What to do when a Arkansas Federal account holder dies
Contact Arkansas Federal — 8-step process, 6 required documents, and pod and joint accounts: typically processed within a few business days upon document verification. estate accounts: timeline varies based on probate court proceedings and document review.
Member Services
Phone1-501-982-1000
Toll-Free1-800-456-3000
Fax1-501-982-3299
Mailing Address
Arkansas Federal Credit Union, 17500 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, AR 72223
WebsiteLearn more →
Member Services
Phone1-501-982-1000
Toll-Free1-800-456-3000
Fax1-501-982-3299
Mailing Address
Arkansas Federal Credit Union, 17500 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, AR 72223
WebsiteLearn more →
Bereavement
Phone1-501-982-1000
Toll-Free1-800-456-3000
Fax1-501-982-3299
Mailing Address
Arkansas Federal Credit Union, 17500 Cantrell Rd, Little Rock, AR 72223, Attention: Bereavement
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
When a Arkansas Federal member passes away, the Bereavement 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.
Arkansas Federal 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 Arkansas Federal:
Filing a claim
1Contact the Bereavement department at Arkansas Federal via phone at 800-456-3000, email at deceasedaccounts@afcu.org, fax at (501) 982-3299, or by mail to 17500 Cantrell Rd, Little Rock, AR 72223, Attention: Bereavement
2Provide the deceased member's full name, Social Security number, and account numbers
3Submit a certified death certificate (from funeral director or state registry)
4Provide one of the following: Small Estate Collection documentation, Letters Testamentary, or Letters of Administration
5Arkansas Federal reviews the circumstances and may request additional documents based on applicable state laws
6For POD accounts: named beneficiary provides certified death certificate and government-issued photo ID to claim funds
7For joint accounts with right of survivorship: surviving owner provides certified death certificate to remove the deceased from the account
8Address related services: online banking, direct deposits, automatic payments, debit and credit cards, safe deposit boxes, and insurance
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate (from funeral director or state registry)
- Deceased member's full name, Social Security number, and account numbers
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD or joint account)
- Small Estate Collection documentation (if estate qualifies under Arkansas law)
- Government-issued photo ID for claimant
- Trust documents (if trust is named as beneficiary)
Arkansas Federal has a dedicated Bereavement department. Documents can be submitted via mail, fax, or email. The credit union may request additional documents based on applicable state laws. Related government agencies to notify: Social Security Administration (800-772-1213), Veterans Affairs (800-827-1000), Defense Finance and Accounting Service (888-332-7411).
Processing timelines at Arkansas Federal: POD and joint accounts: typically processed within a few business days upon document verification. Estate accounts: timeline varies based on probate court proceedings and document review.. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Arkansas Federal requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate (from funeral director or state registry), Deceased member's full name, Social Security number, and account numbers, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD or joint account), 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 any Arkansas Federal branch with government-issued photo ID or call 800-456-3000 (Monday-Friday 7 AM - 6 PM CT) to request a POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary designation form. Online beneficiary designation is not currently available. You will need the beneficiary's full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship. Review beneficiary designations after major life events such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child.
Accounts with a POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary pass directly to the named beneficiary outside of probate upon presentation of a certified death certificate and photo ID. Joint accounts with right of survivorship pass to the surviving owner. Accounts without POD or joint ownership require probate, and the court-appointed executor or administrator must provide Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration to access funds. Contact the Bereavement department at deceasedaccounts@afcu.org or 800-456-3000.
Contact the Bereavement department by email at deceasedaccounts@afcu.org, by phone at 800-456-3000 (Monday-Friday 7 AM - 6 PM CT), by fax at (501) 982-3299, or by mail to 17500 Cantrell Rd, Little Rock, AR 72223, Attention: Bereavement. Have the deceased member's full name, Social Security number, and account numbers ready along with a certified death certificate. Additional information is available at afcu.org/help-and-support/deceased-member-information/.
You will need a certified death certificate (from a funeral director or state registry), the deceased member's full name, Social Security number, and account numbers, and one of the following: Small Estate Collection documentation, Letters Testamentary, or Letters of Administration. Submit documents to the Bereavement department by email (deceasedaccounts@afcu.org), fax ((501) 982-3299), or mail (17500 Cantrell Rd, Little Rock, AR 72223, Attention: Bereavement). Arkansas Federal may request additional documents based on state laws.
Arkansas Federal's Bereavement can be reached by phone at 1-800-456-3000, email at deceasedaccounts@afcu.org, and fax at 1-501-982-3299 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Arkansas Federal accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Bereavement can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Member Services
Phone1-501-982-1000
Toll-Free1-800-456-3000
Fax1-501-982-3299
Mailing Address
Arkansas Federal Credit Union, 17500 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, AR 72223
WebsiteLearn more →
Member Services
Phone1-501-982-1000
Toll-Free1-800-456-3000
Fax1-501-982-3299
Mailing Address
Arkansas Federal Credit Union, 17500 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, AR 72223
WebsiteLearn more →
Bereavement
Phone1-501-982-1000
Toll-Free1-800-456-3000
Fax1-501-982-3299
Mailing Address
Arkansas Federal Credit Union, 17500 Cantrell Rd, Little Rock, AR 72223, Attention: Bereavement
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
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