What to do when a Barclays US account holder dies
Report the death to Barclays US at 1-888-710-8756
After an account holder at Barclays US dies, accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer to the designated recipients without probate. Solely-owned accounts require the estate's representative to contact Barclays US at 1-888-710-8756 with the proper legal authority documents.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Barclays US requires:
Filing a claim
Required Documents
- A certified copy of the death certificate
- Letters testamentary or letters of administration
- Decrees of probate court
- Documents evidencing that estate taxes are paid or not owed, if applicable
What happens to each kind of account4
- Payable-on-death account
An account can name up to four payable-on-death beneficiaries. On the owner's death, or the last joint owner's, the funds belong to them in the shares the owner set, and they "are not governed by your will or inherited by your heirs."1
Barclays has "no obligation to notify any beneficiary" of the account. If the shares total less than 100%, the rest is issued to the owner's estate; a beneficiary who has died is left out and the living beneficiaries' shares are scaled up.1
- Account in one name
With no beneficiary named: "In the event of death where no designated beneficiary(s) is established, a check will be issued to the estate of the Accountholder and mailed to the designated executor, upon receipt of required legal documentation."1
- Joint account with survivorship
A joint account is in the name of two persons and is a "Joint Account with Right of Survivorship": when one owner dies, the balance belongs to the survivor.1
On an Online Savings account for a minor and an adult, the balance belongs to the survivor. If the survivor is the minor, an adult must be added before funds can be withdrawn, or the account is closed and the funds returned to a linked account or by check.1
- Certificate of deposit
The CD terms say: "In certain circumstances, such as the death or incompetence of a CD Account holder, the law permits, and in some cases requires, the waiver of the early withdrawal penalty."1
A CD renews automatically at maturity, with a "fourteen (14) calendar day grace period" in which funds can be withdrawn without penalty. Renewal is prevented by withdrawing the funds, or giving Barclays notice, within the grace period.1
Accounts handled elsewhere3
- Select Savings from Barclays and Select CDs from Barclays
Select Savings and Select CDs from Barclays, serviced on their own line2
Phone: 1-877-852-1058
- Barclays Consumer Loans
Barclays personal loans2
Phone: 1-866-951-1416
- Subpoena Processing, Barclays Bank Delaware
Civil subpoenas and authorizations for release of account records3
Email: civilsubpoena@barclays.com
Mailing address: Attn: Subpoena Processing, Barclays Bank Delaware, 125 S. West Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
What Barclays US's agreement and guidance say7
- Telling the institution
Barclays "can continue to accept and process deposits to your Account until we have actual notice of the death/incompetency and have a reasonable chance to act."1
- What it does when notified
"Upon notification of the death of the Accountholder, we will freeze Individual Accounts (disallowing any withdrawals or transfers)." The funds are paid out and the account closed once the required documents are presented.1
- Powers of attorney
Barclays honors the instructions of an agent designated on its records "until we receive actual notice that the agency or fiduciary relationship has been terminated or actual notice of death or incompetency."1
- Debts owed to the institution
Where money owed to Barclays or its affiliates is due, Barclays may withdraw it from the account "even if our action causes you to lose interest, incur an early withdrawal penalty or any other consequence", and may set off all the funds in a joint account for a debt of any one owner.1
- Disputes between claimants
Faced with conflicting claims, Barclays may "place a hold on your Account", "refuse to pay out any funds in the Account until we are satisfied that the dispute is settled", "close the Account and send the balance to the Accountholder(s) we have on record", or "require a court order to act".1
- Dormant and unclaimed accounts
The terms say: "State laws require us to close all your deposit accounts and transfer your money to the state of the Accountholder's last address on file if your accounts are dormant for a certain period of time as determined by state law."1
- Who can get account information
Barclays Bank Delaware releases account records to an attorney's office on an authorization form "signed by the Account Holder and notarized", or on a civil subpoena from another state once it is domesticated in Delaware. It charges "a flat fee of $90".3
Not in Barclays US's published guidance5
- A department for deceased-customer accounts
- A claim form
- A fax number for claim documents
- An online way to report a death
- How long a claim takes
Lending products
Credit cards and other lending products are liabilities, not assets. Outstanding balances become debts of the estate. These accounts do not have beneficiaries and cannot be retitled to a trust.
- Each card has its own servicing number, listed on the Barclays card contact page
- Card support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-888-232-0780
Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Mailing address: Card Services, P.O. Box 8801, Wilmington, DE 19899-8801
What happens to each kind of account1
- Credit card
The cardmember agreement says that, unless otherwise prohibited by law, the account "will be in default" and Barclays "may demand immediate payment of the entire amount you owe us" if the cardmember dies or becomes incapacitated.1
Not in Barclays US's published guidance3
- A department for deceased-customer accounts
- A claim form
- A list of required documents
Sources1
Barclays US can be reached by phone at 1-888-710-8756 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Barclays US primary sources (13 pages reviewed). How we research.
Barclays US death claims support
Phone
Credit cards (when the card is not available)
Credit card general inquiries
Barclays Consumer Loans
Deposit accounts, international
ADA / accessibility services
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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