What to do when a Bar Harbor Bank account holder dies
Report the death to Bar Harbor Bank's Customer Service Center at 1-888-853-7100
When an account holder at Bar Harbor Bank 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 Bar Harbor Bank's Customer Service Center (1-888-853-7100) to access and distribute the funds.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Bar Harbor Bank requires:
Filing a claim
- Named payable-on-death beneficiary: request distribution. Multiple beneficiaries are paid in equal shares. In New Hampshire and Vermont, expect a 90-day hold from the last account holder's death
- Surviving joint owner: the balance is already yours by survivorship; the branch removes the deceased owner from the account records
- Executor or administrator: provide Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, and open an estate account if the estate needs one
- Successor trustee: provide the trust document or Certification of Trust and trustee identification
- Maine small estate: provide the collection-by-affidavit document
- A copy of the death certificate
- Supporting legal documents: Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, the Maine collection-by-affidavit document, or a Certification of Trust
- A copy of your government-issued photo ID
- A signed letter of instruction with the deceased person's full legal name, date of death and account numbers, your role, how you want the funds disbursed, and your contact information
Required Documents
- Government-issued photo ID for the claimantThe beneficiary, executor, administrator or successor trustee.
- Account numbers for the deceased person's accounts, if available
- Maine collection-by-affidavit document, for a small estate in Maine, in place of Letters
- Branch-issued IRA beneficiary claim and distribution election forms, for an IRA or HSA
- Estate EIN confirmation and the appointment order or Letters, to open an estate account
- The box key, or authority to have the box drilled, for a safe deposit boxDrilling costs $250.00 per box.
- Signed letter of instruction, when mailing documentsWith the deceased person's full legal name, date of death and account numbers, your role, how you want the funds disbursed, and your contact information.
Forms Bar Harbor Bank issues2
What happens to each kind of account6
- Joint account with survivorship
Bar Harbor "does not offer multiple party accounts without survivorship rights," so any sum remaining in a joint account passes to the surviving party or parties. The survivor keeps access.2
- Payable-on-death account
On a payable-on-death or revocable trust deposit account, multiple beneficiaries take in equal shares, without right of survivorship. The bank does not honor percentage splits on deposit payable-on-death designations.2
- IRA
The named beneficiary claims an IRA through branch-issued beneficiary distribution paperwork, not the payable-on-death path for deposit accounts.1
- Health savings account
The named beneficiary claims an HSA through branch-issued beneficiary distribution paperwork, not the payable-on-death path for deposit accounts.1
- Certificate of deposit
Early withdrawal penalties can be imposed on a CD even when the withdrawal is involuntary, for example one caused by the bank's setoff or by legal process.2
State requirements Bar Harbor Bank statesNew Hampshire, Vermont, Maine
- New Hampshire
On a payable-on-death account, the beneficiary cannot withdraw until 90 days after the last surviving account holder's death, and only if the bank was not served in that time with process from the personal representative or a probate court order prohibiting payment.2
- Vermont
On a payable-on-death account, the beneficiary cannot withdraw until 90 days after the last surviving account holder's death, and only if the bank was not served in that time with process from the personal representative or a probate court order prohibiting payment.2
- Maine
Maine payable-on-death accounts have no waiting period.2
State law on paying a balance without lettersMaine
- Maine
9-B M.R.S. § 427(8)(A)
Maine law permits a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on proof the institution accepts, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.9-B M.R.S. § 427(8)(A)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Limit: $1,000 per account
Paid to: the surviving spouse; next of kin; funeral director or other preferred creditor or creditors who may appear to be entitled to the deposit or account
The section permits the payment. It does not require the bank to make it. The section sets further conditions.
