What to do when a Ameris Bank account holder dies
Contact Ameris Bank's Argent Financial Group - Trust & Estate Services — 9-step process, 6 required documents, and varies based on account type, documentation completeness, and whether probate is required. pod beneficiary claims are typically processed faster than probated estates.
Customer Service Center
Phone1-866-616-6020
Mailing Address
Ameris Bank, P.O. Box 105075, Atlanta, GA 30348
WebsiteLearn more →
Customer Service Center (Death Notifications)
Phone1-866-616-6020
Mailing Address
Ameris Bank, P.O. Box 105075, Atlanta, GA 30348
Mortgage Servicing (Dovenmuehle)
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
When a Ameris Bank account holder passes away, the next step depends on how the accounts were set up. Accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate. Accounts titled solely in the deceased's name require the estate's legal representative to work with Ameris Bank's Argent Financial Group - Trust & Estate Services (1-866-616-6020) to access and distribute the funds.
Ameris Bank 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 Ameris Bank:
Filing a claim
1Notify Ameris Bank of the death by calling 1-866-616-6020 or visiting a local branch
2Provide the certified death certificate and your government-issued photo ID
3Ameris Bank will verify your authority and relationship to the deceased
4If the account has a named POD beneficiary, the beneficiary can claim the funds by providing the death certificate and ID
5If the account is titled in a trust, the successor trustee takes control by providing the trust agreement and death certificate
6If neither POD nor trust, the account goes through probate -- provide Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the court
7For small estates that qualify under state law, a Small Estate Affidavit may be accepted
8Complete and return any required distribution forms provided by Ameris Bank
9Funds are distributed per instructions after document review and approval
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the claimant
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if probate required)
- Trust agreement (if account held in trust)
- Small Estate Affidavit (if estate qualifies under state law)
- Proof of relationship to the deceased
For mortgage-related death claims, contact Ameris Bank mortgage servicing (Dovenmuehle Mortgage) at 1-855-249-8131 (Monday-Friday 9 AM to 6 PM ET). Mortgage payment mailing address: Ameris Bank/Dovenmuehle Mortgage Inc., P.O. Box 660592, Dallas, TX 75266-0592. Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982 (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), the lender cannot enforce a due-on-sale clause when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, or relative of the deceased borrower, or to the borrower's revocable living trust. Ameris Bank's wealth management services (trust and estate administration) are now provided through Argent Financial Group.
Processing timelines at Ameris Bank: Varies based on account type, documentation completeness, and whether probate is required. POD beneficiary claims are typically processed faster than probated estates.. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Ameris Bank requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified copy of the death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for the 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
Visit an Ameris Bank branch with your government-issued ID and the beneficiary's information (full legal name, date of birth, Social Security Number, and relationship). You can also call 1-866-616-6020 to inquire about adding a POD (Payable on Death) designation. Personal checking, savings, CD, and money market accounts are eligible for POD beneficiary designations.
If the account has a named POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary, the beneficiary can claim the funds by providing a certified death certificate and government-issued ID at a branch. If the account is titled in a trust, the successor trustee takes control by presenting the trust agreement and death certificate. If neither a POD designation nor trust is in place, the account goes through probate and requires Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the court.
Contact Ameris Bank by calling 1-866-616-6020 or visit a local branch. You will need to provide a certified death certificate, your government-issued ID, your relationship to the deceased, and the deceased's account information. For mortgage-related death claims, contact Ameris Bank mortgage servicing (Dovenmuehle Mortgage) at 1-855-249-8131 (Monday-Friday 9 AM to 6 PM ET).
The mortgage obligation does not disappear at death. Heirs who inherit the property through a trust, will, or intestate succession also inherit the mortgage. Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), Ameris Bank cannot call the loan due or accelerate payments when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, or the borrower's revocable trust. Contact Ameris Bank mortgage servicing (Dovenmuehle Mortgage) at 1-855-249-8131 (Monday-Friday 9 AM to 6 PM ET) to discuss options.
Ameris Bank's Customer Service Center (Death Notifications) can be reached by phone at 1-866-616-6020 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Ameris Bank accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Argent Financial Group - Trust & Estate Services can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Customer Service Center
Phone1-866-616-6020
Mailing Address
Ameris Bank, P.O. Box 105075, Atlanta, GA 30348
WebsiteLearn more →
Customer Service Center (Death Notifications)
Phone1-866-616-6020
Mailing Address
Ameris Bank, P.O. Box 105075, Atlanta, GA 30348
Mortgage Servicing (Dovenmuehle)
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
Tools for settling a Ameris Bank estate
Calculators and checklists to help navigate estate settlement after a Ameris Bank account holder passes away.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Get a personalized checklist for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.
Get Checklist
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.
Use Calculator
How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Calculate how much an executor (personal representative) can charge for administering an estate. See if your state has statutory fees or uses reasonable compensation.
Use Calculator
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need based on the assets and accounts you need to close. See state-specific ordering information.
Use Calculator
Do I Need Probate?
Answer a few questions to find out if an estate needs full probate, qualifies for simplified probate, or can avoid probate entirely with a small estate affidavit.
Check Now
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
Use Calculator