the original then get a couple of certified copies; they aren't expensive outside London.

It is hassle but you can then use the POA to get online access to the accounts in your name, perfectly legitimately. And if there is more than 85k involved it must be with different banking licences, we are in difficult times. You can get over 4% interest on cash savings now.

bunnygo

BTW I've been through this with both Natwest and Barclays. Barclays needed to see me in branch (not my parent) although it helped that I was already a customer. I wasn't a customer of Natwest, their POA department are more than a bit slow but it does get done. Again they will need to see you, your ID and the power document in branch but it is just to make copies.

boingy

If the accounts are now current accounts solely in your mother's name then maybe using the Current Account Switching Service is an option, the advantage being that all the work is done by the receiving bank and any Direct Debits and Standing Orders are transferred across automatically.  It's all sorted in less than two weeks. I'd suggest opening a new online account with a sensible bank and trying a transfer of one of the accounts. Just check that the banks are part of the CASS:
Banks & building societies signed-up to the Current Account Switch Service