Present either of these letters to the bank along with the death certificate to close the account. To start, you'll need to: Provide an original or certified copy of the death certificate.A copy of the owner's death certificate. Proof of Address or Ownership connecting the owner to the address or funds. Have you named a beneficiary on your bank accounts? A New York estate planning attorney explains the pros and cons of payable on death designations. Banks generally cannot close a deceased account until after the person's estate has gone through probate or has otherwise settled. After someone dies, notify the government programs and businesses they used. Cancel benefits payments and close or transfer accounts. You should make a list of them.