What to do when a American Savings Bank account holder dies
Contact American Savings Bank's Successor Relations - CRS Department — 5-step process, 9 required documents, and 5-10 business days after all documentation is received, though complex estates may take longer
Customer Banking Center
Phone1-808-627-6900
Toll-Free1-800-272-2566
Emailinfo@asbhawaii.com
Mailing Address
American Savings Bank, P.O. Box 2300, Honolulu, HI 96804-2300
TDD (Text Relay)
WebsiteLearn more→
Successor Relations - CRS Department
Phone1-808-539-7228
Mailing Address
American Savings Bank, Attn: Successor Relations, PO Box 2300, Honolulu, HI 96804-2300
WebsiteLearn more→
Successor Relations - CRS Department
Phone1-808-539-7228
Mailing Address
American Savings Bank, Attn: Successor Relations, PO Box 2300, Honolulu, HI 96804-2300
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
After a American Savings Bank 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 Savings Bank's Successor Relations - CRS Department at 1-808-539-7228 with the proper legal authority documents.
American Savings Bank offers an online claims portal that makes the initial filing process more straightforward. Survivors can also initiate claims by phone or by mailing documentation directly.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
The death claim process at American Savings Bank works as follows:
Filing a claim
1
Notify American Savings Bank of the account holder's death by visiting a local branch, calling the Successor Relations department at (808) 539-7228, emailing SuccessorRelations@asbhawaii.com, or submitting the Decedent Notification Form online or by mail
2
Gather required documentation:
- Copy of the death certificate (photocopy accepted; original certified copy may be requested in some cases)
- Completed Decedent Notification Form (available at any branch or online)
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant
3
Choose the appropriate settlement path:
- For accounts with POD beneficiary: provide the death certificate and beneficiary ID to claim funds directly at a branch
- For joint accounts with right of survivorship: provide the death certificate; surviving owner retains access to the account
- For trust accounts: provide the trust document, any amendments, and proof of acceptance as Successor Trustee
- For sole-owned accounts without beneficiary: obtain Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from a Hawaii court, or file an Affidavit for Collection under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 560:3-1201 for qualifying small estates
4
Submit documents to the Successor Relations department via branch drop-off, mail to American Savings Bank, Attn: Successor Relations, PO Box 2300, Honolulu, HI 96804-2300, or email to SuccessorRelations@asbhawaii.com
5
American Savings Bank will review submitted documentation and process the claim
Required Documents
- Copy of the death certificate (photocopy accepted; original certified copy may be requested)
- Completed Decedent Notification Form
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant (beneficiary, executor, administrator, or successor trustee)
- Account information for the deceased (account numbers if available)
- For accounts without beneficiary: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from a Hawaii court
- For small estates: Affidavit for Collection under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 560:3-1201
- For trust accounts: original trust document, any amendments, and proof of acceptance as Successor Trustee
- For IRA accounts: IRA beneficiary claim forms and applicable distribution election forms
- For out-of-state notarized documents: notarization at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or a valid Apostille for documents notarized in other countries
The Decedent Notification Form is for notification purposes only and does not grant permission to access funds or obtain account information. Court orders (including Letters Testamentary) issued by courts outside of Hawaii are generally not accepted because out-of-state courts do not have jurisdiction over Hawaii property; representatives may need to obtain an order from a Hawaii court. Visiting a local branch is the most direct way to initiate the estate settlement process. For sole-owned accounts, if there are no living beneficiaries at the time of death, the funds become part of the estate and go through the probate process. A Decedent Account Guide is available for download from the ASB website.
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. When a borrower dies, the loan obligation transfers with the property to whoever inherits it. Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Act, the lender cannot accelerate the loan or call it due when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, or the borrower’s revocable trust.
