How to Close a Bank Account After Death in Australia

Most Australian banks have a dedicated bereavement team to help families manage accounts after a death. The process is designed to be straightforward, though it does require documentation and, in some cases, time.

What you will need

Before contacting the bank, gather the following:

• Certified copy of the death certificate
• Your own identity documents (driver's licence or passport)
• Proof of your authority to act — this may be a grant of probate, letters of administration, or in some cases just a statutory declaration if the estate is small
• Account details if known (account number, BSB)

Sole accounts vs joint accounts

Sole accounts — accounts held only in the deceased's name — will be frozen by the bank when they are notified of the death. Funds in the account form part of the estate and are distributed according to the will, or under intestacy rules if there is no will. You cannot withdraw funds from a sole account without the relevant authority (probate or letters of administration for larger estates).

Joint accounts — accounts held with another person — work differently. In most cases, the surviving account holder gains full access to the account automatically upon death of the other holder. The bank will update the account to a sole account in the surviving person's name. You will need to notify the bank and provide the death certificate, but you will not need probate.

How to notify the bank

Call the bank's main customer service number and ask to speak to the bereavement team. Most major banks (Commonwealth, ANZ, NAB, Westpac) have dedicated teams who can guide you through their specific process. Some banks allow you to start the notification online.

You will typically be asked to bring original documents (or certified copies) to a branch to verify identity and authority.

What happens to automatic payments

Once a sole account is frozen, automatic payments (direct debits, scheduled transfers) will fail. Before the account is closed, check recent statements for any recurring payments that need to be redirected or cancelled — utilities, subscriptions, insurance premiums, and so on.

What happens to the funds

Funds in a frozen sole account are held until the executor or administrator of the estate provides the appropriate authority to release them. The bank will then transfer the funds to the estate account, or distribute them as directed by the executor.

If there is no will

Without a will, the estate is distributed under the intestacy laws of the relevant state. A family member will need to apply for letters of administration from the Supreme Court to gain authority to manage the estate. This can take several months.