Has my bank broken rules?

[Parksy3578]

My Mum sadly died in October last year. I have always been close to her and nursed her til the end. I have a brother and a sister - my sister has been estranged from my mum and I and my brother for many years. My brother and I had LPOA and are both executors now Mum has passed. I have just found out that Mum's bank has released years of account details to my sister just by providing a death certificate. They tell me this is fine to do but I really can't get my head round this. My sister is the last person my Mum would want to share her business with, even though she is not with us. Have the bank broken any rules please? thanks if you can help me

Is she an executor?

https://www.thinkmoney.co.uk/blog/how-to-access-the-bank-account-of-a-deceased-person/#:~:text=A%20court%20can%20appoint%20this,are%20the%20executor%20or%20administrator.

I'm sorry for your loss.

I worked in bereavements for a bank for some years. Yes we would release details and even funds up to a certain amount to anyone who produced the death certificate.

We would ask if they were next of kin and if there was a will, but took their word for it if the balance was below a certain amount. So I believe yes, the bank has acted correctly.

Data protection is only valid in living persons.
POA ceases upon death.