What to do when a Bank of Hawaii account holder dies
Contact Bank of Hawaii's The Private Bank — 6-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, 111 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813
Guam & Saipan
Palau
TTY/TDD
Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard
Hawaiian Airlines Business Mastercard
WebsiteLearn more→
The Private Bank
Phone1-808-643-3888
Toll-Free1-888-643-3888
Mailing Address
Bank of Hawaii, The Private Bank, 111 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813
Bankoh Advisors (Investments)
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Service (Death Notification)
Phone1-808-643-3888
Toll-Free1-888-643-3888
Mailing Address
Bank of Hawaii, 111 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813
Home Loans
Bankoh Advisors (Investments)
Guam & Saipan
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
What happens to Bank of Hawaii 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 Bank of Hawaii's The Private Bank (1-808-643-3888) to claim the funds.
Bank of Hawaii 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.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Bank of Hawaii requires:
Filing a claim
1
Gather required documentation:
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID
- Documents establishing your authority (will, trust agreement, or court appointment)
2
Contact Bank of Hawaii at 808-643-3888 or toll-free 1-888-643-3888 (specialists available 7am-7pm HST, 7 days a week) or visit a local branch to report the death
3
Schedule an appointment at a Bank of Hawaii branch through boh.com for in-person assistance
4
Choose the appropriate settlement path:
- POD/TOD beneficiary: provide a death certificate and ID to claim funds directly
- Trust account: the successor trustee presents the trust agreement and death certificate to gain access
- Probate: submit Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the court
- Small estate (Hawaii): use an affidavit for collection of personal property if the deceased had less than $100,000 of personal property and no solely owned real estate (Hawaii Revised Statutes 560:3-1201)
5
Complete required distribution forms provided by Bank of Hawaii
6
Funds 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](https://www.boh.com/blog/steps-after-losing-a-loved-one)" guide and a downloadable "When a Loved One Passes" checklist on their website. For home loan accounts, contact 1-888-643-3888. 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.
1
Contact Bank of Hawaii at 1-888-643-3888 or 1-808-643-3888 to report the death
2
Gather and provide required identification:
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Your government-issued photo ID
3
Determine your role: surviving co-borrower, heir, executor/administrator, or successor trustee
4
Submit required legal documents establishing your authority (Letters Testamentary, trust agreement, etc.)
5
Discuss available options with the bank:
- Continue making payments on the existing loan
- Apply for loan assumption
- Refinance the mortgage
- Pay off the loan in full
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.
Expected 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. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
Documentation required by Bank of Hawaii includes 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), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Bank of Hawaii does not publish a dedicated estate-services portal or downloadable death-claim forms for consumers. Call Bank of Hawaii at 808-643-3888 or toll-free 1-888-643-3888 (specialists available 7am-7pm HST, 7 days a week) or visit a local branch. You can schedule a branch appointment at https://www.boh.com/bank-by-appointment. Have a certified death certificate and your government-issued ID ready. Bank of Hawaii publishes a "Steps After Losing a Loved One" guide at https://www.boh.com/blog/steps-after-losing-a-loved-one and a downloadable "When a Loved One Passes" checklist; the actual distribution and claim forms are provided by a banker once the account is reviewed in person.
Brokerage and IRA investment accounts at Bank of Hawaii are held through Bankoh Advisors, a marketing name of Cetera Investment Services LLC (member FINRA/SIPC) -- not the bank itself. The division was previously Bankoh Investment Services, Inc. (BISI) and rebranded as Bankoh Advisors after the Cetera networking agreement. Because these accounts are custodied by Cetera, death claims and TOD or beneficiary transfers on investment accounts and Investment IRAs are handled by Bankoh Advisors at (808) 694-8500 (130 Merchant Street CC#888, Honolulu, HI 96813), separately from deposit-account claims handled by the bank. Investment products are NOT FDIC insured, NOT bank guaranteed, and MAY lose value.
Yes. Hawaii allows an affidavit for the collection of personal property when the deceased owned less than $100,000 in personal property and no solely owned real estate (Hawaii Revised Statutes 560:3-1201). An heir or successor can present that affidavit, a certified death certificate, and government-issued ID at a Bank of Hawaii branch to claim deposit-account funds without opening a formal probate. Accounts that already have a named POD or TOD beneficiary, or that are held in a trust, pass outside probate entirely and do not need the small-estate affidavit.
Bank of Hawaii's Customer Service (Death Notification) can be reached by phone at 1-888-643-3888 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple Bank of Hawaii accounts, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The The Private Bank can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Phone1-808-643-3888
Toll-Free1-888-643-3888
Fax1-808-537-8440
Mailing Address
Bank of Hawaii, 111 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813
Guam & Saipan
Palau
TTY/TDD
Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard
Hawaiian Airlines Business Mastercard
WebsiteLearn more→
The Private Bank
Phone1-808-643-3888
Toll-Free1-888-643-3888
Mailing Address
Bank of Hawaii, The Private Bank, 111 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813
Bankoh Advisors (Investments)
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Service (Death Notification)
Phone1-808-643-3888
Toll-Free1-888-643-3888
Mailing Address
Bank of Hawaii, 111 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813
Home Loans
Bankoh Advisors (Investments)
Guam & Saipan
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Bank of Hawaii accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
