What to do when a American Eagle FCU account holder dies
Contact American Eagle FCU — 10-step process, 6 required documents, and processing time varies by account type and complexity. pod accounts typically process faster than probate-dependent accounts. contact american eagle for specific timelines.
Member Contact Center
Phone1-860-568-2020
Toll-Free1-800-842-0145
Fax1-860-657-4908
Mailing Address
American Eagle Financial Credit Union, PO Box 280128, East Hartford, CT 06128-0128
WebsiteLearn more →
Member Contact Center
Phone1-860-568-2020
Toll-Free1-800-842-0145
Fax1-860-657-4908
Mailing Address
American Eagle Financial Credit Union, PO Box 280128, East Hartford, CT 06128-0128
WebsiteLearn more →
Member Contact Center
Phone1-860-568-2020
Toll-Free1-800-842-0145
Fax1-860-657-4908
Mailing Address
American Eagle Financial Credit Union, PO Box 280128, East Hartford, CT 06128-0128
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
When a American Eagle FCU member passes away, the Member Contact Center handles the transition of accounts to beneficiaries or the estate. Accounts with Payable on Death designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate, while solely-owned accounts may require Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court.
The claim process can be initiated by phone at 1-860-568-2020 or by sending documentation to info@americaneagle.org. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate available when making initial contact.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at American Eagle FCU:
Filing a claim
1Contact American Eagle Financial Credit Union at 800-842-0145 or 860-568-2020, or visit any branch location to notify them of the member's passing
2Obtain a certified death certificate from the state Department of Health
3For joint accounts with right of survivorship: the surviving owner retains access to the account; the deceased member is removed from the account
4For POD beneficiary accounts: beneficiaries present a certified death certificate and government-issued photo ID to claim funds
5For accounts without POD or joint ownership: provide Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the Connecticut Probate Court
6For small estates: inquire about Connecticut small estate procedures (Conn. Gen. Stat. 45a-273)
7For IRA accounts: beneficiaries must complete IRA distribution paperwork per the IRA agreement
8For trust accounts: the successor trustee provides trust documentation and the certified death certificate to assume management of the account
9Complete any required claim forms provided by American Eagle
10Submit all documents in person at a branch or by mail to PO Box 280128, East Hartford, CT 06128-0128
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for claimant
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if probate required)
- Small estate affidavit (if applicable under Connecticut law)
- Trust documentation (if successor trustee is claiming trust accounts)
- IRA beneficiary distribution forms (for retirement accounts)
Account types addressed in the death claim process include individual accounts, joint accounts with right of survivorship, POD accounts, trust accounts, and IRA accounts. Former Wellness Federal Credit Union members who joined through the June 2024 merger follow the same procedures. American Eagle may require additional documentation depending on the specific circumstances of the estate.
Processing timelines at American Eagle FCU: Processing time varies by account type and complexity. POD accounts typically process faster than probate-dependent accounts. Contact American Eagle for specific timelines.. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
American Eagle FCU requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for claimant, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if probate required), and additional documentation depending on the account type. Certified copies are typically needed—photocopies are generally not accepted for death certificates or court documents.
Frequently asked questions
American Eagle offers Payable on Death (POD) beneficiary designations on deposit accounts. Visit any of American Eagle's 16 branches or call 800-842-0145 or 860-568-2020 to request a POD form. Provide the full legal name and identifying information for each beneficiary. All account owners must sign the form. POD designations apply to checking, savings, money market, and certificate accounts. A POD may not be designated on a Trust Account. IRA accounts use a separate beneficiary designation process.
Yes. American Eagle offers trust accounts that can be set up using their checking or savings products. You need to provide a trust agreement or Certificate of Trust, government-issued ID for all trustees, and the trust TIN/EIN or grantor SSN. Visit any branch or call 800-842-0145 to start the process. Only the Trustees may transact on the trust account. If two or more people create a Revocable Trust account, they own the account jointly with survivorship.
Contact American Eagle at 800-842-0145 or 860-568-2020, or visit any branch. You will need a certified death certificate and additional documents depending on the account type. For joint accounts with right of survivorship, the surviving owner retains access. For POD accounts, beneficiaries present a death certificate and government-issued photo ID. For accounts requiring probate, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the Connecticut Probate Court are needed.
For Revocable Trust or Pay-On-Death accounts at American Eagle, beneficiaries cannot withdraw unless all persons creating the account die and the beneficiary is then living. If multiple beneficiaries are named and survive, they own the account in equal shares without right of survivorship. The account creator may change beneficiaries, change account types, and withdraw all or part of funds at any time. A POD may not be designated on a Trust Account. Minors may be beneficiaries only if a parent, custodian, or legal guardian is set forth for the minor.
American Eagle FCU's Member Contact Center can be reached by phone at 1-800-842-0145, email at info@americaneagle.org, and fax at 1-860-657-4908 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple American Eagle FCU accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Member Contact Center can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Member Contact Center
Phone1-860-568-2020
Toll-Free1-800-842-0145
Fax1-860-657-4908
Mailing Address
American Eagle Financial Credit Union, PO Box 280128, East Hartford, CT 06128-0128
WebsiteLearn more →
Member Contact Center
Phone1-860-568-2020
Toll-Free1-800-842-0145
Fax1-860-657-4908
Mailing Address
American Eagle Financial Credit Union, PO Box 280128, East Hartford, CT 06128-0128
WebsiteLearn more →
Member Contact Center
Phone1-860-568-2020
Toll-Free1-800-842-0145
Fax1-860-657-4908
Mailing Address
American Eagle Financial Credit Union, PO Box 280128, East Hartford, CT 06128-0128
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
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