Executors account

[bruffin]

My DM passed away in October and I have this week got the probate papers. When MIL died the previous year her executors (DH and BIL) went to Natwest to inform them and signed the forms for executors account which went "live" when probate was granted. My two sisters and I are the excutors for DM.

My DM banked with Barclays, they refused to do this and my closest branch manager was particularly unpleasant so I don't want to have any dealings with my closest branch.

I asked my own bank (Natwest) if i could open an account there but they said they couldnt, because they had no relationship with my DM. The estate is under inheritance tax but we have a house to sell and there are various isas etc.
Is there any banks that will open an executors account without a previous banking relationship to a the deceased?

What the heck!

I've just opened an executors' account with Barclays for the very same reason.

Call their specialist bereavement line: 0345 075 7070 opt 2 (don't press option 3 for probate - that puts you through to a company toutint for probate business).

When I was getting the details about opening it, I explicitly asked if it were possible to open the exec's account at my own bank, where my dad had never banked: Barclays said yes, that should be possible too.

The lovely folks in the Barclays bereavement department came out with lines like, "If the branch tell you they can't do X, this is my name and number, put them on the phone, and I will sort them out."

So they obviously know their branches are a bit shit.

They were, however, as good as their word. I know, because we did indeed have to put branch staff through to them...

And sorry for your loss.

NatWest's reason sounds shit, BTW. You'll be the account-holder, not your DM (obviously). Sounds more like "too much work, not enough profit, go away".

My branch manager told me it was "illegal" ( to open an executors account before probate when I knew it wasnt illegal as Natwest had done this in the past) and she stood at the top of the stairs and shouted at me as I left the bank, this was the last straw after a few problems with them over the years.

They took over one of my Woolwich accounts a few years ago, which was problem after problem. They will open account now we have probate but I dont really want anything to do with them.

That is the Barclay branch manager. I have never had a problem with Natwest, our local staff are lovely and have common sense most of the time. Ive been with them for 25 years plus. Barclays were a nightmare in comparison

Barclays wanted to give me compensation for her behaviour. They said they wanted to put it in my barclays account. I refused the compensation. This was the account that i spent an hour in branch a few years ago closing it (and a few others) They then sent me a letter saying they couldnt trace the account and I had to go and sort it out again. I still was getting statements through for 17p. So while I was complaining about the bank manager I asked about the account. She looked it up and confirmed the account was closed now then 5 minutes later they said they would be putting the compensation in that account for me to go into any branch to withdraw

OK, I wasn't a huge fan after my recent experiences, but I'm really never touching them with a bargepole as soon as we can close the Execs' account.