What to do when a Bellco account holder dies
Contact Bellco — 11-step process, 6 required documents, and 30-90 days depending on account structure and estate complexity
Phone1-800-235-5261
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 6611, Greenwood Village, CO 80155-6611
Local (Denver metro)
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone1-800-235-5261
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 6611, Greenwood Village, CO 80155-6611
Local (Denver metro)
WebsiteLearn more →
Operations - Decedent Claims
Phone1-844-603-1051
Toll-Free1-844-306-0528
Mailing Address
Bellco Credit Union, Attn: Operations - Decedent Claims, PO Box 2068, Glen Burnie, MD 21060
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
When a Bellco member passes away, the Operations - Decedent Claims handles the transition of accounts to beneficiaries or the estate. Accounts with Payable on Death designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate, while solely-owned accounts may require Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court.
Bellco provides an online portal for initiating death claims, which can simplify the initial notification and document submission process. Claims can also be started by phone or by mailing the required documents.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Bellco:
Filing a claim
1Contact Bellco Operations Department at 844-603-1051 for business accounts, or call 844-306-0528, or visit any Bellco branch
2Submit a certified copy of the death certificate with the raised seal (will be returned to you)
3Mail documents to: Bellco Credit Union, Attn: Operations - Decedent Claims, PO Box 2068, Glen Burnie, MD 21060, or deliver to any branch
4Bellco may require additional documentation based on the account structure
5For joint accounts: automatic transfers in and out continue, except direct deposits in the deceased member's name are rejected
6Notify companies debiting the deceased member's accounts to stop automatic transfers
7If POD beneficiary exists: funds pass directly to the named beneficiaries outside of the estate
8If no beneficiary: estate goes through probate; present Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
9Bellco continues to report to the IRS under the deceased's Social Security Number until the account is closed
10Settle accounts as soon as possible to avoid complications from continued IRS reporting
11Power of Attorney becomes void at death and cannot be used to settle accounts
Required Documents
- Certified copy of death certificate with raised seal
- Government-issued photo ID for beneficiary, joint owner, or personal representative
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD beneficiary; issued by probate court)
- Small Estate Affidavit (if estate qualifies under Colorado law)
- Trust documents (if trust is named as beneficiary)
- Additional documentation may be requested based on account structure
Bellco publishes a detailed Guide for Handling a Deceased Member's Estate, Assets, and Debts. Decedent claims documents should be mailed to: Bellco Credit Union, Attn: Operations - Decedent Claims, PO Box 2068, Glen Burnie, MD 21060, or email DecedentClaims@bellco.org. The credit union recommends settling accounts promptly because it continues to report to the IRS under the deceased's SSN until the account is closed. For questions regarding deceased business accounts or commercial real estate loans, contact the Bellco Operations Department at 844-603-1051. Bellco advises seeking financial, tax, and legal advice from professional advisors during the settlement process.
Processing timelines at Bellco: 30-90 days depending on account structure and estate complexity. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Bellco requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified copy of death certificate with raised seal, Government-issued photo ID for beneficiary, joint owner, or personal representative, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD beneficiary; issued by probate court), 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 any Bellco branch with government-issued photo ID or call 800-235-5261. You can add Payable on Death (POD) beneficiaries to deposit accounts including checking, savings, money market, and certificates of deposit. POD-designated funds pass directly to beneficiaries outside of the estate. IRA beneficiary designations are handled separately.
Contact the Bellco Operations Department at 844-306-0528 or visit any branch. You will need a certified copy of the death certificate with the raised seal. Documents can also be mailed to: Bellco Credit Union, Attn: Operations - Decedent Claims, PO Box 2068, Glen Burnie, MD 21060, or emailed to DecedentClaims@bellco.org. Bellco recommends settling accounts as soon as possible because the credit union continues to report to the IRS under the deceased member's Social Security Number until the account is closed.
For joint accounts, automatic transfers in and out continue to disburse, except for direct deposits coming in with the deceased member's name as the beneficiary, which are rejected. You should notify companies debiting the deceased member's accounts to stop automatic transfers.
No. A Power of Attorney becomes void at the time of death and cannot be used to settle the deceased member's accounts. Only a joint owner, named POD beneficiary, or court-appointed personal representative (with Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration) can access and settle the deceased member's accounts.
Bellco's Operations - Decedent Claims can be reached by phone at 1-844-306-0528 and email at DecedentClaims@bellco.org for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Bellco accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Operations - Decedent Claims can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Phone1-800-235-5261
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 6611, Greenwood Village, CO 80155-6611
Local (Denver metro)
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone1-800-235-5261
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 6611, Greenwood Village, CO 80155-6611
Local (Denver metro)
WebsiteLearn more →
Operations - Decedent Claims
Phone1-844-603-1051
Toll-Free1-844-306-0528
Mailing Address
Bellco Credit Union, Attn: Operations - Decedent Claims, PO Box 2068, Glen Burnie, MD 21060
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
Tools for settling a Bellco estate
Calculators and checklists to help navigate estate settlement after a Bellco account holder passes away.
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