Bank probate thresholds: when each bank needs a grant
The balance at which each major UK bank requires a grant of probate before releasing a deceased person's money — with the honest answer that there is no single legal threshold.
Reviewed by a qualified probate case manager
Each figure was checked against the bank's own bereavement guidance in June 2026. These are commercial limits set by each institution and can change without notice.
One of the first questions after a death is whether you can get into the person's bank account to pay for the funeral and settle bills. Whether you need a grant of probate to do that depends entirely on the bank — and on how much money is held.
Probate thresholds by bank and building society
The table below shows each institution's published limit where it states one. Where a bank publishes no figure, it assesses each estate individually — we show “Varies — contact the bank” rather than repeat the unverified numbers that circulate on comparison sites.
Grant needed if more than £50,000 is held across the deceased's sole accounts. Joint accounts are not counted.
Grant needed if the total of all sole-name accounts is more than £50,000. A Santander mortgage can require a grant whatever the balance.
Balances under £50,000 can be closed on a bereavement form; £50,000 and above needs a Grant of Representation.
Grant needed if the total of all Co-operative Bank and smile accounts is more than £50,000.
Sole balances of £50,000 or more need a grant; below that, a Declaration and Indemnity form.
States a £50,000 probate limit; below that, a death certificate and closure form.
£50,000 or more with Skipton needs a Grant of Representation.
£50,000 and above needs probate; below that, a closure form and no grant.
Releases up to £50,000 without a grant where there is a will (up to £25,000 where there is no will). Discretionary.
Up to £5,000 released with ID; £5,000–£25,000 on an indemnity form; £25,000 and above needs the original grant.
Under £100 needs ID only; £100–£25,000 on an indemnity form; over £25,000 needs a grant or letters of administration.
Balances over £10,000 need a grant or letters of administration. Joint-account balances are not counted.
A grant may be required where total NS&I savings (including Premium Bonds) are £5,000 or more — and NS&I reserves the right to ask for one at any value.
No published figure — depends on the products held with the bank. Confirm with the bereavement team.
No published figure — assessed case-by-case (Lloyds Banking Group). Confirm with the bereavement team.
No published figure — assessed case-by-case (Lloyds Banking Group). Confirm with the bereavement team.
No firm published figure — reviewed case-by-case. Confirm with the bereavement team.
No published figure — the bank confirms what it needs after you notify them. Confirm with the bereavement team.
No firm published figure (NatWest Group). Confirm with the bereavement team.
No monetary threshold published — lists the documents that may be needed. Confirm with the bereavement team.
| Bank / building society | Grant needed above | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Barclays | £50,000 | Grant needed if more than £50,000 is held across the deceased's sole accounts. Joint accounts are not counted. |
| Santander UK | £50,000 | Grant needed if the total of all sole-name accounts is more than £50,000. A Santander mortgage can require a grant whatever the balance. |
| Nationwide Building Society | £50,000 | Balances under £50,000 can be closed on a bereavement form; £50,000 and above needs a Grant of Representation. |
| Co-operative Bank | £50,000 | Grant needed if the total of all Co-operative Bank and smile accounts is more than £50,000. |
| Yorkshire Building Society | £50,000 | Sole balances of £50,000 or more need a grant; below that, a Declaration and Indemnity form. |
| Coventry Building Society | £50,000 | States a £50,000 probate limit; below that, a death certificate and closure form. |
| Skipton Building Society | £50,000 | £50,000 or more with Skipton needs a Grant of Representation. |
| Leeds Building Society | £50,000 | £50,000 and above needs probate; below that, a closure form and no grant. |
| First Direct | £50,000* | Releases up to £50,000 without a grant where there is a will (up to £25,000 where there is no will). Discretionary. |
| Metro Bank | £25,000* | Up to £5,000 released with ID; £5,000–£25,000 on an indemnity form; £25,000 and above needs the original grant. |
| Monzo | £25,000* | Under £100 needs ID only; £100–£25,000 on an indemnity form; over £25,000 needs a grant or letters of administration. |
| Starling Bank | £10,000 | Balances over £10,000 need a grant or letters of administration. Joint-account balances are not counted. |
