To close a bank account on behalf of someone who has passed away, you must have legal authority to manage the account. 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 a death occurs, how do you go about closing the accounts of someone who died? Here is a format letter for closing the bank account. Make sure you understand the entire format before writing a letter for closing a bank account. Present Letters of Administration. Navigating and closing a deceased person's bank account can be tricky. Follow these simple steps to ensure you are able to properly close the account. Sub: Request to close an account due to death. One thing for sure is that the bank will want to know the specific reasons for the removal request as the next-to-kin.