The BMO Alto Letter of Direction describes how an authorized representative would like BMO Alto to settle the decedent's account. 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. Although not always required, our experienced probate attorneys at Kreig LLC are here to help if your bank demands letters testamentary. Notify Bank of America. We'll ask you for the deceased customer's full legal name and Social Security number to identify their accounts. 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. KeyBank guides you through the process of settling a loved one's financial accounts after they die. When appropriate, close all of the deceased's bank accounts,. This may include certain types of bank accounts, life insurance proceeds, and other assets.