What to do when an American Savings Bank account holder dies
Report the death to American Savings Bank's Successor Relations - CRS Department at 1-808-539-7228
After an account holder at American Savings Bank 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 Savings Bank's Successor Relations - CRS Department at 1-808-539-7228 with the proper legal authority documents.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
The death claim process at American Savings Bank works as follows:
Filing a claim
- Section 1 asks whether government benefits such as Supplemental Security Income or a Civil Service pension are deposited into any of the accounts, and which ones
- Section 1 also asks whether the deceased person held any accounts in trust as trustee, and which ones
- Section 3 asks whether probate has been opened. If it has, ASB wants the personal representative's mailing address, phone and email, and a copy of the court order appointing them
- Drop them off at any branch
- Mail them to American Savings Bank, P.O. Box 2300, c/o Successor Relations-CRS, Honolulu, HI 96804-2300
- Email them to SuccessorRelations@asbhawaii.com
- Social Security Administration: (800) 772-1213
- State of Hawaii Vital Records: (808) 586-4533
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: (800) 827-1000
- National Cemetery Administration: (800) 827-1000
- Defense Finance and Accounting Service: (888) 332-7411
- Office of Personnel Management: (202) 606-1800
- Named payable-on-death beneficiary: request the disbursement. Where several beneficiaries are named, all should be present and each brings government-issued identification
- Successor trustee: provide the original trust, all amendments, and proof of acceptance of the trusteeship
- Executor or administrator: provide Letters Testamentary issued by a Hawaii court
- Small estate: provide an Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property (Hawaii Judiciary form 3CE210), with a certified copy of the death certificate attached
- Safe deposit box with no surviving joint owner: bring certified Letters Testamentary or another court order
- Completed Deceased Customer Notification Form (Sections 1-3)
- Copy of the death certificate. ASB accepts a photocopy, though it may ask for an original certified copy in some instances
- Supporting authority documents: Letters Testamentary, an Affidavit for Collection, or the trust with its amendments and acceptance of trusteeship
- Cover letter with the deceased account holder's name, account numbers, and your contact information
Required Documents
- Copy of the death certificateASB accepts a photocopy and may ask for an original certified copy. Certified copies issued outside Hawaii are typically acceptable, with a certified translation if not in English.
- Completed Deceased Customer Notification Form (MKT-418A-W)
- Government-issued photo ID for the claimant, the beneficiary, executor or successor trustee
- The deceased person's account numbers, if available
- Copy of the court order appointing the personal representative, if probate has been openedSection 3 of the notification form also asks for the personal representative's mailing address, phone and email.
- Letters Testamentary from a Hawaii court, for an account in the deceased person's sole name with no payable-on-death beneficiary
- Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property, for a small estate, in place of Letters TestamentaryHawaii Judiciary form 3CE210, with a certified copy of the death certificate. ASB accepts an affidavit executed in another state.
- Original trust document and all amendments, for a trust accountWith proof of acceptance of appointment as successor trustee.
- Copy of the certified deed, for real property secured by an ASB loanPlus a four-digit security code and, if mailed, a notarized letter confirming your identification.
- Signed, notarized written instructions about the account, from a payable-on-death beneficiary who cannot come to a branchASB accepts written instructions from a properly designated representative when they are notarized, including instructions executed out of state.
