What to do when a Arvest account holder dies
Contact Arvest's Arvest Wealth Management — 5-step process, 5 required documents, and varies based on account type and documentation; pod claims typically faster than probate
Arvest Bank Customer Service
Phone(866) 952-9523
Mailing Address
Arvest Bank, P.O. Box 799, Lowell, AR 72745
24-Hour Account Info Line
Servicio en Espanol
Consumer Credit Card Service
Mortgage Applications
Mortgage Servicing
WebsiteLearn more→
Arvest Wealth Management
Phone(888) 916-2121
Mailing Address
Arvest Wealth Management, PO Box 1515, Lowell, AR 72745
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Service / Arvest Wealth Management
Phone(866) 952-9523
Mailing Address
Arvest Bank, P.O. Box 799, Lowell, AR 72745
Arvest Wealth Management
Verified May 2026
After a Arvest account holder dies, accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer to the designated recipients without probate. Solely-owned accounts require the estate's representative to contact Arvest's Arvest Wealth Management at (866) 952-9523 with the proper legal authority documents.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting Arvest. A certified death certificate is the primary document required to start any claim.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Arvest requires:
Filing a claim
1
Notify Arvest Bank of the account holder's death:
- Call customer service at (866) 952-9523 or visit a local branch
- For trust accounts, contact Arvest Wealth Management at (888) 916-2121
2
Provide a certified death certificate
3
Choose the appropriate settlement path based on account type:
- For POD accounts: beneficiary provides death certificate and valid government-issued ID to claim funds
- For joint accounts with survivorship: ownership passes automatically to surviving owner(s)
- For non-POD individual accounts: executor provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
- For IRA accounts: beneficiary provides death certificate and completes distribution paperwork
- For trust accounts: provide trust documentation and successor trustee identification
4
Complete any required claim forms provided by the bank
5
Arvest Wealth Management Estate Settlement services can assist with complex estates
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for beneficiary or authorized representative
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (for probate estates)
- Trust documentation (if account was held in trust)
- Small Estate Affidavit (if applicable under state law)
Arvest Wealth Management Estate Settlement services provide an experienced team to oversee estate administration, court process, and beneficiary distributions. Arvest can serve as executor or co-executor. Early withdrawal penalties on CDs may be waived upon death of account holder. Contact Arvest Wealth Management at (888) 916-2121 for estate settlement assistance.
Mortgage and home lending
Mortgages and home equity loans are liabilities, not assets. They do not have beneficiaries and cannot be retitled to a trust. When a borrower dies, the loan obligation transfers with the property to whoever inherits it. Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Act, the lender cannot accelerate the loan or call it due when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, or the borrower’s revocable trust.
1
Notify Arvest Mortgage of the borrower's death:
- Call Arvest Mortgage Servicing or visit a local branch
- Provide the deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number, and loan number
2
Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
3
Establish your legal interest:
- Provide documentation proving your ownership interest: probated will, court order, recorded deed, or trust document naming you as successor trustee or beneficiary
- Arvest will review your documentation and confirm your status
4
Once confirmed, discuss options: continue making payments, apply for loan assumption, refinance, or pay off the balance
5
Continue making monthly mortgage payments during the review process to avoid default
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Documentation proving ownership interest in the property (probated will, court order, recorded deed, or trust document)
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if going through probate)
- Marriage certificate (if surviving spouse)
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), Arvest cannot enforce a due-on-sale clause when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, relative upon death, or the borrower's revocable living trust. Arvest Mortgage Servicing portal: mymortgage.arvest.com. Mortgage servicing: (800) 366-2132. Fax documents to (501) 716-5763.
How long the process takes at Arvest: Varies based on account type and documentation; POD claims typically faster than probate. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.
Documentation required by Arvest includes Certified death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for beneficiary or authorized representative, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (for probate estates), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Per the Arvest FAQ, POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary changes on deposit accounts must be completed in person at any Arvest branch. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID; any account owner can make the change. There is no online or downloadable form for deposit accounts. For IRA accounts, separate beneficiary designation paperwork is required. To start the process, call Arvest customer service at (866) 952-9523 or visit a branch.
Notify Arvest Mortgage Servicing at (800) 366-2132 or visit a local branch. Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), Arvest cannot accelerate the loan when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, relative upon death, or the borrower's revocable living trust. Heirs should provide a certified death certificate and documentation proving ownership interest (probated will, court order, deed, or trust document). Continue making monthly payments during the review process to avoid default. The Arvest Mortgage Servicing portal is at mymortgage.arvest.com.
Arvest's Customer Service / Arvest Wealth Management can be reached by phone at (866) 952-9523 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple Arvest accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Arvest Wealth Management to confirm what applies.
Arvest Bank Customer Service
Phone(866) 952-9523
Mailing Address
Arvest Bank, P.O. Box 799, Lowell, AR 72745
24-Hour Account Info Line
Servicio en Espanol
Consumer Credit Card Service
Mortgage Applications
Mortgage Servicing
WebsiteLearn more→
Arvest Wealth Management
Phone(888) 916-2121
Mailing Address
Arvest Wealth Management, PO Box 1515, Lowell, AR 72745
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Service / Arvest Wealth Management
Phone(866) 952-9523
Mailing Address
Arvest Bank, P.O. Box 799, Lowell, AR 72745
Arvest Wealth Management
Verified May 2026
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