Yorkshire Building Society: bereavement contact and probate limit
Last reviewed 29 September 2026
Yorkshire Building Society publishes its own line: below £50,000 it closes a deceased customer’s accounts against its forms, and from £50,000 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 Yorkshire Building Society about a death
Call the Yorkshire Building Society bereavement team on 0345 166 9229 (Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm). You can also report the death using the online bereavement form on the YBS website. Branch staff can start the process in person.
By post: Bereavement Team, Customer Service Centre, Yorkshire Building Society, Yorkshire House, Yorkshire Drive, Bradford BD5 8LJ.
Once notified, YBS 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 Yorkshire Building Society releases without probate
Yorkshire Building Society publishes its threshold: a grant of representation is needed once the deceased’s sole balances with the society reach £50,000. The figure applies to the total held with YBS, not to the estate as a whole.
| Balance held | What YBS asks for |
|---|---|
| Under £50,000 | Declaration and indemnity closure form (YBS1667), once YBS has seen the death certificate. |
| Over £50,000 | Executor/administrator closure form (YBS1667A) plus a copy of the grant of representation. |
Older comparison tables list YBS at £30,000. The society’s own page now sets the line at £50,000.
YBS group brands
The Yorkshire group also trades as Chelsea Building Society and Norwich & Peterborough. Savings held under those names are handled through the same group, so ask the bereavement team to check for accounts under all three brands before you total the balance.
Questions
What is the Yorkshire Building Society bereavement phone number?+
How much can Yorkshire Building Society release without probate?+
Do Chelsea and Norwich & Peterborough accounts count towards the YBS limit?+
Does the YBS limit apply to the whole estate?+
Sources. Yorkshire Building Society bereavement page, checked 29 September 2026: threshold, forms, phone line and hours as published by the society. Figures change; confirm with the bereavement team before relying on them.