How much money can a bank release without probate? (UK)

29 September 2026 · Inherit Vault

There's no single legal limit for how much a bank can hand over without probate. Each bank and building society sets its own. The ones that publish a figure mostly put it between £30,000 and £50,000, and that one number often decides whether your family needs probate at all.*

Every bank has its own rule

GOV.UK tells you to contact each bank and mortgage company to find out if you'll need probate. It says every organisation has its own rules. It also says you may not need probate if the person only had savings. So the first job isn't the probate form. It's a call, or a form, to each bank, asking what they need for the money they hold.

What some banks say, in their own words

Barclays says it needs a grant of probate if the person had more than £50,000 across their sole accounts with them.* Santander says the same about sole accounts worth more than £50,000.* The Co-operative Bank asks for probate once the person's Co-operative Bank and smile accounts add up to more than £50,000.* Starling's line is lower. It wants probate if the balance is more than £30,000.* Some big banks, like Lloyds and NatWest, don't print a figure on their bereavement pages at all. Lloyds says it'll let you know if probate is needed.

Building societies can be different again

Skipton says an executor needs a grant if the person had £50,000 or more with them.* Below that, it may release the money on its own closure forms. The West Brom draws its line at £30,000.* Nottingham Building Society has three steps. Up to £5,000, there's a simple closure form.* From £5,001 to £50,000, the same form has to be witnessed by a solicitor or a commissioner for oaths.* Over £50,000, it wants the grant.* You'll find the contacts for all of these in our building societies list.

The limit is per bank, not per estate

Look closely at the wording. Barclays talks about sole accounts "with us". Santander talks about accounts "held with us". So each limit counts only the money at that one bank. Someone with £40,000 at one bank and £40,000 at another might sit under both limits. It's still worth checking with each bank, as they don't all work the same way.

Joint accounts sit outside it

Barclays says you don't need probate for joint accounts. GOV.UK says money owned with others passes to the surviving owners, unless they've agreed otherwise. So a joint account doesn't count towards the limit. Joint accounts have a few quirks of their own, which we've covered in more detail.

Other things can bring probate back in

A low balance doesn't always mean no probate. Santander also wants a grant if the person had a mortgage with them in their sole name. Skipton says that if you're getting probate for another part of the estate, you'll need to show them the grant too. The West Brom says the same. And GOV.UK only says a home passes without probate when it was owned as joint tenants. If the house was in their name alone, read up on how long probate takes before you plan around a bank limit.

The funeral can often be paid first

Even when a grant is needed, many banks will pay the funeral bill from the account. Lloyds says it can pay the funeral director directly when you give it the bill. NatWest says it'll pay funeral bills within five working days if there's enough money and it has what it needs. It can't pay you back for a funeral bill you've already paid, though. Santander says it can pay the funeral director or florist before probate. Barclays says the money can cover funeral payments you've already made. So check with the bank before you pay out of your own pocket. Our post on taking money out of a deceased person's account covers the wider rules.

What you'll usually be asked for

Most banks start with the same few things. Santander asks for proof that the person has passed away. That can be the original death certificate, a certified copy or a photocopy. It also asks for proof of who you are. Under the limit, many banks then send their own claim or closure form for you to sign. Nottingham calls its version an indemnity closure form. Read it before you sign, and only sign if you're the right person to receive the money.

A quick way to work it out

Make a list of every bank and building society. Next to each one, write the balance on the day they passed away. Then check each bank's own limit. The bereavement page for each one is in our banks list, including Barclays and Santander. If every balance sits under its bank's limit, and nothing else needs a grant, you may not need probate. If one is over, you'll probably need to apply anyway.

The hardest part is often knowing which banks to ask. If you write down where your own accounts are, your family won't have to piece it together from old post. Inherit Vault is one quiet place to keep that list, ready for the people who'll need it.

*Correct at the time of writing, 29 September 2026. These can change, so check with the organisation before you rely on them.

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