If the deceased passed on without a will, what will happen to the bank account? Can next-of-kin (NOK) contact the bank directly or the request need to be facilitated by the trustee?

We would like to clarify that unclaimed monies in bank accounts will continue to be held by the banks even when the accounts are inactive or the account holder has passed on.
As the deceased has not made a will, you will need to first obtain the Grant of Letter of Administration from the court, then present the Letter of Administration to each bank in order for banks to disclose the deceased’s account information to you. This is the only legal method to access the deceased’s bank account(s).
You can check the Family Justice Courts website (https://www.judiciary.gov.sg/family/apply-for-letters-of-administration) or enquire with the Family Justice Courts for more information on the court procedure.