What to do when a Banc of California account holder dies
Contact Banc of California — 4-step process, 8 required documents, and 10-15 business days after receipt of all required documents
Client Care Center
Banc of California, 11611 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Client Care Center
Banc of California, 11611 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Client Care Center
Banc of California, 11611 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90049
What happens to Banc of California accounts after the account holder dies depends on how each account was titled. Beneficiary-designated and trust-owned accounts transfer directly. Accounts in the deceased's name alone go through the estate, and the executor or administrator works with Banc of California's Client Care Center (1-877-770-2262) to claim the funds.
Banc of California 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
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Banc of California:
Filing a claim
- POD beneficiary accounts: provide a certified death certificate and beneficiary government-issued ID
- Joint accounts with right of survivorship: provide a certified death certificate to remove the deceased from the account (ownership passes to the survivor unless the signature card shows clear and convincing evidence of a different intent)
- Trust accounts: provide a certified death certificate, trust documentation, and successor trustee identification
- Accounts without beneficiary designation: provide Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court, or a California small estate affidavit for qualifying estates
- IRA accounts: provide a certified death certificate, beneficiary ID, and complete applicable distribution forms (Banc of California is the IRA custodian under IRC Section 408)
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant (beneficiary, executor, or successor trustee)
- Account information for the deceased (account number, account type)
- For accounts without beneficiary: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court
- For trust accounts: trust documentation including successor trustee provisions
- For trust accounts: successor trustee identification documents
- For IRA accounts: IRA distribution or transfer forms
- Written instructions on distribution preference (new account, transfer, or check)
Claims Contact
What to know at this institution
As a regional bank with California branches, in-branch visits are the most common method for processing estate claims. Per Section 23 (Death or Incompetence) of the Deposit Account Agreement and Disclosure, Banc of California may freeze, offset, refuse, and/or reverse deposits and transactions - including governmental or retirement benefit payments payable to the deceased - once an owner dies. Section 55 (Reclamations) specifies that Social Security and Railroad Retirement electronic payments are subject to federal reclamation after the recipient's death: the bank reserves the right to charge the account for the full reclamation amount and to hold any joint account holder or authorized signer responsible for reimbursement if the funds are no longer available, so survivors should not spend benefit deposits received after the date of death. Small estate affidavits may be accepted for qualifying estates under the California Probate Code threshold ($208,850 as of April 1, 2025, per Cal. Prob. Code 13100). Contact the Client Care Center for specific documentation requirements based on the account type and estate situation.
Prepare your letter of instruction to Banc of California
Banc of California accepts a claimant-drafted letter of instruction. We draft it for you — addressed to Banc of California's verified claims department, with the documents it requires enclosed.
Build your letter of instructionOpening an account for the estate itself
Checks made out to the estate deposit into an account titled to the estate, opened by the appointed executor or administrator under the estate's EIN.
How to open an estate account at Banc of California →Expected timelines at Banc of California: 10-15 business days after receipt of all required documents. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
Banc of California requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified copy of the death certificate, Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant (beneficiary, executor, or successor trustee), and Account information for the deceased (account number, account type), 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
PacWest Bancorp merged into Banc of California in late 2023, and consumer accounts now operate under the Banc of California brand. Existing POD designations, joint-with-survivorship titling, and trust account titling carried over. If you held a PacWest account and want to confirm or update your beneficiary designations or trust titling, contact the Banc of California Client Care Center at 877-770-2262 or visit a branch. Deposits remain FDIC insured under the Banc of California charter.
California is a community property state. When changing the beneficiary on a Banc of California IRA to someone other than your spouse, spousal consent may be required. POD designations on checking, savings, money market, and CD accounts are generally set by the account owner, but commingled marital funds can still raise community property questions at death. Banc of California staff can process the designations, but they do not give legal advice; consult a licensed California estate attorney for community property questions.
For accounts with a POD beneficiary or joint-with-survivorship titling, the survivor or named beneficiary claims the funds directly with a certified death certificate and photo ID; no probate is involved. For an account with no beneficiary designation, Banc of California normally requires Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. For qualifying small estates, a California small estate affidavit may be accepted instead of full probate. Under Cal. Prob. Code 13100, the personal property threshold is $208,850 for deaths on or after April 1, 2025. Contact the Client Care Center at 877-770-2262 to confirm documentation for the specific account.
Banc of California's Client Care Center can be reached by phone at 1-877-770-2262, email at ClientCareCenter@bancofcal.com, and fax at 1-855-661-8155 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple Banc of California accounts, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Client Care Center can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Sources
Data sourced from Banc of California primary sources (13 pages reviewed). How we research.
Client Care Center
Banc of California, 11611 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Client Care Center
Banc of California, 11611 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Client Care Center
Banc of California, 11611 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90049
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