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

Call BNZ on 0800 275 269 and ask for their Estate Solutions team, or visit a BNZ branch with the death certificate. BNZ will need a copy of the death certificate, proof of your identity, and the deceased's customer or account number if you have it. They'll freeze sole accounts to prevent fraud and walk you through the next steps.

What documents does BNZ need when someone dies?

BNZ requires (1) the death certificate (certified copy is fine), (2) photo ID for the person notifying them, and (3) the deceased's customer number, account number, or IRD number to locate their accounts. For releasing funds without probate, they'll also need a copy of the will and a statutory declaration. For amounts above their threshold, a grant of probate is required.

Will BNZ freeze a joint account when my partner dies?

No. Joint accounts at BNZ stay open and accessible to the surviving holder. BNZ will update the account into your sole name once you send them the death certificate, but funds remain available throughout. Only sole accounts in the deceased's name are frozen.

Can I withdraw funds from a BNZ account without probate?

BNZ has a discretionary threshold for releasing funds without probate — typically up to $15,000 for funeral costs and immediate estate expenses. Above that, BNZ requires a grant of probate or letters of administration. The exact threshold is discretionary; ask BNZ's Estate Solutions team for the current limit.

How do I claim BNZ KiwiSaver after a death?

BNZ KiwiSaver is managed by BNZ Investment Services and handled separately from the retail bank. The balance is paid to the estate, not directly to next of kin. The executor or administrator claims it on the estate's behalf. You'll need the death certificate and, for balances above the threshold, a grant of probate. Ask the Estate Solutions team to refer you across, or contact BNZ Investments directly.

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

Credit cards in the deceased's sole name are cancelled immediately on notification, and any outstanding balance becomes a debt of the estate. Joint cardholders may continue using their card but should request a new card in their sole name. Internet Banking and the BNZ mobile app access for the deceased's profile is disabled once BNZ is notified.

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Notify BNZ of a death

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

You can call before you have everything. BNZ's Estate Solutions team handles this every day. The date of death and the deceased's name is enough to start.

Who to call

BNZ Estate Solutions
0800 275 269 — main BNZ NZ line, ask for the Estate Solutions team.
Monday–Friday, 7 am–9 pm. Saturday–Sunday, 7 am–8 pm.

You can also visit a BNZ branch with the death certificate, or start the notification online at bnz.co.nz → support → bereavement. The phone or branch route is usually faster.

If the deceased had a BNZ KiwiSaver or BNZ investment account, the Estate Solutions team will refer you to BNZ Investment Services separately. 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 BNZ. 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 have all the account numbers, that's fine — BNZ will look them up by name and IRD number. The customer number is on any statement or in the BNZ app.

What BNZ will ask for

Death certificate — certified copy is usually fine.
Your photo ID — driver's licence or passport.
The deceased's customer number or account number — if you have it.
The deceased's IRD number — helps BNZ locate all their accounts under one customer profile.
A copy of the will — only if you're asking to access funds, not for the initial notification.
Grant of probate — required for releasing funds above BNZ's discretionary threshold. Not needed just to notify.

What BNZ will do next

Once notified, BNZ 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 name when convenient.
Disable Internet Banking and the BNZ app for the deceased's profile.
Refer KiwiSaver and investments to BNZ Investment Services' separate bereavement process.
Send you the Estate Solutions pack — documents for releasing funds, closing accounts, and (where needed) probate.

Joint accounts

If you held a BNZ account jointly with the deceased, funds remain accessible to you. You don't need to wait for probate.

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

If you want to keep the joint account open temporarily to honour automatic payments, say so — BNZ will leave it as-is until you ask.

Releasing funds before probate

For sole accounts, BNZ 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 BNZ'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 (BNZ 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.

BNZ KiwiSaver

BNZ KiwiSaver is managed by BNZ Investment Services and is handled through a separate bereavement process from the retail bank.

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 intestacy rules if there's no will).

What you'll need:

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

Ask the Estate Solutions team on 0800 275 269 to refer you to BNZ Investment Services.

How long it takes

Initial notification: one phone call or branch visit, ~20 minutes. Accounts are flagged immediately.
Documents posted/emailed: BNZ sends the Estate Solutions 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 BNZ has all paperwork.

Other banks

The notification process for ANZ, ASB, 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