How to notify a bank when someone dies (CBA, Westpac, ANZ & NAB)
A practical, side-by-side guide to notifying Australia's big four banks after a death — who to contact, what documents they ask for, and what happens to the accounts.
Once you've registered a death, one of the bigger jobs is letting the banks know. Each of Australia's major banks has a dedicated bereavement or estates team and its own process — and knowing what they'll ask for before you call saves a lot of back-and-forth. Here's how the big four work, plus the shortcut that can notify several at once.
The short answer
You can notify many banks at once for free through the Australian Death Notification Service, which needs a registered death certificate (Australian Death Notification Service). Each bank then runs its own deceased-estate process, placing a hold on the individual accounts and asking for documents that vary by bank and estate size. Below are the four majors.
Start here: the Australian Death Notification Service
Before contacting banks one by one, consider the free government Australian Death Notification Service. Through a single online form it can notify participating organisations — including ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, NAB and Westpac (and others) — at once. It requires a registered death certificate and verifies the details before notifying them (Australian Death Notification Service). Banks not on the list, or that require their own forms, still need to be contacted directly.
Commonwealth Bank (CBA)
Notify CommBank's estate team by visiting a branch or calling their deceased-estate line. They use a Deceased Customer Notification form to identify the accounts held by the deceased, and will ask for a death certificate and proof of your authority to act before placing a hold on accounts (CommBank). The exact documents are confirmed case by case.
Westpac
Westpac's Estates Management team can be reached by phone, email or post. As part of finalising the estate, they typically ask the executor to complete their forms (such as a statutory declaration and indemnity) along with the supporting documents (Westpac).
ANZ
Contact ANZ's Bereavement Services team to notify them. Once notified, ANZ places a stop on accounts held individually in the deceased's name to secure them. You'll need to send a certified copy of the death certificate and, where available, the will; if the estate funds total $100,000 or more, ANZ also requires a certified copy of the grant of probate or letters of administration (ANZ).
NAB
NAB's Bereavement Services team handles notification as the first step in finalising the estate. NAB's published process lists the documents they may require — including a certified copy of the death certificate and will, a signed and witnessed release-of-funds declaration, a letter of direction, an identification form and consent to release (NAB).
What happens to the accounts
In general, once a bank is notified it secures the deceased's individual accounts (often a hold that limits transactions), then releases or transfers funds according to its process and the documents you provide. Joint accounts are usually treated differently from sole accounts — worth asking each bank about directly. Because the specifics differ, write down which bank holds which accounts so nothing is missed.
Make it easier on whoever does this
Whoever handles your estate can only notify the banks they know about. A forgotten account is a forgotten account. Listing every institution in one place — with account types and login details kept securely — turns this step from detective work into a checklist. Our free Cross-Border Account & Estate Checklist gives you a place to do exactly that, and our step-by-step estate guide puts the banks in the wider order of things.
Frequently asked questions
Can I notify all banks at once? You can notify many participating banks together through the free Australian Death Notification Service; others must be contacted directly (Australian Death Notification Service).
Do I need probate to release bank funds? Sometimes. ANZ, for example, requires a grant of probate or letters of administration where estate funds are $100,000 or more (ANZ). Each bank sets its own threshold and requirements.
What documents do banks ask for? Commonly a certified death certificate, proof of your authority to act, the will, and sometimes the bank's own declaration forms — the precise list varies by bank (CommBank; NAB).
What happens to a joint account when one holder dies? Joint accounts are generally handled differently from sole accounts; ask the specific bank how they'll treat it.
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Bank contacts, thresholds and document requirements are current as at June 2026 and can change; always confirm with the bank's official deceased-estate page linked above.