Metro Bank: bereavement contact and probate limit
Last reviewed 29 September 2026
Metro Bank publishes its own line: below £25,000 it closes a deceased customer’s accounts against its forms, and from £25,000 it wants to see a grant. Here is how to reach the bereavement team, what each tier requires, and what it can pay before probate.
How to tell Metro Bank about a death
Call the Metro Bank bereavement team on 0203 824 4815 (Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm). You can also report the death by email to its bereavement services team. Branch staff can start the process in person.
By post: Bereavement Services, Metro Bank, One Southampton Row, London WC1B 5HA.
Metro Bank accepts notifications through the free Death Notification Service, so one form can reach it alongside other participating banks and building societies.
Once notified, Metro Bank freezes accounts held in the deceased’s sole name and tells you which documents it needs. Joint accounts pass to the surviving holder.
How much Metro Bank releases without probate
Metro Bank publishes its threshold: a grant of representation is needed once the deceased’s sole balances with the bank reach £25,000. The figure applies to the total held with Metro Bank, not to the estate as a whole.
| Balance held | What Metro Bank asks for |
|---|---|
| Up to £5,000 | Bereavement notification form, death certificate and ID. |
| £5,000 to £25,000 | As above, plus the Deceased Estates Indemnity Form and payment instructions. |
| Over £25,000 | As above, plus the original grant of probate. |
What Metro Bank can pay before the grant
Metro can pay the funeral director against an invoice, reimburse costs already paid, and pay HMRC direct from an IHT423. This is worth using if the estate needs cash for the funeral or to clear inheritance tax before probate can be issued.
No will, small balance
Where there is no will, Metro says it can still help collect the estate if the assets held with it total less than £15,000. A safe deposit box always needs the grant, whatever the balance.
Questions
What is the Metro Bank bereavement phone number?+
How much can Metro Bank release without probate?+
What if there is no will and the balance is under £25,000?+
Does the Metro Bank limit apply to the whole estate?+
Sources. Metro Bank bereavement page, checked 29 September 2026: threshold, forms, phone line and hours as published by the bank. Figures change; confirm with the bereavement team before relying on them.