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The short answer
When one holder of a Nigerian joint account dies, what happens to the balance depends on the account mandate and the bank's terms, not on a single published national rule. Some banks let the surviving holder continue; others restrict the account until the deceased's share is dealt with through probate or letters of administration. Notify the bank, ask for the mandate and its written procedure, and be ready to obtain a grant.
A joint account is often opened by spouses, by a parent and child, or by business partners. When one of them dies, the survivor needs to know quickly whether they can still pay bills from it. The answer is less automatic than many assume, so it is worth understanding before it happens.
What we could and could not confirm
Some countries apply a clear survivorship rule to joint accounts, under which the balance passes to the surviving holder. We did not find a published CBN rule or Nigerian statute in the sources we checked that settles this for every bank. What the sources do establish is that Nigerian banks do not recognise informal instructions such as "payable on death" (a senior banker told Daily Trust in December 2023 that no framework in Nigeria recognises it) and that a deceased person's estate is released only against probate or letters of administration. How a bank applies that to a joint account is a matter of its account terms and the mandate you signed.
The mandate decides a lot
When a joint account is opened, the holders sign a mandate saying who may operate it.
- Either to sign
- Any one holder can give instructions alone. The survivor may be able to keep operating, subject to the bank's terms after a death.
- Both (or all) to sign
- Every holder must authorise payments. When one dies, that signature can no longer be given, so the bank will need a new mandate or court authority before money can move.
- Survivorship clause
- Some account terms say the balance passes to the survivor. Only your bank's documents can confirm whether yours has one.
Ask the bank for a copy of the mandate and the joint account terms. Read them before deciding what to do next.
Steps for the surviving holder
- Notify the bank in writing, with a copy of the death certificate. Do not keep transacting as if nothing happened before the bank confirms your position.
- Ask the bank to confirm in writing whether you can continue to operate the account and on what terms.
- If the bank says the deceased's share must go through the estate, the executors or administrators will need probate or letters of administration. Our guide on claiming a deceased person's account sets out the order.
- When applying for a grant, list the joint account among the deceased's bank accounts. The Lagos probate process, as described by Tope Adebayo LP (Mondaq, May 2024), requires a bank certificate endorsed by each bank where the deceased had an interest.
- Open an account in your own name for your income and bills while this is resolved.
Practical issues during the gap
- Channels may change. Some services are not offered on joint accounts at all: GTBank's 737 transfers and FirstBank's *894# service exclude joint accounts, so if you relied on a branch or online channel tied to the deceased's details, expect disruption.
- Direct debits and standing orders on the account may fail if the bank restricts it. Move essential bills to your own account.
- Salary or pension credits for the deceased may continue to arrive. Tell the payer; amounts paid after death may have to be returned.
- Business partners should check the company's articles and board resolutions as well as the bank mandate, since the bank will follow the company's instructions.
A worked scenario
Example only. Tunde and Bisi hold a joint savings account on an either-to-sign mandate, with a balance of ₦1,800,000. Tunde dies without a will. Bisi writes to the bank with the death certificate. The bank replies that, under its terms, the account will be restricted and Tunde's interest must be dealt with by the administrators of his estate. Bisi and Tunde's adult brother apply for letters of administration, list the joint account on the application, and have the bank endorse the bank certificate. When the grant is issued, the bank releases the balance as the grant and its terms direct. Meanwhile Bisi moves the school fee standing order to an account in her own name. A different bank, or different terms, could have let Bisi continue alone; that is why the written answer from the bank matters.
Next of kin and joint holders are different
A joint holder co-owns the account relationship with the bank. A next of kin is a contact on a form. Being named next of kin gives no right to a dead customer's money; see does next of kin inherit a bank account. If the bank fails, NDIC rules on how joint accounts are covered are a separate question, covered in NDIC cover for joint accounts.
What to check first, while both holders are alive
- Which mandate did you sign: either to sign, or both to sign?
- Do the bank's terms include a survivorship clause? Ask for it in writing.
- Does each holder have a will saying what should happen to their share?
- Does each holder have an account in their own name for emergencies?
- Are there documents, such as statements, that would help an executor prove the balance? See bank-stamped vs verifiable statements.
Questions people ask
Can a surviving joint account holder withdraw money in Nigeria?
It depends on the mandate and the bank's terms. On an either-to-sign account the bank may allow it; on a both-to-sign account it will usually need a new mandate or court authority.
Is a joint account part of the deceased's estate in Nigeria?
The deceased's interest may be treated as part of the estate. Ask the bank how it treats your account and include it when applying for probate or letters of administration.
Do I need letters of administration for a joint account?
If the bank asks for the deceased's share to be dealt with through the estate, yes. Ask the bank in writing first.
Can I use USSD on a joint account?
Some banks exclude joint accounts from USSD, for example GTBank's 737 and FirstBank's *894#, as their FAQs state.
Sources
- Daily Trust: Explainer: why next of kin cannot access deceased's inheritance (10 Dec 2023) · accessed Oct 2026
- Mondaq (Tope Adebayo LP): Issuance of letters of administration in Nigeria, a practical approach (29 May 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
- FirstBank: FAQs · accessed Oct 2026
- GTBank: 737 FAQs · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.