Accounts handled elsewhere2
- Bar Harbor mortgage servicing
Bar Harbor mortgages and home equity loans, through the Customer Service Center line1
Phone: 1-888-853-7100
- Bar Harbor Wealth Management
Acting as trustee; helping an executor or administrator pay debts, legacies and taxes and file estate tax returns1
Phone: 1-888-675-5244
What Bar Harbor Bank's agreement and guidance say7
- Telling the institution
The Account Agreement requires you to "notify us promptly if any person with a right to withdraw funds from your account(s) dies." The bank may keep honoring checks, items and instructions until it knows of the death and has had a reasonable opportunity to act.2
- Payments after the death
Bar Harbor may pay or certify checks drawn on or before the date of death for up to ten days after the death, unless someone claiming an interest in the account orders a stop payment.2
- Debts owed to the institution
Under the Setoff clause the bank may set off account funds against any due and payable debt owed to it, and you agree to hold it harmless for doing so. Any pledge of the account is satisfied before the rights of a surviving owner or beneficiary take effect.2
- Disputes between claimants
If competing claims arise, for example an heir disputing a beneficiary, the "Resolving Account Disputes" clause lets the bank place an administrative hold until the dispute is resolved or a court decides.2
- Powers of attorney
A power of attorney "continues until your death or the death of the person given the power," and an authorized signer's authority is "automatically terminated by the death of the owner."2
In both cases the bank may keep honoring that person's transactions until it has written notice or actual knowledge of the death and a reasonable opportunity to act.2
- Dormant and unclaimed accounts
A Dormant Account Fee of $5.00 per month applies to checking, savings and money market accounts after 18 consecutive months of inactivity (HSA and IRA accounts excluded). The Escheatment Fee is $50.00 per account.3
Under the Unclaimed Property clause, once funds are surrendered to the state "we no longer have any liability or responsibility with respect to the funds," and the claim must be presented to the state instead.2
- Fees
Legal Process is $100.00, charged when the bank is served with a court order. Account Reconciliation/Research is $30.00 per hour with a $15.00 minimum, and a Signature Guarantee is free to customers.3
A Duplicate Statement is $5.00 each and Copies of Check Images $2.00 per page. The IRA Rollover/Transfer Fee is $50.00, and closing a checking or savings account open less than 1 year is $10.00 per account.3
Not in Bar Harbor Bank's published guidance2
- Whether the death certificate must be certified
- A fax number for claim documents
Sources3
- 1.Contact Us
- 2.Account Agreement and Disclosures, Effective 2.2.26
- 3.Fee Schedule, Effective February 2, 2026
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.
- The deceased borrower's full legal name and loan number
- A copy of the death certificate
- Continue making payments on the existing loan
- Assume the loan
- Refinance in your own name
- Pay off the remaining balance from estate assets or a sale
Required Documents
- Death certificateA copy. Confirm with Bar Harbor at 1-888-853-7100 before ordering certified copies.
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Documents proving your ownership interest in the propertyA 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 you are the surviving spouse
- Any other documents mortgage servicing names when you call
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-888-853-7100
Federal law on calling a home loan after a death
These exemptions apply to a loan secured by residential real property containing less than five dwelling units.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d); 12 CFR 191.5(b), 141.14Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer by devise, descent, or operation of law on the death of a joint tenant or tenant by the entirety.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(3); 12 CFR 191.5(b)(1)(iii)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer to a relative resulting from the death of a borrower.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(5)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer where the spouse or children of the borrower become an owner of the property.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(6)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
A federal regulation sets further conditions on these transfers.12 CFR 191.5(b)(1)(v)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
What Bar Harbor Bank's agreement and guidance say1
- Fees
The bank charges a Legal Process fee of $100.00, which is what a probate court order served on the bank costs the estate.1
Not in Bar Harbor Bank's published guidance4
- Successor-in-interest form
- How long a claim takes
- Whether the death certificate must be certified
- Forbearance for a deceased borrower
Sources1
- 1.Fee Schedule, Effective February 2, 2026
Bar Harbor Bank's Customer Service Center can be reached by phone at 1-888-853-7100 and email at customerservicecenter@barharbor.bank for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Bar Harbor Bank primary sources (19 pages reviewed). How we research.
Bar Harbor Bank death claims support
Customer Service Center
Phone
From outside the US
Debit card, after hours
Consumer credit card
Bar Harbor Wealth Management (estate settlement services)
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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