What to do when an Associated Bank account holder dies
Report the death to Associated Bank's Customer Care at 1-800-236-8866
When an account holder at Associated Bank passes away, the next step depends on how the accounts were set up. Accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate. Accounts titled solely in the deceased's name require the estate's legal representative to work with Associated Bank's Customer Care (1-800-236-8866) to access and distribute the funds.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
The death claim process at Associated Bank works as follows:
Filing a claim
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary, executor or successor trustee
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, if there is no payable-on-death designation and the account is not jointly owned
- Small estate affidavit, in place of court letters, where the state provides one
- Trust documents and successor trustee documentation, for a trust-owned accountThe successor trustee also provides identification.
What happens to each kind of account4
- Account in one name
Section 4.2 of the Deposit Account Agreement says the funds "will be released to the legal representative of the owner's estate or, if there is none, in accordance with applicable law."1
- Joint account with survivorship
"Upon the death of any of you, the Account becomes the property of the surviving depositor(s)" (section 4.3). The survivor provides the death certificate to update the records.1
- Payable-on-death account
A payable-on-death beneficiary provides government-issued photo ID and receives the funds without court involvement once all account holders have died. The beneficiary has no claim while any joint owner is living.2
Under section 4.4, the funds pass to the named beneficiaries once all owners have died, in equal shares with no right of survivorship among them unless the form says otherwise. A beneficiary who survives the owner and then dies leaves that share to their own estate.1
- Trust account
Under section 4.6, Associated Bank may review and keep a copy of the trust agreement or court order that governs the account.1
Accounts handled elsewhere3
- Associated Bank Private Wealth
Trust, estate settlement and fiduciary accounts2
Phone: 1-800-431-4649
- Associated Investment Services Guidance Center
Brokerage accounts held through Associated Investment Services, on the Wealthscape platform2
Phone: 1-800-595-7722
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM CT
- Associated Benefits Connection Participant Services
Health savings accounts2
Phone: 1-800-270-7719
What Associated Bank's agreement and guidance say4
- Telling the institution
Under section 4.17 you agree to notify Associated Bank of the death. On a joint account, "Upon the death of any owner, the survivor(s) agrees to notify us at once" (section 4.3).1
- Payments after the death
Until Associated Bank knows of the death and has a reasonable opportunity to act, it may accept, pay or collect items. Even after it knows, it may for 10 days after the date of death pay checks drawn before the death, unless a person claiming an interest in the account orders it to stop payment (section 4.17).1
- What it says about taxes
Under section 4.17 you agree to reimburse Associated Bank for any tax it is required to pay on the owner's account under state and federal law.1
- Disputes between claimants
Under section 4.19 (Adverse Claims), if claimants disagree, Associated Bank may freeze the account until it receives evidence satisfactory to it that the dispute is resolved. It may require all authorized signers to sign and may return presented checks stamped "Refer to Maker."1
Not in Associated Bank's published guidance3
- A claim form
- A department for deceased-customer accounts
- A mailing address for claim documents
Sources2
- 1.Deposit Account Agreement, (7/22) P06320
- 2.Contact
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.
- The deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number and loan number
- A certified copy of the death certificate
- Continue making payments on the existing loan
- Apply for loan assumption
- Refinance the mortgage
- Pay off the remaining balance
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Documentation of the ownership interest in the propertyA probated will, court order, recorded deed, or trust document.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, if going through probate
- Marriage certificate, for a surviving spouse
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-800-236-3617
Federal law on calling a home loan after a death
These exemptions apply to a loan secured by residential real property containing less than five dwelling units.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d); 12 CFR 191.5(b), 141.14Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer by devise, descent, or operation of law on the death of a joint tenant or tenant by the entirety.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(3); 12 CFR 191.5(b)(1)(iii)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer to a relative resulting from the death of a borrower.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(5)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer where the spouse or children of the borrower become an owner of the property.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(6)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
A federal regulation sets further conditions on these transfers.12 CFR 191.5(b)(1)(v)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Not in Associated Bank's published guidance1
- Successor in interest page or packet
- The deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number and account number
- A certified copy of the death certificate
- Pay off the outstanding balance
- Refinance the debt
- Negotiate repayment terms
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Documentation of the ownership interest in the propertyA probated will, court order, deed, or trust document.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, if going through probate
- Marriage certificate, for a surviving spouse
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-800-236-3617
What happens to each kind of account1
- Loan
The Home Equity Early Disclosure lets Associated Bank end the line and require the whole balance at once only for fraud or material misrepresentation, failure to meet the repayment terms, or action or inaction that adversely affects the collateral or the bank's rights in it. Death is not a ground.1
The disclosure also lets Associated Bank refuse further advances or reduce the limit where the collateral value falls significantly or the bank reasonably believes the repayment requirements cannot be met.1
Not in Associated Bank's published guidance1
- Terms in its agreements for a customer's death
Sources1
Associated Bank's Customer Care can be reached by phone at 1-800-236-8866 and email at wecare@associatedbank.com for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
(3)·
Data sourced from Associated Bank primary sources (27 pages reviewed). How we research.
Associated Bank death claims support
Customer Care (account holder deceased)
Phone
Automated telephone banking
Private Wealth - Trust & Estate Administration
WE CARE Team escalation (complaints)
Mortgage Direct Lending (deceased borrower)
Home Equity and Auto Lending
HSA / Associated Benefits Connection (Participant)
Associated Investment Services (brokerage accounts)
Hours
Mailing address
Website
Estate planning articles
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Forms for Settling an Estate
Free forms for settling an estate: probate petition, small estate affidavit, creditor notice and closing forms. Prepare each form for your state.
Affidavit of Death
Put a joint owner's or a transfer on death deed owner's death on the land records with the affidavit your state's statute names, laid out for recording.
IRS Form 56
Notify the IRS that you are the fiduciary of an estate, a trust or a person, or end a notice filed before, on the official form.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter
Prepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.
Petition for Probate and Letters
Open probate and ask the court to appoint you and issue Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
Notice to Creditors
Notify estate creditors and start the claim period — the published notice plus mailed copies for known creditors.
Renunciation of Executor
Decline an appointment as executor named in a will — the writing filed with the court before anyone is appointed.
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Free tools for settling an estate: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for your state.
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