What to do when an Advantis account holder dies
Report the death to Advantis' Rivermark Member Services at 1-800-452-8502
Advantis has merged with another institutionMerged, effective October 2024
Advantis Credit Union merged into Rivermark Community Credit Union on October 1, 2024, and the combined entity now operates entirely under the Rivermark name. Rivermark still publishes the "Legacy Advantis CONSUMER" and "Legacy Advantis BUSINESS" Change in Terms packages at https://www.rivermarkcu.org/terms, which govern accounts opened under the Advantis charter. Former Advantis accounts, beneficiary designations, and deceased-member servicing all run on the Rivermark platform; call Rivermark at 503-626-6600 or 800-452-8502. The advantiscu.org domain redirects to rivermarkcu.org, and no Advantis-branded branch or product page remains.
After a member of Advantis dies, the Rivermark Member Services manages the transfer of accounts. POD-designated and trust-owned accounts pass directly to beneficiaries. Accounts held solely in the member's name may require probate court documents—Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration—before funds can be released.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Advantis:
Filing a claim
- Give the deceased member's full legal name and, if you have them, account numbers
- Identify any outstanding checks, automatic payments, or scheduled transfers
- Ask that debit cards and digital banking access be disabled, and that HELOC draws be blocked
- Named POD beneficiary: request distribution of the account funds
- Surviving joint owner: ask to have the deceased owner removed from the account
- Successor trustee: bring the Certification of Trust or trust agreement with amendments and proof of your appointment
- Personal representative: bring Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, or a small estate affidavit if state law allows one
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Supporting legal documents: Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, a small estate affidavit, or trust documentation with proof of the successor trustee's authority
- Copy of your government-issued photo ID
- A cover letter with the deceased member's full legal name, account numbers if known, your role, your contact information, and how the funds should be paid
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the claimantThe claimant is the POD beneficiary, surviving joint owner, successor trustee, or personal representative.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, where no POD beneficiary or surviving joint owner exists
- Small estate affidavit, where permitted under applicable state law
- Certification of Trust or the trust agreement with amendments, for trust accountsWith evidence of the successor trustee's authority.
- IRA or HSA beneficiary claim and distribution election forms, for IRAs and HSAsSettled under the separate beneficiary designation on file.
- Estate EIN and Letters, if opening an estate account
- Indemnification agreement, if Rivermark requires one
What happens to each kind of account7
- Account in one name
The deceased owner's interest passes, subject to applicable law, to the estate, or to the POD beneficiary if one is named.1
- Joint account with survivorship
Joint owners hold the account with rights of survivorship, so the deceased owner's interest becomes the surviving joint owner's property. The survivor still gives Rivermark a certified death certificate to remove the deceased owner.1
- Payable-on-death account
Rivermark pays the surviving POD or trust beneficiaries named on the Account Card or POD Designation form. Multiple payees share equally unless percentages were designated, and a predeceased payee's share is divided pro rata among the survivors.1
- IRA
An IRA is settled under its own separate beneficiary designation, not the account's POD designation.1
- Health savings account
An HSA is settled under its own separate beneficiary designation, not the account's POD designation.2
- Trust account
The successor trustee provides the trust documentation and evidence of authority before Rivermark releases funds.1
- Fiduciary account
Fiduciary accounts such as estate or conservator accounts are not eligible for Courtesy Pay.2
State law on paying a balance without lettersOregon, Washington
- Oregon
ORS 723.466
Oregon law permits a credit union to pay from a deceased member's balance on an affidavit, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.ORS 723.466Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Paid to: surviving spouse
Limit: $25,000 held at the institution and $25,000 in total from every holder
When: at any time after the death
Paid to: Oregon Health Authority or Department of Human Services (no surviving spouse; preferred claim under ORS 411.708, 411.795 or 416.350)
Limit: $25,000 held at the institution and $25,000 in total from every holder
When: not less than 46 days and no more than 75 days after the death
Paid to: surviving children 18 or older; else surviving parent(s); else surviving brothers and sisters 18 or older; else any other surviving heir
Limit: $25,000 held at the institution and $25,000 in total from every holder
When: not earlier than 76 days after the death; not earlier than 46 days after the death where the institution obtains prior verbal or written authorization from both the Oregon Health Authority and the Department of Human Services
Paid to: estate administrator of the State Treasurer (intestate, no known heirs)
Limit: $25,000 held at the institution and $25,000 in total from every holder
The section permits the payment. It does not require the credit union to make it. The section sets further conditions.
