What to do when a American Express account holder dies
Contact American Express — 4-step process, 8 required documents, and varies based on account type and completeness of documentation
American Express Savings Customer Service
Phone1-800-446-6307
Mailing Address
American Express National Bank, PO Box 30384, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0384
WebsiteLearn more→
American Express Savings Customer Service
Phone1-800-446-6307
Mailing Address
American Express National Bank, PO Box 30384, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0384
WebsiteLearn more→
Deceased Account Services (Savings)
Phone1-800-446-6307
Fax1-800-542-0779
Mailing Address
American Express National Bank, PO Box 30384, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0384
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
After a American Express account holder dies, accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer to the designated recipients without probate. Solely-owned accounts require the estate's representative to contact American Express's Deceased Account Services (Savings) at 1-800-446-6307 with the proper legal authority documents.
American Express provides an online portal for initiating death claims, which can simplify the initial notification and document submission process. Claims can also be started by phone or by mailing the required documents.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at American Express:
Filing a claim
1
Gather required documentation:
- Download and complete the Deceased Letter of Instruction (LOI) form from americanexpress.com
- Obtain a certified copy of the death certificate
- Prepare valid government-issued ID for the claimant
2
Provide account-type-specific documents:
- For individual accounts with no POD beneficiary: Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, or a notarized state-specific Small Estate Affidavit
- For individual accounts with POD beneficiaries: a copy of the death certificate plus an Affidavit of Identity for each beneficiary
- For revocable living trust accounts: a notarized state-specific Certificate/Declaration of Trust identifying the current trustee
- For joint accounts with a surviving owner: a copy of the death certificate (plus a New Account Form if the decedent was the primary owner)
3
Submit documents:
- By fax: 1-800-542-0779
- By mail: American Express National Bank, PO Box 30384, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0384
4
For card member accounts (credit and charge cards), handle separately from the bank:
- Call the Deceased Cardmember line at 1-800-266-7064 (Mon-Fri 8am-10pm ET); corporate cards call 1-888-297-3947 (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm ET)
- Provide the date of death and the executor or personal representative information
- Choose to either take over the account (subject to credit review and eligibility) or close it; on most closed accounts Amex offers interest-free monthly payments for up to 24 months to settle the balance
- An unpaid card balance is a debt of the estate; authorized users are not personally liable and their cards are closed with the account
- To use any Membership Rewards points, the executor or personal representative must call the Membership Rewards line at 1-800-AXP-EARN (1-800-297-3276) to request a one-time redemption before the points are forfeited
Required Documents
- Deceased Letter of Instruction (LOI) form
- Death certificate (copy only; originals cannot be returned)
- For individual accounts with no POD beneficiary: Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, or notarized state-specific Small Estate Affidavit
- For individual accounts with POD beneficiaries: an Affidavit of Identity for each beneficiary
- For revocable living trust accounts: notarized state-specific Certificate/Declaration of Trust identifying the current trustee
- For joint accounts with a surviving owner: copy of the death certificate (plus a New Account Form if the decedent was the primary owner)
- Valid government-issued ID for the claimant
- Account information for the deceased
What to know at this institution
Two entirely separate processes. SAVINGS/CD SIDE (American Express National Bank): Amex does not accept a will (or copy of a will) as authorization to manage a deceased deposit account. Court-issued documents (Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration) or a notarized Small Estate Affidavit are required for individual accounts with no POD beneficiary; a POD beneficiary claims with the death certificate and an Affidavit of Identity. Submit via the online Document Center, fax to 1-800-542-0779, or mail to PO Box 30384, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0384. CARD SIDE (credit and charge cards): report the death to the Deceased Cardmember line at 1-800-266-7064 (Mon-Fri 8am-10pm ET), corporate cards 1-888-297-3947. An outstanding card balance is a debt of the estate; a family member or third party handling the estate is not personally responsible for it, and authorized users are not liable. Membership Rewards points are forfeited when the account is cancelled on death, EXCEPT the executor or personal representative may request a one-time points redemption (depending on the product) by calling 1-800-AXP-EARN (1-800-297-3276) before the account is closed.
Prepare your letter of instruction to American Express
American Express provides its own letter-of-instruction form. Answer a few questions and we complete that official form for you to print and sign.
Build your letter of instructionHow long the process takes at American Express: Varies based on account type and completeness of documentation. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.
American Express requires several documents to process a claim, including Deceased Letter of Instruction (LOI) form, Death certificate (copy only; originals cannot be returned), and For individual accounts with no POD beneficiary: Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, or notarized state-specific Small Estate Affidavit, 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
Under the Membership Rewards program terms, if American Express cancels the card for any reason (including the cardmember's death), all points in the Rewards Account are forfeited. There is an exception on death: the executor of the estate or personal representative may be able to make a one-time points redemption, depending on the product, by calling the Membership Rewards line at 1-800-AXP-EARN (1-800-297-3276). Points are not transferred to an heir's own account; the redemption must be requested before the account is closed.
No. An outstanding American Express card balance is a debt of the deceased cardmember's estate, paid from estate assets during administration. Authorized users are not personally liable for the balance, and their cards are closed when the account is closed. A family member or third party handling the affairs of the decedent is not personally responsible to pay the debt. Report a cardmember death to the Deceased Cardmember line at 1-800-266-7064 (Mon-Fri 8am-10pm ET).
No. American Express National Bank does not accept a will or a copy of a will as authorization to manage a deceased deposit account. For an individual account with no POD beneficiary, you must provide court-issued Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, or a notarized state-specific Small Estate Affidavit. A POD beneficiary claims with a copy of the death certificate and an Affidavit of Identity.
For joint accounts with right of survivorship, the account passes to the surviving owner as sole owner. The survivor submits a copy of the death certificate to remove the deceased owner, through the online Document Center, by fax to 1-800-542-0779, or by mail to American Express National Bank, PO Box 30384, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0384. If the deceased was the primary owner, a New Account Form is also required.
American Express's Deceased Account Services (Savings) can be reached by phone at 1-800-446-6307 and fax at 1-800-542-0779 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple American Express accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Deceased Account Services (Savings) to confirm what applies.
Sources
Data sourced from American Express primary sources (23 pages reviewed). How we research.
American Express Savings Customer Service
Phone1-800-446-6307
Mailing Address
American Express National Bank, PO Box 30384, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0384
WebsiteLearn more→
American Express Savings Customer Service
Phone1-800-446-6307
Mailing Address
American Express National Bank, PO Box 30384, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0384
WebsiteLearn more→
Deceased Account Services (Savings)
Phone1-800-446-6307
Fax1-800-542-0779
Mailing Address
American Express National Bank, PO Box 30384, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0384
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
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