Building society probate thresholds

Last reviewed 18 August 2026

The building societies keep their own counsel on this, much as the banks do, and their thresholds cluster a little below the largest institutions.

The typical range

Building society thresholds generally fall in the £40,000–£50,000 range, below which funds are released against a death certificate and a small-estates declaration. Nationwide, the largest, sits at the top of that band; smaller societies such as Yorkshire and Skipton set their own figures, sometimes lower. Each applies its threshold per membership, not to the estate as a whole.

How to check

Because the figures are set individually and change, confirm with each society’s bereavement team. As with banks, jointly held accounts pass to the survivor, and the threshold is measured on the balance at the date of death.

Sources. Building society bereavement pages (figures confirmed and dated per society at build).