Financial and emotional support

You can use any money remaining in the deceased’s account to cover funeral costs. You’ll need to show us a certified copy of the death certificate, an estimated invoice or the full balance from an itemised invoice on the funeral director’s headed paper. We can release this money before closing the account.

Take the invoice to a branch or send it to us, including your personal reference number beginning with BRV, and we’ll transfer money or send a cheque to the funeral director.

We can reimburse you for any funeral payments you’ve already made – just show us the final invoice and a receipt confirming payment.

If there isn’t enough money in the deceased’s account to cover the funeral cost, help might be available from the government – find out if you’re eligible.

Please contact us on 0800 068 2238⁽¹⁾ (option 2) to discuss any urgent costs you need to pay. You’ll need your personal reference number beginning with BRV.

Depending on the value of the estate and who it is left to, Inheritance Tax might need to be paid. There are certain exemptions for money and assets passing to a spouse, civil partner or charity.

To find out about Government support, and options for paying inheritance tax, please visit their website.

An Executor account allows the estate’s executors or administrators to gather all the deceased’s finances in one place.

Only the estate’s executors or administrators can open an Executor account – they’ll need to book an appointment all together at one of our branches.

They’ll need to provide

• A copy of the grant of probate or letters of administration
• Proof of their ID, like a passport or driving licence
• Proof of their address

People who live outside the UK can’t open an Executor account.

Book a branch appointment

If you’d like to speak to someone about an existing Executor’s account, please contact us on 0800 068 2238⁽¹⁾ and select option 6.

If the person that’s passed away has any loans, overdrafts or a Barclaycard with us, we’ll pay off what they owe from their current account and savings accounts, after allowing money for priority bills such as a funeral. We’ll then release any money that’s left to the executor or administrator.

If there’s not enough money in the account to pay off everything that’s owed, we may ask our bereavement partner, Phillips & Cohen, to work with the estate to pay off the debt. Phillips & Cohen is the UK’s only dedicated deceased account management business. They offer support and guidance that can help resolve outstanding accounts. 

Only the estate is responsible for paying the debt – if there’s no money available, the executor or administrator won’t be asked to cover what’s owed by the person who passed away. If you have any questions about this, please get in touch with our bereavement team on 0800 068 2238⁽²⁾. 

If you’re worried about making payments to your accounts – whether these were joint accounts or have always been in your sole name – we’re here to help. You just need to get in touch.