What to do when an Andrews FCU account holder dies
Report the death to Andrews FCU's Support Services at 1-800-487-5500
When a member of Andrews FCU passes away, the Support Services handles the transition of accounts to beneficiaries or the estate. Accounts with Payable on Death designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate, while solely-owned accounts may require Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Andrews FCU:
Filing a claim
- 00.800.4875.6267 from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and most of Europe
- 0011.800.4875.6267 from Australia
- 010.800.4875.6267 from Japan
- 001.800.4875.6267 from Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand
- 002.800.4875.6267 from Korea
- 990.800.4875.6267 from Finland
- 09.800.4875.6267 from South Africa
- The 00.800.4875.3535 line is 24-hour telephone banking only and cannot take a death notification
- Secure Message in Digital Banking
- Email to DepositSupportServices@andrewsfcu.org
- Mail to Andrews Federal Credit Union, Attn: Support Services, 5711 Allentown Road, Suitland, MD 20746, or from overseas, Unit 34601 Box 17, APO AE 09005-4601
- In person at any U.S. or European branch
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID, for each beneficiary or claimant, or the representative
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, if the estate is probated
- Small estate appointment, when the estate qualifies: from the Maryland Register of Wills, or the DC, Virginia or New Jersey equivalent
- Proof of an earlier payable-on-death payee's death, when a surviving payee claims that payee's share
- Trust document or Certificate of Trust, and trustee identification, if a trust owns the account or is the payable-on-death payee
What happens to each kind of account5
- Joint account with survivorship
"At the death of any owner, the balance in the account shall belong to the surviving owner(s)." If two or more owners survive, it stays a joint account so long as at least one survivor is a member or eligible for membership.1
If no survivor is eligible for membership, Andrews Federal pays the balance out to the survivor, in equal pro rata shares if more than one, rather than keeping the account open.1
- Payable-on-death account
On proof of the last surviving owner's death and of the payee's identity, Andrews Federal issues each living payable-on-death payee a check for an equal pro rata share, based on the number of payees in its records. A payee claiming a larger share because another payee died first must prove that earlier death.1
If every named payable-on-death payee died before the owner, the amount payable goes to the owner's estate.2
- Account in one name
A single-owner account with no payable-on-death payee passes through the estate. The personal representative presents Letters, or the small estate appointment, to collect.2
- Trust account
A trust-owned account is handled by the successor trustee under the trust terms, on the death certificate plus trustee documentation.2
- Certificate of deposit
Without a waiver, the early withdrawal penalty on a share certificate is 90 days of dividends on original terms under 24 months, 180 days on terms of 24 months or more, and up to 360 days on 55-month and 84-month specials.3
What Andrews FCU's agreement and guidance say6
- Telling the institution
Under the Terms and Conditions, Andrews Federal may accept deposits payable to a deceased owner, and may pay checks or other orders drawn by a deceased owner, "until we have actual notice of the death and a reasonable opportunity to act on that notice."1
- Debts owed to the institution
Any liabilities the deceased owner owed the credit union, such as a signature loan, a share-secured loan, a credit card or an overdraft line, are paid out of the account before any distribution to payable-on-death payees.1
- Powers of attorney
Andrews Federal treats a power of attorney as revoked only after it receives written notice, a death certificate or a court order, and has had a reasonable time to act on it.1
- Fees
The Truth in Savings disclosure states that "in certain circumstances such as the death or incompetence of an owner of this account, the law permits, or in some cases requires, the waiver of the early withdrawal penalty." Ask for the waiver when breaking a share certificate or club account.3
- Dormant and unclaimed accounts
After 12 months without activity Andrews Federal marks the account Inactive and charges an inactivity fee on the Base Share Savings account. After 18 months it becomes Dormant, and accessing it may require extra identity and authority verification before the balance is eventually escheated to the state.1
- Accounts from a merged institution
Former HUD Federal Credit Union members have been Andrews Federal members since the April 30, 2026 merger. During the systems transition, the merger page lists the legacy HUD Federal member line alongside the Andrews number.4
Not in Andrews FCU's published guidance1
- A procedure for reporting a death
Sources4
- 1.Terms and Conditions, Updated 7/2022, Reviewed 3/2024
- 2.Contact Us
- 3.Truth in Savings
- 4.Andrews Federal and HUD Federal merger page
Andrews FCU's Support Services can be reached by phone at 1-800-487-5500 and email at DepositSupportServices@andrewsfcu.org for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Andrews FCU primary sources (16 pages reviewed). How we research.
Andrews FCU death claims support
Support Services (Deposit Support Services)
Phone
Overseas members (international toll-free)
Former HUD Federal members (transition line)
Hours
Mailing address
Website
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Andrews FCU accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Forms for Settling an Estate
Free forms for settling an estate: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter
Prepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.
Petition for Probate and Letters
Open probate and ask the court to appoint you and issue Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
Notice to Creditors
Notify estate creditors and start the claim period — the published notice plus mailed copies for known creditors.
Renunciation of Executor
Decline an appointment as executor named in a will — the writing filed with the court before anyone is appointed.
Affidavit of Heirship
Prepare the sworn statement of a deceased person's family history and heirs for recording in the county land records, with your state's recording instructions.
Small Estate Affidavit
Collect a small estate's property without probate — the sworn affidavit presented to banks and other holders, with a presentation letter for each.
Tools for Settling an Estate
Free tools for settling an estate: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need and see ordering info for your state.
Do I Need Probate?
Find out if an estate needs probate or qualifies for simplified procedures.
Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
Find out which tax returns need to be filed after someone dies and whether tax clearance is required.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away.
What Do I Do When Someone Dies?
A step-by-step checklist for the days, weeks, and months after a death, with state rules noted where they apply.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax, and inheritance tax for an estate.
