What to do when a Bank OZK account holder dies
Contact Bank OZK's Trust & Wealth Services — 7-step process, 6 required documents, and varies based on account type and documentation. pod accounts with proper documentation may be processed within days. probated estates depend on court timelines.
Phone1-800-274-4482
Emailinfo@ozk.com
Mailing Address
Bank OZK, P.O. Box 8811, Little Rock, AR 72231
WebsiteLearn more →
Trust & Wealth Services
Phone1-501-978-2265
Mailing Address
Bank OZK Trust & Wealth, 18000 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, AR 72223
WebsiteLearn more →
Customer Care / Trust & Wealth Services
Phone1-800-274-4482
Mailing Address
Bank OZK, P.O. Box 8811, Little Rock, AR 72231
Trust & Wealth Division
Verified Mar 2026
When a Bank OZK 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 OZK's Trust & Wealth Services (1-800-274-4482) 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 OZK. A certified death certificate is the primary document required to start any claim.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Bank OZK:
Filing a claim
1Contact Bank OZK Customer Care at 1-800-274-4482 or visit a branch to report the death of an account holder
2Provide the death certificate, your government-issued photo ID, and your relationship to the deceased
3If the account has a named POD beneficiary, the beneficiary presents a certified death certificate and valid ID to claim funds
4If the account is titled in a trust, the successor trustee presents the trust agreement, death certificate, and trustee identification to gain account access
5If neither POD nor trust applies, provide Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court, or a Small Estate Affidavit if the estate qualifies under state law
6Complete required distribution forms provided by the bank
7Funds are distributed per instructions after document review and approval
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the claimant (driver's license, passport, or state-issued ID)
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if probate required)
- Small Estate Affidavit (if estate qualifies under applicable state law)
- Trust agreement (if account held in trust)
- Proof of relationship to deceased
Bank OZK does not publish a dedicated estate services portal or separate estate services phone number. Death claims are handled through general customer service or at branch locations. For accounts managed by the Trust & Wealth division, contact (501) 978-2265 directly.
Processing timelines at Bank OZK: Varies based on account type and documentation. POD accounts with proper documentation may be processed within days. Probated estates depend on court timelines.. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Bank OZK requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified copy of the death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for the claimant (driver's license, passport, or state-issued ID), and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if probate 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 OZK branch with your government-issued photo ID to add a Payable on Death (POD) beneficiary to your checking, savings, money market, or CD account. You will need the beneficiary's full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship. The beneficiary does not need to be present. Named beneficiaries override your will and allow funds to pass outside of probate.
If the account has a named POD beneficiary, the beneficiary can claim the funds by presenting a certified death certificate and valid government-issued ID at a branch. If the account is titled in a trust, the successor trustee takes control by presenting the trust agreement and death certificate. If neither applies, the account goes through probate and requires Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the court.
Contact Bank OZK Customer Care at 1-800-274-4482 (Monday-Friday 7 AM to 7 PM CT, Saturday 7 AM to 4 PM CT) or visit a branch in person to report the death. You will need the death certificate, your government-issued ID, your relationship to the deceased, and the deceased's account number or Social Security number.
The mortgage does not disappear at death. Heirs who inherit the property also inherit the mortgage obligation. Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), the lender 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. Contact Bank OZK at 1-800-274-4482 to discuss options including continued payments, loan assumption, refinancing, or payoff.
Bank OZK's Customer Care / Trust & Wealth Services can be reached by phone at 1-800-274-4482 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Bank OZK accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Trust & Wealth Services can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Phone1-800-274-4482
Emailinfo@ozk.com
Mailing Address
Bank OZK, P.O. Box 8811, Little Rock, AR 72231
WebsiteLearn more →
Trust & Wealth Services
Phone1-501-978-2265
Mailing Address
Bank OZK Trust & Wealth, 18000 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, AR 72223
WebsiteLearn more →
Customer Care / Trust & Wealth Services
Phone1-800-274-4482
Mailing Address
Bank OZK, P.O. Box 8811, Little Rock, AR 72231
Trust & Wealth Division
Verified Mar 2026
Tools for settling a Bank OZK estate
Calculators and checklists to help navigate estate settlement after a Bank OZK account holder passes away.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
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How Much Does Probate Cost?
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Calculate how much an executor (personal representative) can charge for administering an estate. See if your state has statutory fees or uses reasonable compensation.
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Calculate how many certified death certificates you need based on the assets and accounts you need to close. See state-specific ordering information.
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Do I Need Probate?
Answer a few questions to find out if an estate needs full probate, qualifies for simplified probate, or can avoid probate entirely with a small estate affidavit.
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Who Inherits Without a Will?
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
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