The free, online Death Notification Service allows the bereaved to notify a number of financial service providers about a loved one passing away.

Around half a million deaths are registered in the UK each year and it’s rare that the deceased have a relationship with just one bank or building society.

As such, the notification service makes the process easier for those who have suffered a bereavement by relieving the stress around repeated notifications.

Currently, six banking groups have signed up to offer the one-step notification service:

• Barclays PLC, including Barclaycard and Barclays
• HSBC UK, including First Direct and M&S bank
• Lloyds Banking Group, including Bank of Scotland, Clerical Medical, Halifax, Lloyds Bank and Scottish Widows
• Nationwide Building Society, including the mutual, The Mortgage Works and UCB Home Loans Ltd
• RBS group, including NatWest
• Santander UK, including Cahoot.

How does it work?

If you’re using the service, you’ll be asked to select the specific brands or institutions which need to be notified. The selected financial institutions will update their records and it will also trigger a one-stop notification across products and brands.

Once completed, notifiers can expect to receive communication from firms subscribing to the services within 10 calendar days.

The service can be used by anyone, including carers, neighbours, professionals, as well as family members.

However, it’s important to note that this service isn’t a replacement or amendment to the ‘Tell Us Once’ service which lets people report a death to government organisations.

Stephen Jones, chief executive of UK Finance, said: “Following the death of a friend or family member, it can be hard to repeat the same conversation with several organisations. The launch of this service is an important milestone in the industry’s commitment to do all it can to provide greater help and support to people during difficult circumstances.”

Follow this link to use the Death Notification Service