| NS&I (National Savings & Investments) | £5,000* | A grant may be required where total NS&I savings (including Premium Bonds) are £5,000 or more — and NS&I reserves the right to ask for one at any value. |
| Lloyds Bank | Varies — contact the bank | No published figure — depends on the products held with the bank. Confirm with the bereavement team. |
| Halifax | Varies — contact the bank | No published figure — assessed case-by-case (Lloyds Banking Group). Confirm with the bereavement team. |
| Bank of Scotland | Varies — contact the bank | No published figure — assessed case-by-case (Lloyds Banking Group). Confirm with the bereavement team. |
| HSBC UK | Varies — contact the bank | No firm published figure — reviewed case-by-case. Confirm with the bereavement team. |
| NatWest | Varies — contact the bank | No published figure — the bank confirms what it needs after you notify them. Confirm with the bereavement team. |
| Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) | Varies — contact the bank | No firm published figure (NatWest Group). Confirm with the bereavement team. |
| TSB | Varies — contact the bank | No monetary threshold published — lists the documents that may be needed. Confirm with the bereavement team. |
* The bank states it may still require a grant below this figure, depending on the estate.
If a bank publishes no figure, how do I find out?
Several major high-street banks — including those in the Lloyds and NatWest groups — do not publish a fixed threshold and decide each estate case-by-case. Almost every bank publishes a “bereavement” or “what to do when someone dies” guide; that page (or its linked PDF) is where any figure appears. Because these limits are commercial and can change without notice, the only reliable answer for a specific estate is to contact the bank's bereavement team directly.
Two things people often get wrong
Even where one bank's balance is under its limit, you often have to look at the estate as a whole. If the person owned a home in their sole name, or held investments that need a grant, you will likely need probate regardless of the bank balances.
Common questions
- Is there a legal probate threshold for bank accounts?
- No. There is no single legal or statutory threshold. Each bank and building society sets its own internal limit for how much it will release without seeing a grant of probate, and those limits vary widely.
- What if the bank does not publish a figure?
- Several major banks publish no fixed figure and decide each estate case-by-case. The only reliable way to find out is to contact that bank's bereavement team or read its current bereavement guide.
- Can a bank ask for a grant below its stated limit?
- Yes. Every institution reserves the right to require a grant below its published limit — for example if there is a mortgage, the estate is contested, or it has any other concern. The figure is a guide, not a guarantee.
- Do joint accounts count towards the threshold?
- Usually not. Money in a joint account normally passes automatically to the surviving account holder by survivorship and is not counted towards a bank's probate threshold. The figures here apply to accounts in the deceased person's sole name.
Related guides
- Do I need probate?Work out whether you need a grant of probate at all — and when you don't.
- How long does probate take in 2026?Realistic current timelines, the known delay points, and copy-paste chase templates.
- Inheritance Tax, explained and datedThe thresholds, rates and allowances — every figure dated and sourced from GOV.UK.
Official sources
- GOV.UK — Applying for probateGOV.UK
- Barclays — bereavement guidance
- Santander UK — bereavement guidance
- Nationwide Building Society — bereavement guidance
- Co-operative Bank — bereavement guidance
- Yorkshire Building Society — bereavement guidance
- Coventry Building Society — bereavement guidance
- Skipton Building Society — bereavement guidance
- Leeds Building Society — bereavement guidance
- First Direct — bereavement guidance
- Metro Bank — bereavement guidance
- Monzo — bereavement guidance
- Starling Bank — bereavement guidance
- NS&I (National Savings & Investments) — bereavement guidance
- Lloyds Bank — bereavement guidance
- Halifax — bereavement guidance
- Bank of Scotland — bereavement guidance
- HSBC UK — bereavement guidance
- NatWest — bereavement guidance
- Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) — bereavement guidance
- TSB — bereavement guidance
Each figure was checked against the bank's own bereavement guidance in June 2026. These are commercial limits set by each institution and can change without notice.