Deceased estates

Losing a loved one is difficult. We’ve made closing their bank account easy so that you can focus on what matters.

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How to close your loved one's account

Follow these 5 steps below to make the process easier during this challenging time.

Steps to close a bank account after a death

The first step is to stop your loved one’s bank account. To do this, please send us the following documents:

  • A certified copy of their death certificate
  • A certified copy of their ID document (if it’s a smart ID card, please send copies of the front and back)
How to submit the documents:

Next, you must visit the Master’s Office to get a Death Notice instruction. You will need to take the death certificate with you.

How to submit the documents:

For more information on the Master’s Office, visit www.justice.gov.za/master/deceased.html

Once we have received the Death Notice instruction, we will provide you with a Certificate of Balance. 

It may take up to 24 hours to get this certificate if you email us the Death Notice.

Once you have the Certificate of Balance, you must submit it to the Master’s Office to get the letter.

  • If the estate is worth R250 000 or less, you will receive a Letter of Authority
  • If the estate is worth R250 000 or more, you will receive a Letter of Executorship

The last step is to transfer the money from your deceased loved one’s bank account and close it. To do this, please send us the following documents:

  • A Letter of Authority or Letter of Executorship from the Master’s Office
  • A certified copy of the ID of the Master’s Office representative or the ID of the executor of the deceased estate
  • A certified confirmation letter for the nominated bank account, from the Master’s Office representative or the executor of the estate (not older than 3 months)
How to submit the documents:

Once we receive all the necessary documents, it may take up to 14 working days to transfer the money into the account you nominated and close the account.  
 
NB: We will contact you should we require additional information during the process.