Bereavement: Savings accounts

If the deceased held savings accounts with us, we will do our best to help answer your questions and give you the information you need, providing it is lawful to do so.

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How to let us know someone has passed away

We've set up a dedicated email on SkiptonDirect-BereavementNotification@skipton.co.uk so you can notify us when a loved one who had accounts with Skipton or through our partners has passed away. When we receive the email we will update our system and write to you letting you know what you need to do next.

We will need to know:

  • Details of the deceased person: their name, address, date of birth, date of death, whether there is a Will and any Skipton account numbers (if known).

  • Details of the person notifying us: their name, address, relationship to the deceased person, email address, phone number and when we should contact them (we only call if we need more information or if you ask us to).

  • Any additional information you want to give us.

You don't need to send any documents by email. If we need to see documents such as a death certificate, we will let you know how to send these to us.

Getting information about the accounts and balances

We may need to conduct some checks on your identity before we can disclose account information to you. To do this we might be able to perform an electronic search to prove your identity as an alternative to providing original documentation. We’d need your permission first though. Please get in touch on 0345 266 1209 if you’d like to explore this option or to discuss the original documentation required. These checks will not be necessary if you are already a Skipton customer.

If you are named as an executor in the Will we can tell you the account balance(s) and interest due up to the date of death. If there is no Will, this is called being 'intestate'. In this case, we can only give information to certain people. First we speak to the spouse or civil partner, or the solicitor appointed to act on behalf of the estate. If there's no surviving spouse or civil partner, we might be able to deal with adult children or parents.

In order to release the information, we require sight of the original death certificate or original coroner’s interim certificate by post, along with contact details about yourself and confirmation of your relationship in writing.

Our postal address is:

The Bereavements Team,
Skipton Building Society,
Principal Office,
The Bailey,
Skipton,
BD23 1DN.

How can I withdraw money?

Once we've been told about a death, payments out of a savings account are frozen. Here's what you need to do next.

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Withdrawing money

If you think you're entitled to money held in Skipton savings accounts, you'll need to show us certain documents.

The table below will show you what documents you'll need to present, based on the balance of the account(s). Please note, if you have a Grant of Probate, Letters of Administration or Certificate of Confirmation then we will need to see them, regardless of the amount you’d like to withdraw. You will also need to provide suitable identification before we can release any funds, unless you are an existing customer.

If you need to request any of the documents mentioned in the table below or you’re unsure what you need to do next, please call us on 0345 266 1209.

Total balance of account(s) Documents we need
£1,000 or less If you're the spouse, civil partner, child or parent:
  • our Letter of Indemnity form for estates totalling £1,000 or less
If you're a beneficiary:
  • our ‘Statutory Declaration’ form witnessed by a solicitor or commissioner for oaths, or justice of the peace.
£1,001 - £4,999 If you're a beneficiary or next of kin:
  • our Statutory Declaration form witnessed by a solicitor, commissioner for oaths or justice of the peace.
£5,000 - £30,000 If you're the spouse, civil partner, child or parent:
  • our Statutory Declaration form witnessed by a solicitor, commissioner for oaths or justice of the peace.
  • our 'Letter of Indemnity' form for estates totalling £5,000 to £30,000
If you’re a beneficiary or other next of kin, please show us ONE of the following:
  • Grant of Probate
  • Letters of Administration
  • Certificate of Confirmation (in Scotland)
Above £30,000 ONE of the following:
  • Grant of Probate
  • Letters of Administration
  • Certificate of Confirmation (in Scotland)
Plus in all cases
  • our 'Registrations – closure or transfer' form
  • identification if you’re not an existing customer.

Find out what happens to different accounts

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Joint accounts

If a savings account is held in joint names, it automatically passes to the other account holder (in accordance with our Savings Account Terms and Conditions). If you’re not the other account holder, you’ll need to let us know why you need the information, then we can check what information we’re able to give you, if any.

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Trustee accounts

If the deceased was a trustee on an account, we can’t release information because Trust Accounts don’t form part of their estate. If there are other trustees, we’ll get in touch with them. If there aren’t, the executor may need to seek advice about appointing a replacement.

You can’t transfer accounts into your name if you’re a beneficiary, but you may be able to close the accounts and transfer the money into a new account of your choosing, depending on the terms of the trust.
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ISAs

Under HMRC rules, if the deceased passed away before 6 April 2018 and held an ISA, the account will be transferred to an easy access Estate Management account and interest earned will be taxable.

If they passed away on or after 6 April 2018, the funds are permitted to be within the ISA wrapper for three years from their date of death and will continue to earn tax-free interest. Under the Additional Permitted Subscriptions (APS) scheme, you can transfer your spouse or civil partner’s ISA allowance to you if they pass away.

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Bonds

You can close a Fixed Rate Bond early and get paid the interest that’s built up. Or if you prefer, you can leave it open until it matures. If you keep it open, the account has to be left in the deceased one’s name, however, the title of the account will change to ‘Pers reps of (name) decd’, and you won’t be able to withdraw money (including interest) until the account matures. If a withdrawal before probate is required, this is permitted.

Get in touch

Call us

Talk to our Bereavement team

0345 266 1209
Mon-Thurs
8am - 6pm
Fri
8am - 5:30pm
Sat
9am - 12pm

*To help maintain service and quality, some telephone calls may be recorded and monitored.

Site intended for UK residents only. Skipton Building Society is a member of the Building Societies Association. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, under registration number 153706, for accepting deposits, advising on and arranging mortgages and providing Restricted financial advice. Principal Office, The Bailey, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1DN.

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