What to do when a Ascend FCU account holder dies
Contact Ascend FCU — 5-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
Mailing Address
PO Box 1210 | 520 Airpark Drive, Tullahoma, TN 37388
Local (Tullahoma)
Retirement & Investment Services (LPL Financial)
Lost/Stolen Card (After Hours)
WebsiteLearn more→
Member Services
Phone1-800-342-3086
Mailing Address
PO Box 1210 | 520 Airpark Drive, Tullahoma, TN 37388
Local (Tullahoma)
Retirement & Investment Services (LPL Financial)
Lost/Stolen Card (After Hours)
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims / Member Services
Phone1-800-342-3086
Mailing Address
Ascend Federal Credit Union, PO Box 1210 | 520 Airpark Drive, Tullahoma, TN 37388
Verified Apr 2026
The Death Claims / Member Services at Ascend FCU coordinates account transitions after a member's death. How each account is handled depends on its setup: POD and trust accounts transfer automatically, while solely-owned accounts typically require court authorization through Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
The claim process begins with a phone call to 1-800-342-3086. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate available when making initial contact.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Ascend FCU requires:
Filing a claim
1
Contact Ascend Member Services at 800-342-3086 (available 24/7) or visit any branch to report the death
2
Provide the full name of the deceased member and date of death
3
Submit a certified death certificate and government-issued photo ID for the claimant
4
Follow the appropriate settlement path based on account type:
- For POD accounts: named beneficiaries provide certified death certificate and photo ID to claim funds directly
- For joint accounts with right of survivorship: surviving owner provides certified death certificate to remove the deceased from the account
- For non-POD/non-joint accounts: executor or administrator provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from probate court
- For trust-titled accounts: successor trustee provides trust document, death certificate, and trustee identification
- For IRA accounts: beneficiaries contact Ascend and request IRA distribution paperwork; call 800-342-3086 and ask for an IRA/Certificate Support Representative
- For investment accounts through LPL Financial: a separate claims process applies; contact Ascend Retirement & Investment Services at 931-454-2967
- For 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)
5
Cancel 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.
Documentation required by Ascend FCU includes Certified death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for claimant, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD/joint account), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
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.
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. For general AD&D questions, call TruStage at 888-787-8243.
Ascend does not offer online beneficiary designation. You must visit a branch, call 800-342-3086, or request a form by mail. For deposit accounts, a Payable on Death (POD) designation form is used. For IRA accounts, call 800-342-3086 and ask for an IRA/Certificate Support Representative. For investment accounts through LPL Financial, contact Ascend Retirement & Investment Services at 931-454-2967. Review beneficiary designations after major life events such as marriage, divorce, birth, or death of a beneficiary.
For joint accounts with right of survivorship (WROS), the surviving owner provides a certified death certificate to Ascend. The deceased owner is removed from the account and the surviving owner retains full ownership of the funds. This process can be handled at any of the 27 Ascend branch locations or by calling 800-342-3086. The surviving owner should review and cancel any direct deposits or pre-authorized drafts that were associated with the deceased.
For general death claims and estate matters, call Ascend Member Services at 800-342-3086 (available 24/7) or visit any branch location. For IRA-specific questions, call 800-342-3086 and ask for an IRA/Certificate Support Representative. For investment accounts through LPL Financial, contact Ascend Retirement & Investment Services at 931-454-2967. For AD&D insurance claims, contact the TruStage Plan Administrator at 877-309-6576. For lost or stolen cards after hours, call 866-609-7654.
Ascend FCU's Death Claims / Member Services can be reached by phone at 1-800-342-3086 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple Ascend FCU accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Death Claims / Member Services to confirm what applies.
Member Services
Phone1-800-342-3086
Mailing Address
PO Box 1210 | 520 Airpark Drive, Tullahoma, TN 37388
Local (Tullahoma)
Retirement & Investment Services (LPL Financial)
Lost/Stolen Card (After Hours)
WebsiteLearn more→
Member Services
Phone1-800-342-3086
Mailing Address
PO Box 1210 | 520 Airpark Drive, Tullahoma, TN 37388
Local (Tullahoma)
Retirement & Investment Services (LPL Financial)
Lost/Stolen Card (After Hours)
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims / Member Services
Phone1-800-342-3086
Mailing Address
Ascend Federal Credit Union, PO Box 1210 | 520 Airpark Drive, Tullahoma, TN 37388
Verified Apr 2026
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