The Estate Desk

Last verified 2026-10-29; facts checked against the primary sources below

How to close a bank account after someone dies

Last verified: October 29, 2026

The short answer: Who closes the account depends on how it was owned. A surviving joint owner keeps the account and the bank takes the name of the person who died off it; a named payable-on-death beneficiary claims the money with a death certificate; a solely owned account with no beneficiary is closed by the executor or administrator with court letters, or by the person using the state's small-estate affidavit (Bank of America; Wells Fargo). Every bank asks for a death certificate first.

Anyone can tell the bank about the death. The bank will share account details and take instructions only from someone with authority, such as the executor, administrator or the estate's attorney (Chase).

Who can close the account, and what does the bank need?

How the account was owned Who acts What the bank asks for Goes through the estate?
Joint, with right of survivorship The surviving owner A copy of the death certificate and an updated signature card. At Wells Fargo, the survivor can bring ID and the death certificate to a branch No
Joint, without survivorship The surviving owner, and the estate for the share of the person who died The death certificate, plus estate documents for the deceased owner's share Yes, for that share
Payable on death (POD), transfer on death (TOD) or in trust for (ITF) The named beneficiary The death certificate and the bank's Letter of Instruction form No
Held in a trust's name The successor trustee A certification of trust naming the successor trustee No
Sole owner, no beneficiary The executor or administrator, or the person entitled under a small-estate affidavit Court-issued letters testamentary or letters of administration, or a small-estate affidavit that meets the law of the state where the person lived Yes

Sources: Bank of America Estate Services guide; Wells Fargo Estate Care Center; CFPB.

Most joint accounts carry rights of survivorship, but the account agreement decides it. You can read the agreement or ask the bank (CFPB). POD, TOD and ITF money passes straight to the named beneficiaries at the owner's death (FDIC), so the will does not control it.

What are the steps, in order?

Step What to do Why
1 Find every account: statements, mail, tax forms and the checkbook You cannot close what you have not found. See how to find a deceased person's accounts
2 Tell each bank about the death, with the person's full legal name and Social Security number The bank uses them to find the accounts (Bank of America). Writing instead? See the death notification letter
3 Before the bank stops autopays, move the ones that protect property, such as homeowners insurance and utilities Banks can cancel automatic payments once notified (Bank of America)
4 Send the death certificate and the document that matches the account's ownership, from the table above Nothing moves without them
5 For a sole account in probate, open an estate account with the estate's own tax ID (EIN) Wells Fargo requires the appointment papers and an EIN to open an estate account (Wells Fargo)
6 Tell the bank where to send the money, on its Letter of Instruction Bank of America uses this form to confirm where and how to pay out a sole account (Bank of America)

Do not use the card, write checks or sign in as the person who died. Only the joint owner, beneficiary or appointed representative has authority over the money. What the bank does on notice is covered in can a bank freeze an account after death.

What if there is no will?

The account still closes the same way. With no will, the court appoints an administrator and issues letters of administration instead of letters testamentary (Bank of America). If the estate is small enough, the state's small-estate affidavit may replace court letters. Each state sets its own limit and waiting period; the bank freeze guide lists California, Florida, Texas and New York, each checked against the state's law.

How do the largest banks handle it?

Bank How to report the death Published details Source
Bank of America Online at bankofamerica.com/estateservices, 888-689-4466 (weekdays 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET), or a financial center Allow ten business days to review documents. Mail: Estate Servicing Operations, PO Box 31655, Tampa, FL 33631-1655 Bank of America
Wells Fargo Online form, Estate Care Center 1-888-790-7980 (weekdays 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET), or a branch Closing by mail needs a notarized Letter of Instruction sent to Estate Care Center, D1118-02D, PO Box 71208, Charlotte, NC 28201-1245 Wells Fargo
Chase Anyone can report the death; Chase then explains next steps by account type A legible photocopy of the death certificate may be accepted, but a certified copy may be required Chase

Every other bank publishes its own route. See the guides for Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, PNC, Navy Federal and all institution guides.

Frequently asked questions

Is the money still insured after the owner dies?

Yes, for a time. The FDIC insures a deceased owner's accounts as if the owner were still alive for six months after the death (12 C.F.R. 330.3(j)) (FDIC).

What happens to Social Security deposits made after the death?

Federal benefit payments stop once the bank is notified. Payments received after the date of death are returned to the government, and no money leaves the account until that review is complete (Bank of America). See the Social Security payment for the month of death.

Does the family have to pay a credit card linked to the account?

See do I have to pay my parent's credit card debt, which answers it from the CFPB's guidance.

This is general consumer information, not legal advice. Disputed ownership, or an estate that cannot pay its debts, should be reviewed with a lawyer in the state where the person lived.

The Estate Desk helps families settle estates. theestatedesk.com

Primary sources