What to do when a Bank of Hawaii account holder dies
Contact Bank of Hawaii's The Private Bank — 10-step process, 6 required documents, and varies based on account type, documentation completeness, and whether probate is required. accounts with named pod/tod beneficiaries may be settled more quickly.
Phone1-808-643-3888
Toll-Free1-888-643-3888
Fax1-808-537-8440
Mailing Address
Bank of Hawaii, 130 Merchant Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
Home Loans
Loans & Lines of Credit
WebsiteLearn more →
Customer Service (Death Notification)
Phone1-808-643-3888
Toll-Free1-888-643-3888
Mailing Address
Bank of Hawaii, 130 Merchant Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
Home Loans
Loans & Lines of Credit
Bankoh Investment Services
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
When a Bank of Hawaii account holder 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 Bank of Hawaii's The Private Bank (1-808-643-3888) to access and distribute the funds.
Bank of Hawaii provides an online portal for initiating death claims, which can simplify the initial notification and document submission process. Claims can also be started by phone or by mailing the required documents.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Bank of Hawaii:
Filing a claim
1Gather necessary documents: death certificate, proof of ID, and documents establishing your authority (will, trust agreement, court appointment)
2Contact Bank of Hawaii at 808-643-3888 (specialists available 7 AM to 7 PM HST, 7 days a week) or visit a local branch to report the death
3Schedule an appointment at a Bank of Hawaii branch through boh.com for in-person assistance
4Provide the certified death certificate and your government-issued photo ID
5If the account has a named POD/TOD beneficiary, the beneficiary can claim funds by providing a death certificate and ID
6If the account is titled in a trust, the successor trustee presents the trust agreement and death certificate to gain access
7If probate is required, submit Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the court
8For small estates in Hawaii, an affidavit for collection of personal property may be used if the deceased had less than $100,000 of personal property and no solely owned real estate
9Complete required distribution forms provided by Bank of Hawaii
10Funds are distributed per the applicable instructions after document review and approval
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the claimant (passport, driver's license, or state-issued ID)
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if probate is required)
- Trust agreement (if account held in trust)
- Small Estate Affidavit (if estate qualifies under Hawaii Revised Statutes 560:3-1201 for estates under $100,000 in personal property)
- Proof of relationship to the deceased
Bank of Hawaii provides a "Steps After Losing a Loved One" guide on their website as a helpful checklist. For home loan accounts, contact 1-877-926-7297 or 1-808-694-7297. For other loans and lines of credit, contact 1-800-888-9275 or 1-808-694-1500. Hawaii allows an affidavit process for small estates (under $100,000 in personal property with no solely owned real estate) to avoid full probate. Self-service phone line available 24/7 for basic account information.
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.
1Contact Bank of Hawaii Home Loan assistance at 1-877-926-7297 or 1-808-694-7297 to report the death
2Provide a certified copy of the death certificate and your government-issued ID
3Determine your role: surviving co-borrower, heir, executor/administrator, or successor trustee
4Submit required legal documents establishing your authority (Letters Testamentary, trust agreement, etc.)
5Discuss options: continue making payments, apply for loan assumption, refinance, or pay off the loan
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the claimant
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if court-appointed fiduciary)
- Trust agreement (if property held in trust)
- Deed to the property or other proof of ownership interest
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982 (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), the bank cannot enforce a due-on-sale clause when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, or relative of the deceased borrower, or to the borrower's revocable living trust. Alternate phone: 1-808-694-7297.
Processing timelines at Bank of Hawaii: Varies based on account type, documentation completeness, and whether probate is required. Accounts with named POD/TOD beneficiaries may be settled more quickly.. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Bank of Hawaii requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified copy of the death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for the claimant (passport, driver's license, or state-issued ID), and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if probate is required), 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
Visit a Bank of Hawaii branch with your government-issued photo ID and beneficiary details (full name, date of birth, SSN, address, and relationship). Request a POD (Payable on Death) designation for your deposit account. You can also call 808-643-3888 for guidance. The beneficiary does not need to be present.
Yes. Contact Bankoh Investment Services directly at (808) 694-8500 to add or update a TOD (Transfer on Death) beneficiary designation on your investment account. Investment and insurance products are offered through Bankoh Investment Services, Inc., a nonbank subsidiary of Bank of Hawaii and member of FINRA/SIPC.
If the account has a named POD/TOD beneficiary, the beneficiary can claim funds by providing a death certificate and government-issued ID. If the account is titled in a trust, the successor trustee presents the trust agreement and death certificate. If neither applies, the account goes through probate and requires Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. In Hawaii, estates with less than $100,000 in personal property and no solely owned real estate may use a small estate affidavit instead of full probate.
Call Bank of Hawaii at 808-643-3888 (specialists available 7 AM to 7 PM HST, 7 days a week) or visit a local branch. You can schedule an appointment at a branch through boh.com. Have the death certificate and your government-issued ID ready. For home loan accounts, call 1-877-926-7297. Bank of Hawaii provides a "Steps After Losing a Loved One" guide on their website with a checklist for this process.
The mortgage obligation does not disappear at death. Heirs who inherit the property also inherit the mortgage. Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), Bank of Hawaii cannot call the loan due when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, or the borrower's revocable trust. Contact Bank of Hawaii Home Loan assistance at 1-877-926-7297 or 1-808-694-7297 to discuss options including loan assumption, continued payments, refinancing, or payoff.
Bank of Hawaii's Customer Service (Death Notification) can be reached by phone at 1-888-643-3888 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Bank of Hawaii accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The The Private Bank can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Phone1-808-643-3888
Toll-Free1-888-643-3888
Fax1-808-537-8440
Mailing Address
Bank of Hawaii, 130 Merchant Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
Home Loans
Loans & Lines of Credit
WebsiteLearn more →
Customer Service (Death Notification)
Phone1-808-643-3888
Toll-Free1-888-643-3888
Mailing Address
Bank of Hawaii, 130 Merchant Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
Home Loans
Loans & Lines of Credit
Bankoh Investment Services
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
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