When a bereavement occurs, families face an avalanche of practical and emotional challenges. At such moments, delays and administrative hurdles can deepen distress – especially when it comes to managing a deceased person’s financial affairs. That’s why the recent update to UK Finance’s Bereavement Principles represents a welcome step forward for more compassionate, consistent treatment of grieving families.
But we at Phillips & Cohen Associates (PCA) firmly believe that industry progress cannot stop here. The funeral services community, which stands at the frontline of bereavement support, has a vital role to play in calling for deeper reform.
As a global leader in deceased account management, PCA welcomes the revised UK Finance principles for driving collaboration across the banking industry and shining a light on best practice. These new standards aim to make life simpler for bereaved families trying to close or settle financial accounts – often a confusing, emotionally taxing process.
The initiative is a significant win for both industry and consumers, acknowledging the genuine progress achieved through joint effort.
Yet we believe institutions must keep pushing for innovation – particularly around digital validation of deaths and improved turnaround times. Both are crucial steps in ensuring that compassion and efficiency go hand in hand.
For those of us working closely with families during times of loss, the continued reliance on physical, certified death certificates – still demanded by many financial institutions – is more than outdated; it’s a source of unnecessary delay and distress.
Families are often forced to produce multiple copies, wait for processing, and navigate unclear instructions from different providers. In 2026, that feels inexcusable given the secure digital data sources already available to verify a registered death almost in real time.
Electronic validation doesn’t just help banks – it helps funeral directors, estate administrators, and families alike. It reduces the bureaucracy that too often compounds grief and allows more time and emotional energy to be spent where it matters most: on remembering those who have died and supporting each other.
At PCA, we also highlight the new aspirational processing timeframe of 15 days for bereavement cases. It’s progress, certainly, but mandatory timelines – as seen in Australia’s 14-day rule – have proven transformative elsewhere. Without enforceable standards, too many families still face long waits to resolve accounts or release funds for essential expenses like funerals.
This is where the funeral sector can lend its advocacy. Our industry has long championed dignified, timely processes for the recently bereaved – and we see firsthand how financial bottlenecks can add needless strain. Partnering with bodies like UK Finance, the Credit Services Association, and PCA could amplify our collective voice for reform that truly centres on grieving families.
Bereavement will always be complex, but bureaucracy doesn’t have to be. By embracing digital innovation and supporting calls for consistent service standards, the funeral profession can help ensure families experience efficiency and empathy in equal measure. Transforming bereavement care requires continued innovation and collaboration across the industry.
That’s a challenge worth accepting – and one the funeral sector is uniquely positioned to champion.
By Nick Cherry, Divisional CEO, Phillips & Cohen Associates (pictured)
