The bank will not allow you to close it unless you have a letter of authorization from the probate court. The letter shall start with the sender's address, date, bank's address, and with a salutation.In fact, a death claim letter format for bank is straightforward. 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. 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. Full name of the deceased account holder. 2. In the days, weeks and months that followed, New Zealanders united around those affected and spoke out against racism, extremism and extremist violence.