When can I close the estate and distribute the assets? To close a bank account on behalf of someone who has passed away, you must have legal authority to manage the account.In this section, you can find information and answers to the following questions: 1. To close a bank account after death, you must completely liquidate its funds. 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. When the estate is ready for closing, you are also required to file a final account with a description of property remaining in the estate. Welcome to Cadence Bank. Why do I have to fill out this Annual Report on guardianship when you have already sent someone out to review us?