1. First steps
From registering the death to dealing with the person’s financial affairs, we’ll support you at every step.
Bereavement
How we can help and support you
Dealing with the financial affairs of someone close to you when you’re grieving is never easy. We hope our guide will help you through this difficult time.
What to do when someone dies
We’re here to give you practical guidance and support you every step of the way.
2. Letting us know
Choose how you prefer to let us know about someone’s death. We’ll explain what to do at each step – and you can even provide the documents we need using our online notification form.
3. Financial and emotional support
You’re not alone – we’ll guide you through the practicalities, and let you know about ways to get further help.
Things to remember
Book an appointment
If you’d like to come and see us, you can book a time that suits you at any of our branches.
Book a video appointment
If you’d prefer to speak to someone face to face, you can make a video appointment for a time that suits you, rather than visiting us in person.
During the video call, we’ll let you know which documents we’ll need and how you can send them to us, either online or by post.
Your personal reference number
We’ll give you a personal reference number beginning with BRV – please keep it handy and mention it when contacting us.
Balancing the accounts
If the deceased has loans, overdrafts or a Barclaycard with us, we’ll recover what they owe from their existing account(s).
Power of attorney
Once a person dies, powers of attorney set up on their account may cease to exist.
Contact us
Phone
You can call us on 0800 068 22381 (option 2) to speak directly to a dedicated adviser from our bereavement team.
Post
You can write to us at
Bereavement Service Centre
Barclays Bank UK PLC
Leicester
LE87 2BB
If you have a personal reference number, beginning with BRV, please add it to any pages you send us.
Useful reading
Bereavement guide
Here’s a pdf that you can download and print for reference, as you go through the process of notifying us and closing accounts.
Definition of terms
Check our glossary for an explanation of any legal terms you’re unfamiliar with.
Questions and answers
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Please be reassured that you’ll be able to continue with your day-to-day banking. Once you’ve notified us of the person’s death, we’ll change the account to your name only.
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If the deceased has any loans or overdrafts with us, or a Barclaycard, we’ll recover what they owe from their current account before releasing any remaining money to the executor or administrator of the estate.
If there isn’t enough money in the account to pay off everything the deceased owes, we may ask our bereavement partner, Philips & Cohen, to add the debt to the deceased’s estate. Phillips & Cohen is the UK’s only dedicated deceased account management business, offering support and guidance to help resolve outstanding accounts.
If you’ve any more questions about this, please contact our bereavement team on 0800 068 22381 (option 2) and speak to a dedicated adviser.
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If they died on or after 6 April 2018, any cash ISAs will remain open until their personal representatives close the ISA as part of their administration of the estate, or for a maximum of three years from the date of death, whichever is earlier.
As a spouse or civil partner, you can make use of the ISA allowance that has built up, which is called the Additional Permitted Subscription (APS).
For more information on this and to obtain an application form, please see our APS ISAs page.
