Step 4
Notifying us and other organisations
In addition to informing friends and family, there will be a number of organisations you’ll need to notify, like other banks, building societies and utility companies. Notifying St.George results in changes to the deceased’s accounts and sets off a chain of actions that ultimately end in the settling of the estate
Using our letting others know checklist (PDF 59KB) will help you know who to contact at this time, and to record what conversations you have had for easy reference.
You can notify St.George of your loved one’s passing at any branch or by calling the Estates Management team. Please see information regarding each of these options at the bottom of this page.
As soon as we’re notified, we inform all parts of St.George and the Westpac Group, and we will let you know if you need to take any further action regarding specific accounts.
What happens to accounts after notification
Once you notify us and provide at least one of the Proof of Death documents then a permanent hold will be placed on the sole transaction accounts. This means:
- No money can be taken out of the accounts.
- St.George continues to allow all credits into deceased accounts.
- We place a restraint on the account to stop any Direct Debits or PayTo payments from being debited – including utility bills, mortgage or loan payments.
Please note this hold will affect all access to this sole account.
What happens to Joint Accounts?
Joint accounts are not impacted by the hold. For joint account holders, the joint holder will still have access to the account (credits and debits) as per usual (except in certain cases such as term deposits and where the joint holder is a secondary holder of the product). Joint accounts will be transferred into the name of the surviving joint account holder(s) once we have received a copy of the Death Certificate, in accordance with the relevant product terms and conditions.
Speak to us if you or someone else is dependent on this account for funds and still require access to it.
Alternative arrangements may need to be made to continue to pay the bills. We’ll provide you with a full list of information to assist with this task – see Step 3 for more information. The only exception to this is home insurance, which we may continue to pay if you ask us to and credit funds are available.
Keeping deceased accounts open
We recommend that accounts of the deceased are left open for twelve months to receive payments from superannuation and other sources. Having to re-open an account for the deceased is to be avoided as it is complex and time-consuming.
After you have told us that a person has passed away, for a short time they may still be sent mail from us. This is because it is prepared and printed several weeks in advance.
Letting others know checklist:
We have prepared a handy list of organisations, institutions and people for the bereaved to notify following the loss of a loved one. Download the checklist (PDF 59KB)
Important information
Read the PayTo Terms and Conditions (PDF 954KB) before making a decision and consider if this service is right for you.
Things to consider :
Consider notifying us of the bereavement as soon as possible - Fraud and identity theft may be the last thing on your mind, but are a reality
Locate legal documents such as passports and driving licenses that will need to be returned and cancelled