How do I notify ANZ of a death in New Zealand?

Call ANZ on 0800 269 296 and ask for their Bereavement Support team. You can also start the process online at anz.co.nz/personal/get-help/bereavement. ANZ will need a copy of the death certificate, proof of your identity, and the deceased's account number if you have it. They'll freeze sole accounts to prevent fraud and walk you through the next steps.

What documents does ANZ need when someone dies?

ANZ requires (1) the death certificate (a certified copy is fine, original not always required), (2) photo ID for the person notifying them, and (3) the deceased's account number, IRD number, or customer ID if available. For releasing funds without probate, they'll also need a copy of the will and, in some cases, a statutory declaration. For amounts above their threshold, a grant of probate is required.

Will ANZ freeze a joint account when my partner dies?

No. Joint accounts at ANZ continue to operate normally — the surviving holder retains full access. ANZ will update the account into the survivor's sole name once notified, but funds remain accessible throughout. Only sole accounts in the deceased's name are frozen.

Can I withdraw funds from an ANZ account without probate?

ANZ has a discretionary threshold for releasing funds without a grant of probate — typically up to $15,000 for general estate use such as funeral costs. Above that amount, ANZ requires a grant of probate or letters of administration. The exact threshold varies and is at ANZ's discretion. Ask their bereavement team for the current limit.

How do I claim ANZ KiwiSaver after a death?

ANZ is a default KiwiSaver provider, so many estates include an ANZ KiwiSaver balance. The balance is paid to the estate (not directly to the next of kin) and must be claimed by the executor or administrator. ANZ Wealth's bereavement team handles this separately from the retail bank — you'll need the same death certificate plus a grant of probate for balances above their threshold. Call 0800 736 034 (ANZ Investments) or ask the bereavement team to refer you.

What happens to the deceased's ANZ credit cards and online banking?

Credit cards in the deceased's sole name are cancelled immediately on notification. Any outstanding balance becomes a debt of the estate. For joint credit cards, the surviving cardholder may continue using their card but should request a new card in their sole name. Online banking access (goMoney, Internet Banking) for the deceased's profile is disabled once ANZ is notified.

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Notify ANZ of a death

The exact phone number, what to say, what they'll ask for, and what ANZ does next.

You can call before you have everything. ANZ's bereavement team handles this every day — they'll guide you through what's needed and what can wait. If you only have the date of death and the deceased's name, that's enough to start.

Who to call

ANZ Bereavement Support
0800 269 296 — main ANZ NZ line, ask for the Bereavement Support team.
Monday–Friday, 8 am–7 pm. Saturday 8 am–6 pm.

You can also start online at anz.co.nz/personal/get-help/bereavement — they have a notification form that triggers a callback. The phone route is usually faster.

If the deceased had an ANZ KiwiSaver or ANZ Investments account, the bereavement team will refer you to ANZ Wealth separately (or call 0800 736 034 directly). KiwiSaver claims sit outside the retail bank process.

What to say

"I'm calling to notify you of a death. [Full name] held accounts with ANZ. They passed away on [date]. I'm their [relationship — partner / child / executor]. I have a death certificate. What do I need to do next?"

If you don't know all the account numbers, that's fine — ANZ will look them up by name and IRD number. Have the customer ID handy if you can find it on a statement or in the deceased's banking app.

What ANZ will ask for

Death certificate — a certified copy is usually fine. ANZ doesn't always require the original.
Your photo ID — driver's licence or passport.
The deceased's account number or customer ID — if you have it. Not essential.
The deceased's IRD number — helps ANZ locate all their accounts (retail, savings, KiwiSaver, term deposits) under one customer profile.
A copy of the will — only if you're asking to access funds, not for the initial notification. They'll tell you who they consider the legal representative.
Grant of probate — required for releasing funds above ANZ's discretionary threshold (typically $15,000). Not needed just to notify.

What ANZ will do next

Once notified, ANZ will:

Freeze sole accounts in the deceased's name to prevent fraud. Direct debits and automatic payments stop.
Cancel credit cards in the deceased's sole name. Outstanding balances become debts of the estate.
Leave joint accounts open for the surviving holder. They'll update the account into the survivor's name when convenient — no rush.
Disable online banking for the deceased's profile (goMoney app, Internet Banking).
Refer KiwiSaver and investments to ANZ Wealth's separate bereavement process.
Send you a list of accounts and the ANZ Estate Settlement pack — paperwork for releasing funds, closing accounts, and (where needed) probate.

Joint accounts

If you held an ANZ account jointly with the deceased — most common for couples — funds remain accessible to you. You don't need to wait for probate.

ANZ will update the account into your sole name once you've sent them a death certificate. You can keep the same account number if you'd like, or close it and move the balance to a new sole account.

If you want to keep the joint account open temporarily (e.g. to honour automatic payments while you sort out the estate), say so — ANZ will leave it as-is until you ask.

Releasing funds before probate

For sole accounts, ANZ will usually release a modest amount before probate to cover funeral costs and immediate estate expenses. The discretionary threshold is typically up to $15,000 — but this is at ANZ's discretion and can vary.

To request a pre-probate release, you'll need:

Death certificate
The funeral invoice (or other estate expense documentation)
A copy of the will, if one exists
A statutory declaration from the executor (ANZ provides the form)

For balances above the threshold, you'll need a grant of probate (where there's a will) or letters of administration (where there isn't). See wills, probate & legal for what's involved.

ANZ KiwiSaver

ANZ is one of New Zealand's largest default KiwiSaver providers, so many estates have an ANZ KiwiSaver balance to claim.

The balance is paid to the estate — not directly to a spouse, partner, or next of kin. The executor or administrator claims it on the estate's behalf, then distributes per the will (or per the rules of intestacy if there's no will).

What you'll need:

Death certificate
Grant of probate (or letters of administration) — usually required for KiwiSaver balances above ~$15,000
Member number, if known
Estate bank account for the payout

Call ANZ Investments directly on 0800 736 034, or ask the retail bereavement team to refer you across.

How long it takes

Initial notification: one phone call, ~20 minutes. Accounts are flagged immediately.
Documents posted/emailed: ANZ sends the Estate Settlement pack within 2–5 business days.
Pre-probate release (small amounts): typically 1–2 weeks after they receive your documents.
Full estate settlement (with probate): usually 4–12 weeks once probate is granted and ANZ has all paperwork. Larger or more complex estates can take longer.

Other banks

The notification process for ASB, BNZ, Kiwibank, and Westpac follows the same shape — phone, documents, joint vs sole accounts, KiwiSaver handled separately. The pre-probate threshold and exact phone routes differ. See each bank's page for specifics.

Sources

The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute legal, financial, or medical advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional.

Dollar figures and entitlements change periodically. We link to authoritative sources where possible. Last reviewed: April 2026.

Who to Notify Wills, probate & legal