- Washington
RCW 30A.22.190(2)
Washington law permits a credit union to pay from a deceased member's balance on an affidavit, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.RCW 30A.22.190(2)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Limit: $2,500 held at the institution
Paid to: the surviving spouse, next of kin, funeral director, or other creditor who may appear to be entitled thereto
The section permits the payment. It does not require the credit union to make it. The section sets further conditions.
RCW 30A.22.190(1)
Washington law permits a credit union to pay from a deceased member's balance on an affidavit, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.RCW 30A.22.190(1)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Limit: The section sets no dollar limit.
Paid to: the surviving spouse (party to a community property agreement with the decedent that reaches the funds)
The section permits the payment. It does not require the credit union to make it. The section sets further conditions.
What Advantis's agreement and guidance say7
- Telling the institution
Until Rivermark learns of the death, it may keep honoring transfers, withdrawals, deposits and other transactions on the account.1
- Payments after the death
Once it learns of the death, Rivermark may still pay checks and honor payment or transfer orders the deceased person authorized for ten days, unless someone authorized to stop payment instructs otherwise.1
- Indemnity a claimant may have to give
Rivermark "can require anyone who claims funds in your account after your death to indemnify us for any losses resulting from honoring that claim".1
- Membership
The Basic Savings share account is what holds the membership open, so it is closed last.2
- Which state governs the account
The agreement is governed by Oregon law, and venue for disputes is any Oregon county where Rivermark has a branch.1
- Arbitration
The agreement has an arbitration clause, with a carve-out for claims filed in Oregon small claims court.1
- Accounts from a merged institution
Accounts opened under the Advantis charter are also governed by the "Legacy Advantis CONSUMER Change in Terms" package, which Rivermark publishes on its terms page.3
Not in Advantis's published guidance3
- A claim form
- A department for deceased-customer accounts
- How long a claim takes
Mortgage and home lending
Mortgages and home equity loans are liabilities, not assets. They do not have beneficiaries and cannot be retitled to a trust.
- Deceased borrower's full legal name and loan number
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Continue making payments on the existing loan
- Assume the loan
- Refinance in your own name
- Pay off the remaining balance
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Documentation of your ownership interest in the propertyA probated will, court order, recorded deed, or trust document.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, if the estate is in probate
- Marriage certificate, if you are the surviving spouse
Federal law on calling a home loan after a death
These exemptions apply to a loan secured by residential real property containing less than five dwelling units.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d); 12 CFR 191.5(b), 141.14Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer by devise, descent, or operation of law on the death of a joint tenant or tenant by the entirety.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(3); 12 CFR 191.5(b)(1)(iii)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer to a relative resulting from the death of a borrower.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(5)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer where the spouse or children of the borrower become an owner of the property.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(6)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
A federal regulation sets further conditions on these transfers.12 CFR 191.5(b)(1)(v)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- Deceased borrower's full legal name and account number
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Pay off the balance
- Refinance the debt
- Negotiate repayment terms
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Documentation of your ownership interest in the propertyA probated will, court order, recorded deed, or trust document.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, if the estate is in probate
- Marriage certificate, if you are the surviving spouse
Advantis' Rivermark Member Services can be reached by phone at 1-800-452-8502 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Advantis primary sources (22 pages reviewed). How we research.
Advantis death claims support
Rivermark Member Services
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