What to do when a Ascend FCU account holder dies
Contact Ascend FCU — 11-step process, 5 required documents, and pod and joint accounts processed upon verification of documents; estate accounts vary based on probate requirements
Member Services
Phone1-800-342-3086
Fax1-931-454-1111
Mailing Address
PO Box 1210, Tullahoma, TN 37388
Local (Tullahoma)
Retirement & Investment Services (LPL Financial)
Lost/Stolen Card (After Hours)
WebsiteLearn more →
Member Services
Phone1-800-342-3086
Fax1-931-454-1111
Mailing Address
PO Box 1210, Tullahoma, TN 37388
Local (Tullahoma)
Retirement & Investment Services (LPL Financial)
Lost/Stolen Card (After Hours)
WebsiteLearn more →
Death Claims
Phone1-800-342-3086
Fax1-931-454-1111
Mailing Address
Ascend Federal Credit Union, PO Box 1210, Tullahoma, TN 37388
Verified Mar 2026
When a Ascend FCU member passes away, the Death Claims 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.
The claim process can be initiated by phone at 1-800-342-3086 or by sending documentation to memberservice@ascend.org. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate available when making initial contact.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Ascend FCU:
Filing a claim
1Contact Ascend Member Services at 800-342-3086 (available 24/7) or visit any branch to report the death
2Provide the full name of the deceased member and date of death
3Submit a certified death certificate and government-issued photo ID for the claimant
4For POD accounts: named beneficiaries provide certified death certificate and photo ID to claim funds directly
5For joint accounts with right of survivorship: surviving owner provides certified death certificate to remove the deceased from the account
6For non-POD/non-joint accounts: executor or administrator provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from probate court
7For trust-titled accounts: successor trustee provides trust document, death certificate, and trustee identification
8For IRA accounts: beneficiaries contact Ascend and request IRA distribution paperwork; call 800-342-3086 and ask for an IRA/Certificate Support Representative
9For investment accounts through LPL Financial: a separate claims process applies; contact Ascend Retirement & Investment Services at 931-454-2967
10For AD&D insurance claims: contact TruStage Plan Administrator at 877-309-6576 (Monday-Friday 7 AM - 8 PM CST, Saturday 8:30 AM - 5 PM CST)
11Cancel any direct deposits and pre-authorized drafts; review account history for recurring transactions
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for claimant
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD/joint account)
- Small Estate Affidavit (if estate qualifies under Tennessee law -- Tenn. Code Ann. 30-4-103, estates valued at $50,000 or less)
- Trust documents and trustee identification (if trust is named as beneficiary or for trust-titled accounts)
Ascend provides $2,000 of Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance at no cost to primary members age 18 to 69 through TruStage Insurance Agency. For AD&D claims, contact TruStage Plan Administrator at 877-309-6576. For investment accounts held through LPL Financial, a separate claims process applies; contact Ascend Retirement & Investment Services at 931-454-2967. Tennessee small estate affidavit may be available for estates valued at $50,000 or less (Tenn. Code Ann. 30-4-103).
Processing timelines at Ascend FCU: POD and joint accounts processed upon verification of documents; estate accounts vary based on probate requirements. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Ascend FCU requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for claimant, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD/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
Funds in POD accounts are payable to the designated beneficiaries upon presentation of a certified death certificate and government-issued photo ID. The POD designation is not altered by will; funds pass by operation of law directly to named beneficiaries. If no beneficiary survives the last owner, funds are paid to the estate of the last living owner.
Contact Ascend Member Services at 800-342-3086 (available 24/7) or visit any of the 27 branch locations. You will need a certified death certificate and government-issued photo ID. For POD accounts, beneficiaries can claim funds directly. For accounts without POD or joint ownership, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court are required. Tennessee small estate affidavit may be available for estates valued at $50,000 or less (Tenn. Code Ann. 30-4-103).
Yes. Ascend provides $2,000 of Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance at no cost to primary members age 18 to 69, through TruStage Insurance Agency. Members must complete and return a form for the insurance to take effect. To file a claim or for questions, contact the TruStage Plan Administrator at 877-309-6576 (Monday-Friday 7 AM - 8 PM CST, Saturday 8:30 AM - 5 PM CST) or visit TruStage.com.
Ascend FCU's Death Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-342-3086, email at memberservice@ascend.org, and fax at 1-931-454-1111 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Ascend FCU accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Death Claims can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Member Services
Phone1-800-342-3086
Fax1-931-454-1111
Mailing Address
PO Box 1210, Tullahoma, TN 37388
Local (Tullahoma)
Retirement & Investment Services (LPL Financial)
Lost/Stolen Card (After Hours)
WebsiteLearn more →
Member Services
Phone1-800-342-3086
Fax1-931-454-1111
Mailing Address
PO Box 1210, Tullahoma, TN 37388
Local (Tullahoma)
Retirement & Investment Services (LPL Financial)
Lost/Stolen Card (After Hours)
WebsiteLearn more →
Death Claims
Phone1-800-342-3086
Fax1-931-454-1111
Mailing Address
Ascend Federal Credit Union, PO Box 1210, Tullahoma, TN 37388
Verified Mar 2026
Tools for settling a Ascend FCU estate
Calculators and checklists to help navigate estate settlement after a Ascend FCU account holder passes away.
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