What to do when a Bank of Hope account holder dies
Contact Bank of Hope's Hope Wealth Management — 4-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 May 2026
What happens to Bank of Hope 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 Hope's Hope Wealth Management (1-213-639-1700) to claim the funds.
Begin by calling Bank of Hope at 1-213-639-1700. You will need the deceased's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate to get the process started.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Bank of Hope:
Filing a claim
1
Contact Bank of Hope at 1-855-325-2226 or visit a branch to report the death of an account holder
2
Choose the appropriate settlement path:
- POD accounts: provide a certified copy of the death certificate and beneficiary identification
- Joint accounts: provide a certified copy of the death certificate to transfer ownership to the surviving account holder
- Accounts without beneficiary or POD: provide probate documents, Letters Testamentary, or small estate affidavit as applicable
- Trust accounts: provide the death certificate, trust documentation, and successor trustee identification
- IRA accounts: provide the death certificate, beneficiary identification, and complete applicable IRA distribution forms
3
Submit all required documents at your local branch or by mail
4
Bank 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.
1
Notify Bank of Hope of the borrower's death by calling Mortgage Customer Service at 1-855-816-1347
2
Provide initial information:
- Deceased borrower's full legal name
- Social Security number
- Loan number
3
Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
4
Request the Successor in Interest documentation package from the mortgage servicing department
5
Complete and return the Successor in Interest form with supporting documentation proving your ownership interest in the property:
- Probated will
- Court order
- Deed
- Trust document
6
Bank of Hope will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest
7
Once confirmed, you will have access to loan information and can discuss options:
- Continue making payments
- Apply for loss mitigation
- Assume the loan
- Refinance
- Pay off the balance
8
Continue 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).
How long the process takes at Bank of Hope: 10-15 business days after receipt of all required documentation. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.
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
No. Bank of Hope's digital banking platform does not include a feature for adding or changing Payable on Death (POD) beneficiaries. POD designations on Bank of Hope deposit accounts must be made in person at a branch or by phone with the Call Center at 1-855-325-2226, which can mail a paper form for signature. There is no downloadable POD form on bankofhope.com. Plan to visit a branch if you want a trust named as POD beneficiary, since trust documentation is reviewed in person.
Bank of Hope does not operate a trust department or fiduciary trust administration service. It is a deposit and lending institution; it can hold accounts titled in a trust's name and process POD and beneficiary claims, but it does not act as trustee or executor. For investment advisory needs, securities and advisory services historically referenced under the Hope Wealth Management name are provided through a third-party broker-dealer, not by a bank trust department. Estate settlement at Bank of Hope means submitting a death certificate and the applicable estate or trust documents to release deposit funds.
For a Bank of Hope Regular, Hope Preferred, or Flex Certificate of Deposit with a POD beneficiary, the named beneficiary presents a certified death certificate and photo ID to claim the funds; the early withdrawal penalty is generally waived on death of the owner. For an IRA Certificate of Deposit, the transfer is governed by the beneficiary designation on file, not by POD or trust titling. The IRA beneficiary completes Bank of Hope's inherited IRA distribution or transfer paperwork. Naming a trust as IRA beneficiary is possible but affects how distributions must be taken, so confirm the trust language before designating it.
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Act, 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. Notify Bank of Hope Mortgage Customer Service at 1-855-816-1347 to begin the Successor in Interest process. You will need a certified death certificate and documentation proving your ownership interest in the property. Confirmed Successors in Interest are treated as borrowers under CFPB mortgage servicing rules and can pursue assumption, refinance, or payoff.
Bank of Hope's Customer Service can be reached by phone at 1-855-325-2226 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple Bank of Hope accounts, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Hope Wealth Management can clarify what's needed for each account type.
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 May 2026
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