- Notarization at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or a valid Apostille, for documents notarized outside the United States
Forms American Savings Bank issues1
- Deceased Customer Notification Form (MKT-418A-W)
Available to download.1
What happens to each kind of account6
- Payable-on-death account
On a payable-on-death account in one name, ASB closes the account and pays the beneficiaries. Where several beneficiaries are named, all should be present and each must bring government-issued identification.2
On a payable-on-death account with a joint owner, the joint owner is entitled to the funds. ASB states payable-on-death accounts are not subject to probate or to the terms of a trust, so the designation, not the trust, decides who receives the account.2
- Joint account with survivorship
ASB states the joint owner is entitled to the funds and that nothing more is needed beyond notifying the bank of the death.2
- Trust account
For a trust account, provide the original trust, any amendments, and proof that you accepted appointment as successor trustee.2
- Account in one name
Funds in an account in one name with no payable-on-death beneficiary remain owned by the estate. A successor may request them with a death certificate and either Letters Testamentary or an Affidavit for Collection.2
- Safe deposit box
With no surviving joint owner, a personal representative or other court-appointed representative may access the box. ASB may ask for certified copies of valid Letters Testamentary or another court order.2
- IRA
ASB contacts IRA beneficiaries itself, so an out-of-date beneficiary address delays that part of the claim.2
Help American Savings Bank offers survivors1
- Decedent Account Guide (MKT-500)
A printable summary of the process that ASB points survivors to.3
What American Savings Bank's agreement and guidance say6
- Who can get account information
The notification form is for notification only. In ASB's words, it does not give permission to access funds or obtain information.1
- Deposits after the death
ASB must return certain deposits made after the death to the paying agency, which is why its notification form asks which accounts receive government benefits.1
- Powers of attorney
ASB states that a power of attorney, even a durable one, is invalid on the death of the grantor, and that an authorized signatory's authority ends on the death of the sole or last surviving account owner.2
- Wills, probate and small estates
ASB generally does not accept court orders from outside Hawaii, including Letters Testamentary, because it takes the view that other courts lack jurisdiction over Hawaii property such as bank accounts. An executor from another state usually needs an order from a Hawaii court.2
An Affidavit for Collection executed in another state is accepted, and so are notarized written instructions.2
- What it says about taxes
ASB states it is required to keep reporting account information to the IRS under the deceased person's Social Security number until the accounts are closed or transferred to the new account holder's name.2
- What it does when notified
ASB tells survivors that several mail solicitations are already in production and may reach the estate over the next six to eight weeks.2
Not in American Savings Bank's published guidance1
- 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.
- At any branch
- By email to SuccessorRelations@asbhawaii.com
- By mail to American Savings Bank, Attn: Successor Relations, PO Box 2300, Honolulu, HI 96804-2300
Required Documents
- Copy of the death certificateASB accepts a photocopy but may ask for an original certified copy.
- Completed Deceased Customer Notification Form
- Copy of the certified deed evidencing your ownership interest in the property
- Letters Testamentary or other Hawaii court document evidencing your appointment, if you are the personal representative
- The trust, all amendments, and the acceptance of appointment of the trusteeship, if you are the successor trustee
- Proof of identity and a four-digit security codeIf you submit by mail, include a notarized letter confirming your identification.
What happens to each kind of account1
- Loan
ASB accepts servicing instructions only where the deceased person was a borrower. If they signed only as an accommodation mortgagor, the personal representative or trustee cannot request changes.1
ASB states that only co-borrowers are personally liable to the bank. The estate remains responsible for repaying a loan in the deceased person's sole name, and a co-borrower and the estate are jointly responsible.1
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
What American Savings Bank's agreement and guidance say2
- Payments after the death
ASB does not suspend payments while a successor request is pending.1
- Wills, probate and small estates
Court orders issued outside Hawaii, including Letters Testamentary, are generally not accepted because out-of-state courts lack jurisdiction over Hawaii property. An executor from another state usually has to open an ancillary Hawaii proceeding.1
Not in American Savings Bank's published guidance1
- How long a claim takes
Sources1
- At any branch
- By email to SuccessorRelations@asbhawaii.com
- By mail to American Savings Bank, Attn: Successor Relations, PO Box 2300, Honolulu, HI 96804-2300
Required Documents
- Copy of the death certificateA photocopy is accepted; an original certified copy may be requested.
- Completed Deceased Customer Notification Form
- Copy of the certified deed evidencing your ownership interest in the property
- Letters Testamentary or other Hawaii court document evidencing your appointment, if you are the personal representative
- The trust, all amendments, and the acceptance of appointment of the trusteeship, if you are the successor trustee
- Proof of identity and a four-digit security codeIf the request is mailed, include a notarized identification letter.
What happens to each kind of account1
What American Savings Bank's agreement and guidance say2
- What it does when notified
ASB continues automatic payments made from a jointly owned checking account where the joint owner remains liable for the debt, and may discontinue all other automatic payments once it is notified of the death.1
- Wills, probate and small estates
Court orders issued outside Hawaii are generally not accepted.1
Not in American Savings Bank's published guidance1
- How long a claim takes
Sources1
American Savings Bank's Successor Relations - CRS Department can be reached by phone at 1-808-539-7228 and email at successorrelations@asbhawaii.com for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
(3)·
Data sourced from American Savings Bank primary sources (17 pages reviewed). How we research.
American Savings Bank death claims support
Successor Relations - CRS Department
Phone
Mailing address
Website
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