What to do when a Bank of Hope account holder dies
Contact Bank of Hope's Hope Wealth Management — 8-step process, 7 required documents, and 10-15 business days after receipt of all required documentation
Phone1-213-639-1700
Toll-Free1-855-325-2226
Mailing Address
Bank of Hope, 3200 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1400, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Mortgage Customer Service
New Mortgage/Refinance Inquiries
WebsiteLearn more →
Hope Wealth Management
WebsiteLearn more →
Customer Service
Phone1-213-639-1700
Toll-Free1-855-325-2226
Mailing Address
Bank of Hope, 3200 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1400, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Verified Mar 2026
When a Bank of Hope 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 Hope's Hope Wealth Management (1-213-639-1700) to access and distribute the funds.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting Bank of Hope. A certified death certificate is the primary document required to start any claim.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Bank of Hope:
Filing a claim
1Contact Bank of Hope at 1-855-325-2226 or visit a branch to report the death of an account holder
2For accounts with POD beneficiary: provide a certified copy of the death certificate and beneficiary identification
3For joint accounts: provide a certified copy of the death certificate to transfer ownership to the surviving account holder
4For accounts without beneficiary or POD: provide probate documents, Letters Testamentary, or small estate affidavit as applicable
5For trust accounts: provide the death certificate, trust documentation, and successor trustee identification
6For IRA accounts: provide the death certificate, beneficiary identification, and complete applicable IRA distribution forms
7Submit all required documents at your local branch or by mail
8Bank of Hope will review the documentation and process the claim
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 numbers, if known)
- For accounts without beneficiary: Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, or small estate affidavit
- For trust accounts: trust documentation including successor trustee provisions, signature pages, and amendments
- For IRA accounts: IRA distribution or inherited IRA application forms
- Court-issued documentation if applicable (probate orders, guardianship letters)
In-branch submission is recommended for faster processing. All documents should be certified copies where indicated. Distribution options may include transfer to an existing Bank of Hope account, opening a new account, or issuing a check. Contact your local branch for specific instructions related to your situation.
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.
1Notify Bank of Hope of the borrower's death by calling Mortgage Customer Service at 1-855-816-1347
2Provide the deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number, and loan number
3Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
4Request the Successor in Interest documentation package from the mortgage servicing department
5Complete and return the Successor in Interest form with supporting documentation proving your ownership interest in the property (e.g., probated will, court order, deed, or trust document)
6Bank of Hope will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest
7Once confirmed, you will have access to loan information and can discuss options: continue making payments, apply for loss mitigation, assume the loan, refinance, or pay off the balance
8Continue making monthly mortgage payments during the review process to avoid default
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Completed Successor in Interest form (obtained from mortgage servicing department)
- Documentation proving ownership interest in the property: probated will, court order, recorded deed, or trust document showing you as successor trustee or beneficiary
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if going through probate)
- Marriage certificate (if surviving spouse)
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3), Bank of Hope cannot enforce a due-on-sale clause when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, relative upon death, or the borrower's revocable living trust. Confirmed Successors in Interest are treated as borrowers under CFPB mortgage servicing rules and are entitled to account information, loss mitigation options, and assumption rights. Mortgage Customer Service: 1-855-816-1347 (Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM PST). New mortgage inquiries: 1-855-448-8989 (Mon-Fri 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM PST).
Processing timelines at Bank of Hope: 10-15 business days after receipt of all required documentation. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Bank of Hope 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 numbers, if known), 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
You can add POD (Payable on Death) beneficiaries to your Bank of Hope deposit accounts through online banking, by visiting a branch, or by calling 1-855-325-2226. Provide the beneficiary full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and allocation percentage. For naming a trust as beneficiary, visiting a branch with trust documentation is recommended.
Yes, a trust can be named as beneficiary on an IRA Certificate of Deposit at Bank of Hope. However, IRA accounts cannot be retitled to a trust. The trust receives the IRA proceeds through the beneficiary designation upon the account holder death. Visit a branch or call 1-855-325-2226 for assistance with naming a trust as your IRA beneficiary.
Contact Bank of Hope at 1-855-325-2226 (Monday through Friday, 5:30 AM to 6:00 PM PST; Saturday, 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM PST) or visit your nearest branch. You will need a certified copy of the death certificate and valid photo identification. The bank will provide instructions based on the account type, including whether the account has a POD beneficiary, is jointly held, or requires probate documentation.
Required documents vary by account type. For all claims: a certified death certificate and your government-issued photo ID. For POD accounts: beneficiary identification. For accounts without beneficiaries: Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, or a small estate affidavit. For trust accounts: trust documentation with successor trustee provisions. For IRA accounts: applicable IRA distribution forms.
POD (Payable on Death) designates a beneficiary to receive funds upon your death, bypassing probate. Retitling to a trust transfers ownership of the account to your revocable living trust, giving you more control over distribution terms and avoiding probate. Both methods are available for Bank of Hope deposit accounts. For IRAs, only beneficiary designation is available.
Bank of Hope's Customer Service can be reached by phone at 1-855-325-2226 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Bank of Hope accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Hope Wealth Management can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Phone1-213-639-1700
Toll-Free1-855-325-2226
Mailing Address
Bank of Hope, 3200 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1400, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Mortgage Customer Service
New Mortgage/Refinance Inquiries
WebsiteLearn more →
Hope Wealth Management
WebsiteLearn more →
Customer Service
Phone1-213-639-1700
Toll-Free1-855-325-2226
Mailing Address
Bank of Hope, 3200 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1400, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Verified Mar 2026
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