To close a bank account on behalf of someone who has passed away, you must have legal authority to manage the account. It's time to pass New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act and expand the right to Death with Dignity to over 20 million New Yorkers.Notify Bank of America. We'll ask you for the deceased customer's full legal name and Social Security number to identify their accounts. I am a family medicine physician — from birth to death and everything in between. Most banks will have their own individual procedure for closing a bank account after the title holder of the account passes away.