To close a bank account on behalf of someone who has passed away, you must have legal authority to manage the account. To close a bank account after death, you must completely liquidate its funds.Bank accounts that are solely in your name can be held up temporarily upon your death. The bank may require a certified death certificate in order to close the account and distribute the funds. You can use this letter template to write to the bank to request the closure of a direct payments account following the death of the account holder. When someone dies, the ownership of their bank account is typically transferred to a beneficiary, often a relative. But there are many factors at play. The first and foremost thing you must do to close a bank account upon the death of a loved one is to inform the bank of this death. Notify Bank of America. We'll ask you for the deceased customer's full legal name and Social Security number to identify their accounts.