How to Notify Banks and Credit Unions

Visit each bank or credit union in person with a certified death certificate, your government-issued photo ID, and letters testamentary (once you have them). When you arrive, say: "I need to report the death of an account holder and discuss the status of their accounts." The bank will pull up all accounts under the deceased's name and Social Security number.

Joint accounts with right of survivorship remain fully accessible to the surviving account holder — you simply need to remove the deceased's name. Payable-on-death (POD) or transfer-on-death (TOD) accounts pass directly to the named beneficiary outside of probate. Sole accounts in the deceased's name only will be frozen until you present letters testamentary, at which point the bank will convert them to an estate account under your control as executor.

Before closing any accounts, ask the bank to provide a list of all automatic payments (autopay) and direct deposits linked to each account. You will need to redirect or cancel these. Common autopays include mortgage, utilities, insurance premiums, and subscriptions. Keep at least one account open as an "estate account" for paying estate expenses — funeral costs, final bills, attorney fees, and taxes. Do not close this account until the estate is fully settled, which may take 6 to 18 months. Request copies of the last 12 months of statements for your records, as you will need them for the final tax return and estate accounting.