What to do when a Arkansas Federal account holder dies
Contact Arkansas Federal — 5-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
Bill Pay Support
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
Bill Pay Support
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 Apr 2026
After a Arkansas Federal member dies, the Bereavement manages the transfer of accounts. POD-designated and trust-owned accounts pass directly to beneficiaries. Accounts held solely in the member's name may require probate court documents—Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration—before funds can be released.
Arkansas Federal 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.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Arkansas Federal:
Filing a claim
1
Contact 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
2
Gather and submit required documentation:
- Deceased member's full name, Social Security number, and account numbers
- Certified death certificate (from funeral director or state registry)
- One of the following: Small Estate Collection documentation, Letters Testamentary, or Letters of Administration
3
Arkansas Federal reviews the circumstances and may request additional documents based on applicable state laws
4
Choose the appropriate settlement path:
- For POD accounts: named beneficiary provides certified death certificate and government-issued photo ID to claim funds
- For joint accounts with right of survivorship: surviving owner provides certified death certificate to remove the deceased from the account
- For accounts without POD or joint ownership: proceed through probate with Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
5
Address 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).
Expected 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. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
Documentation required by Arkansas Federal includes 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), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Contact the Bereavement department by email at deceasedaccounts@afcu.org with "Attention: Bereavement" in the subject line, by fax at (501) 982-3299, by mail to 17500 Cantrell Rd, Little Rock, AR 72223 (Attention: Bereavement), or by phone at 800-456-3000. You will need a certified copy of the death certificate. Additional documentation such as Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, or Small Estate Collection documentation may be required depending on the account type and state law.
For joint accounts with right of survivorship, the surviving owner provides a certified death certificate to the Bereavement department to have the deceased removed from the account. The surviving owner retains full access to the funds. For accounts with POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary designations but no surviving joint owner, the named beneficiary provides a certified death certificate and government-issued photo ID to claim the funds.
Yes. Arkansas Federal offers Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) with tax-free contributions, growth, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses. The HSA requires a $25 minimum opening deposit and has no monthly service fee or low balance fee. You must be enrolled in a qualifying high-deductible health plan (HDHP) and cannot be enrolled in Medicare, claimed as a dependent, or have received VA benefits in the past 3 months. An HSA debit card is included. After age 65, funds can be withdrawn penalty-free for non-medical expenses (subject to income tax). HSAs cannot be retitled to a trust.
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.
When the deceased had multiple Arkansas Federal accounts, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Bereavement can clarify what's needed for each account type.
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
Bill Pay Support
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
Bill Pay Support
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 Apr 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Arkansas Federal accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