1
Notify American Savings Bank of the borrower's death by calling the Customer Banking Center at (808) 627-6900 or toll-free at (800) 272-2566
2
Provide initial information:
- Deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number, and loan number
- Certified copy of the death certificate
3
Request the Successor in Interest documentation package from the mortgage servicing department
4
Complete and return the Successor in Interest form with supporting documentation proving your ownership interest in the property (e.g., probated will, court order, deed, or trust document)
5
American Savings Bank will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest
6
Once confirmed, choose from available options:
- Continue making payments on the existing loan
- Apply for loss mitigation
- Assume the loan
- Refinance in your own name
- Pay off the remaining balance
7
Continue making monthly mortgage payments during the review process to avoid default
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Completed Successor in Interest form (obtained from mortgage servicing department)
- Documentation proving ownership interest in the property: probated will, court order, recorded deed, or trust document showing you as successor trustee or beneficiary
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from a Hawaii court (if going through probate)
- Marriage certificate (if surviving spouse)
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3), American Savings Bank cannot enforce a due-on-sale clause when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, relative upon death, or the borrower's revocable living trust. Court orders (including Letters Testamentary) issued by courts outside of Hawaii are generally not accepted because out-of-state courts do not have jurisdiction over Hawaii property; representatives may need to obtain an order from a Hawaii court.
Expected timelines at American Savings Bank: 5-10 business days after all documentation is received, though complex estates may take longer. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
American Savings Bank requires several documents to process a claim, including Copy of the death certificate (photocopy accepted; original certified copy may be requested), Completed Decedent Notification Form, and Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant (beneficiary, executor, administrator, or successor trustee), 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
Yes. Existing deposit accounts (checking, savings, money market, CDs) can be retitled to your revocable living trust. Visit an American Savings Bank branch with your Certification of Trust and trustee identification. IRA accounts cannot be retitled to a trust. A trust only governs accounts that were owned by the trust at the time of the individual's death.
Generally, no. Court orders (including Letters Testamentary) issued by courts outside of Hawaii are not accepted because out-of-state courts do not have jurisdiction over Hawaii property. Representatives seeking to access a deceased loved one's account typically must obtain an order from a Hawaii court. For notarized affidavits executed in other countries, documents must be signed and notarized at a United States Embassy or Consulate or include a valid Apostille.
When an account holder with a POD (Payable on Death) designation dies, the named beneficiary can claim the account funds by visiting an American Savings Bank branch with a copy of the death certificate and a valid government-issued photo ID. If multiple beneficiaries are listed, all beneficiaries should be present to receive the disbursement. POD accounts bypass the probate process and pass directly to the named beneficiary. If there are no living beneficiaries at the time of death, the funds become part of the estate.
Contact the Successor Relations department at (808) 539-7228 or email SuccessorRelations@asbhawaii.com. You can also visit any local branch or mail documents to American Savings Bank, Attn: Successor Relations, PO Box 2300, Honolulu, HI 96804-2300. Provide a copy of the death certificate and the completed Decedent Notification Form, which is available for download from the ASB website or at any branch.
For qualifying small estates, a claimed successor may request funds by presenting a death certificate and an Affidavit for Collection that satisfies Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 560:3-1201. This avoids the full probate process. For sole-owned accounts without a POD beneficiary or trust designation that do not qualify under the small estate threshold, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from a Hawaii court are required.
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.
Multiple American Savings Bank accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Successor Relations - CRS Department to confirm what applies.
Customer Banking Center
Phone1-808-627-6900
Toll-Free1-800-272-2566
Emailinfo@asbhawaii.com
Mailing Address
American Savings Bank, P.O. Box 2300, Honolulu, HI 96804-2300
TDD (Text Relay)
WebsiteLearn more→
Successor Relations - CRS Department
Phone1-808-539-7228
Mailing Address
American Savings Bank, Attn: Successor Relations, PO Box 2300, Honolulu, HI 96804-2300
WebsiteLearn more→
Successor Relations - CRS Department
Phone1-808-539-7228
Mailing Address
American Savings Bank, Attn: Successor Relations, PO Box 2300, Honolulu, HI 96804-2300
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
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