Bank accounts in bankruptcy?

Bankruptcy and bank accounts

This section covers the questions you are most likely to want answered about your bank account if you are made bankrupt:

When you are declared bankrupt, you must stop using your cheque book and bank cards, and immediately surrender them to the Official Receiver.

Accounts are normally frozen by the bank when they are told about your bankruptcy by the Official Receiver.

Some banks allow bankrupts to continue to use existing accounts. Even if the bank agrees to this, they will freeze the account when they become aware of the bankruptcy order, service may be restored, but no overdraft or borrowing facilities will be provided.

Bank Accounts In Credit At Bankruptcy

Money in any bank account in your name at the date of the bankruptcy order is an asset in the bankruptcy.

If you have a joint account, the Official Receiver will decide how much of the money to release to each of the joint account holders.

Bank Accounts Overdrawn At Bankruptcy

Any overdraft will be included in the bankruptcy.

For bank account is in joint names, all parties are jointly responsible for the whole debt. This is the same for any joint credit agreement. Therefore the bank can ask the joint account holder facing bankruptcy to pay all the money owed.

Bank Accounts During Bankruptcy

A non discharged bankrupt can apply to open a new Bank/ Building society account, but they must inform the bank they are a serving bankrupt.

Banks/Building Societies are not obliged to grant an account, but if so, it is likely to be a basic account without credit facilities. These types of accounts can be quite hard to get as they are not profit making for the Banks and therefore is often unaware of their existence.

What to do if your prepayment meter has run out of credit

This guide explains what you should do if your pre-payment meter for gas or electricity runs out of credit....

How to deal with a Debt Collection Letter from Lowell Portfolio 1 Ltd

Have you received a letter from Lowell Portfolio 1 Ltd. In this guide we'll show you a common letter they send, the tactics they use and how to deal with...

Young Adults Could Face A Lifetime Of Debt

More and more 17-24 year olds are being forced to turn to bank and payday loans as well as borrowing from friends and family. We explore what help is available...