What to do when an AmeriCU account holder dies
Report the death to AmeriCU's Member Relationship Center at 1-800-388-2000
The Member Relationship Center at AmeriCU coordinates account transitions after a member's death. How each account is handled depends on its setup: POD and trust accounts transfer automatically, while solely-owned accounts typically require court authorization through Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
The claim process begins with a phone call to 1-800-388-2000. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and the death certificate available when making initial contact.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with AmeriCU:
Filing a claim
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued ID of each person responsible for settling the account
- SAM, the virtual assistant, is available 24/7
- Live representatives keep the Member Relationship Center hours
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID, for each person settling the account
- Written stop-payment instruction for outstanding checks and draftsEnds the ten-day window in which AmeriCU may keep paying them (Section 31).
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, for an account with no beneficiary or joint owner, if probate is requiredIssued by the New York Surrogate's Court and provided by the executor or administrator.
- Small Estate Affidavit or Affidavit of Voluntary Administration, if the estate qualifies as a small estate, in place of Letters
- Trust documents or a certification of trust, and the trust's Tax ID Number (EIN), for a trust-owned account, from the successor trusteeWith the death certificate.
- IRA beneficiary claim paperwork, for a Traditional IRA, Roth IRA or Coverdell ESAA payable-on-death designation does not cover these accounts.
- Court order or proof of authority under state law, if the custodian of a UTMA account died
- Indemnification agreement, if AmeriCU requires one before releasing funds to a claimant
What happens to each kind of account6
- Joint account with survivorship
Under Section 3.b a joint account carries rights of survivorship, and all sums pass to the surviving owner(s) unless the Account Card, or AmeriCU's own online application and authentication record, states otherwise.1
A joint account with rights of survivorship transfers to the surviving owner on notification.2
- Joint account without survivorship
On a joint account without survivorship, the deceased owner's share passes to their estate.1
- Payable-on-death account
Named payable-on-death beneficiaries receive the funds after the last owner dies, on providing the required documentation. Multiple surviving beneficiaries take equal shares, with no survivorship between them (Section 4).1
AmeriCU has no duty to notify beneficiaries (Section 4).1
- IRA
A payable-on-death or trust designation does not reach an IRA (Section 4).1
Traditional and Roth IRAs and Coverdell ESAs are settled on the separate IRA beneficiary designation, never on a payable-on-death designation.2
- Custodial account (UTMA/UGMA)
If the custodian of a UTMA account dies, AmeriCU may suspend the account until it receives instructions from a person authorized by law to withdraw funds, or a court order authorizing withdrawals (Section 6).1
- Debt protection, GAP or service contract
A loan carrying ACUShield Debt Protection with Life Plus may have its balance cancelled on the borrower's death. A paid claim keeps that debt off the estate.3
State law on paying a balance without lettersNew York
- New York
N.Y. SCPA § 1310
New York law permits a credit union to pay from a deceased member's balance on an affidavit made under oath, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.N.Y. SCPA § 1310Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Paid to: surviving spouse
Limit: $30,000 in total from every holder
When: forthwith
Paid to: surviving spouse, children eighteen or older, either parent, brother or sister, niece or nephew, or at their request a creditor or the person who paid the funeral expense
Limit: $15,000 in total from every holder
When: not less than thirty days after the death
Paid to: a distributee, a creditor, or the person who paid the funeral expenses
Limit: $5,000 held at the institution and $5,000 in total from every holder
When: not less than 6 months after the death
The section permits the payment. It does not require the credit union to make it. The section sets further conditions.
Accounts handled elsewhere2
What AmeriCU's agreement and guidance say7
- Telling the institution
Under Section 31 ("Death or Incompetence"), AmeriCU may honor transfer orders, withdrawals, deposits and other transactions "until we know of a member's death."1
- Payments after the death
Even once it knows of the death, AmeriCU may keep paying checks or drafts drawn on the account for ten days after the death, unless a person claiming an interest in the account instructs it to stop payment (Section 31). Money market and checking drafts and the debit card are in scope.1
- What it does when notified
On notification, AmeriCU may restrict account access, disable card access and freeze online and mobile banking.2
- Debts owed to the institution
Under Section 3.b, a surviving owner's interest is subject to AmeriCU's statutory lien for the deceased owner's obligations and to any security interest or pledge the deceased owner granted, even if the surviving owner never consented to it.1
The statutory lien and offset in Section 21 do not reach an IRA.1
- Indemnity a claimant may have to give
AmeriCU may require anyone claiming a deceased owner's funds to indemnify it for any losses it sustains in honoring the claim (Section 31).1
Section 28 says AmeriCU gives no legal advice on trust or court-ordered arrangements and may demand indemnity or a bond.1
- Dormant and unclaimed accounts
An account with no deposit, withdrawal, member acknowledgment or correspondence for three consecutive years is turned over to the State of New York (Section 27). AmeriCU then has no further liability, and the heir applies to the state agency instead.1
A share savings account with no deposit or withdrawal for 36 months, a balance under $200 and no other AmeriCU account or loan can be charged an Inactive Account Maintenance Fee. An inactive checking account under $5,000 with no other relationship is closed and moved into share savings after 12 months without activity.1
- Holds and legal process
Section 39 of the Membership and Account Agreement covers holds for suspected financial exploitation.1
Not in AmeriCU's published guidance5
- A department for deceased-customer accounts
- A fax number for claim documents
- An email address for claim documents
- Online claim form
- How long a claim takes
AmeriCU's Member Relationship Center can be reached by phone at 1-800-388-2000 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from AmeriCU primary sources (22 pages reviewed). How we research.
AmeriCU death claims support
Member Relationship Center
Phone
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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