Application to Bank After Account Holder's Death: Format

Published by Karan Bindal, Founder

Below are two ready-to-copy letters: one to tell the bank about the death, and one to close the account and claim the balance, with blanks for you to fill in. A letter alone does not settle a claim, because RBI requires banks to use standard claim forms, so attach the bank's form and the documents listed here.

Before you write

Find the account details. Passbook, cheque book, statement or SMS will show the account number and branch.
Find out if there is a nominee. The passbook or statement should show "Nomination Registered" and the name.
Ask for the bank's claim form. Under RBI's Directions, forms and the document list must be available at all branches and on the bank's website. The nominee or survivor form is Annex I-A, and the no-nominee form is Annex I-B. Banks may print these under their own titles.
You can use any branch of the bank. RBI says a claim can be lodged at any branch against an acknowledgement.
Make two copies of each letter. Get one stamped and signed, with the date. Your acknowledgement matters, because the 15-day limit runs from when the bank has all the documents.

Letter 1: telling the bank about the death

Use this as soon as you can. It does not claim the money yet.

To,
The Branch Manager,
______________ Bank, ______________ Branch

Subject: Information about the death of account holder, Account No. ______________

Respected Sir or Madam,

I wish to inform you that Shri or Smt. ______________, who held the above account at your branch, passed away on ______________ (date). I am her or his ______________ (relation). A copy of the death certificate is enclosed, or will follow when issued.

Please record this in your system, stop any further debits, and let me know the claim form and documents needed. Please also tell me whether a nomination is registered on this account and whether there are other accounts, fixed deposits or a locker in this name at your bank.

Please acknowledge this letter.

Yours faithfully,
Name: ______________
Address: ______________
Mobile: ______________
Date: ______________
Signature: ______________

Letter 2: closing the account and claiming the balance

Choose the sentence that fits, and strike out the other. Copy this onto plain paper and attach the bank's claim form.

To,
The Branch Manager,
______________ Bank, ______________ Branch

Subject: Claim for balance and closure of account of deceased account holder, Account No. ______________

Respected Sir or Madam,

Shri or Smt. ______________ (name of account holder), who held the above ______________ (savings, current or fixed deposit) account, passed away on ______________ (date). The death certificate number is ______________.

If there is a nominee or survivor: I am the registered nominee or surviving joint holder of this account. I request you to pay me the balance with interest under the Reserve Bank of India's Directions on claims of deceased customers, dated 26 September 2025, and close the account.

If there is no nominee or survivor: There is no nomination or survivor clause on this account. To my knowledge he or she left no will, there is no dispute among the legal heirs, and no court order prevents payment. The legal heirs are: ______________ (names and relationships). I request you to settle the balance with interest under the same Directions, and close the account.

Please credit the amount to my account below:
Account holder: ______________
Account No.: ______________
Bank and branch: ______________
IFSC: ______________

I enclose the documents listed below. Please acknowledge receipt, tell me in writing if anything is missing, and confirm when you have everything.

Enclosures:

Claim form

Copy of the death certificate (original for verification)

Claimant's identity and address proof

Passbook, cheque book and debit card of the deceased, where available

______________ (other documents, see below)

Yours faithfully,
Name: ______________
Relationship to the deceased: ______________
Address: ______________
Mobile: ______________
Date: ______________
Signature: ______________

Only write what is true. If you know of a will or a dispute, do not use the no-will sentence. Tell the bank, and see a lawyer.

What to attach, by situation

These lists come from RBI's Directions.

Nominee or surviving joint holder. The claim form, the death certificate and your identity and address document. The bank must not insist on a succession certificate, probate, indemnity bond or surety, whatever the amount.

No nominee, up to the limit (₹15 lakh at a commercial bank, ₹5 lakh at a co-operative bank, or higher if the bank has set more):

Claim form, death certificate and identity documents
Indemnity bond
Disclaimer from any heirs who are not claiming
A legal heir certificate, or a declaration from an independent person who knows the family and is acceptable to the bank

No nominee, above the limit. A succession certificate, or a legal heir certificate or sworn affidavit along with the papers above. The bank may also ask for a surety.

A will or a dispute. See our guide for accounts with no nominee.

After you submit

The bank must settle a deposit claim within 15 calendar days of receiving all the documents, and must tell you the reasons if there is a delay. If the delay is the bank's fault, it must pay interest of at least Bank Rate plus 4% a year on the amount.

A fixed deposit can be closed early after a death with no penalty. A locker has its own process, set out in our locker guide. PPF and the Senior Citizens' Savings Scheme follow their own scheme rules.

Anything credited after settlement goes back to the sender, marked "Account holder deceased". So tell tenants, pension offices and others where to pay from now on.

Keep this ready for your own family

A clear note of which banks you use saves your family from guessing. Our free family checklist shows what to note down, and Aakhri Pal keeps your accounts and nominees in one private place for your family.

Last checked: 31 October 2026. These letters are simple samples that we wrote, not official RBI or bank formats, and your bank's own form always comes first. RBI consolidated many of its directions in late 2025, so check your bank's current policy. This is general guidance, not legal advice.

Sources: RBI Directions on deceased customers' claims, 26 September 2025 · RBI nomination Directions, 28 October 2025