What to do when a Bellco account holder dies
Contact Bellco — 7-step process, 6 required documents, and 30-90 days depending on account structure and estate complexity
Member Services
Phone1-303-689-7800
Toll-Free1-800-235-5261
Mailing Address
Bellco Credit Union, P.O. Box 6611, Greenwood Village, CO 80155-6611
Local (Denver metro)
Telephone Banking
WebsiteLearn more→
Member Services
Phone1-303-689-7800
Toll-Free1-800-235-5261
Mailing Address
Bellco Credit Union, P.O. Box 6611, Greenwood Village, CO 80155-6611
Local (Denver metro)
Telephone Banking
WebsiteLearn more→
Bellco Operations Department - Special Account Support
Phone1-855-603-1051
Mailing Address
Bellco Credit Union, Attn: Special Account Support, PO Box 5231, Greenwood Village, CO 80155
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
After a Bellco member dies, the Bellco Operations Department - Special Account Support manages the transfer of accounts. POD-designated and trust-owned accounts pass directly to beneficiaries. Accounts held solely in the member's name may require probate court documents—Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration—before funds can be released.
To start, call Bellco at 1-855-603-1051. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate ready before you call.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Bellco:
Filing a claim
1
Contact the Bellco Operations Department at 855-603-1051, or visit any Bellco branch (https://www.bellco.org/branches-and-atms/), to notify the credit union of the member's passing
2
Submit required documentation:
- Certified copy of the death certificate with the raised seal (Bellco returns it to you)
- Mail documents to: Bellco Credit Union, Attn: Special Account Support, PO Box 5231, Greenwood Village, CO 80155, or deliver to any branch
- Additional documentation may be required based on account structure; Bellco notifies you if anything further is needed
3
What happens to deposit accounts:
- Single-owner accounts with designated POD beneficiaries are closed and remaining funds distributed to the named beneficiaries after debts are resolved
- Single-owner accounts with no beneficiary are closed and remaining funds distributed to the estate after debts are resolved
- Joint-owner accounts remain open; the surviving joint owner can continue using the account or have it retitled into their own name
- Any debit card assigned to the deceased member is deactivated to prevent unauthorized use
4
Automatic payments and direct deposits:
- Bellco discontinues Bill Pay automatic payments once notified of the member's death
- For individual accounts, automatic transfers in and out of Bellco are rejected
- For joint accounts, transfers continue except direct deposits naming the deceased member, which are rejected
- Federal payments (Social Security, VA, Railroad Retirement) received after the date of death must be returned to the U.S. Treasury
- Notify companies debiting the deceased member's accounts to stop automatic transfers
5
Choose the appropriate settlement path:
- If a POD beneficiary exists: funds pass directly to the named beneficiaries outside of the estate
- If no beneficiary: estate goes through probate; present Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (Colorado letter of administration information at https://www.courts.state.co.us/Forms/Forms_List.cfm?Form_Type_ID=143)
6
Settle accounts as soon as possible; Bellco continues to report to the IRS under the deceased's Social Security Number until the account is closed
7
Power of Attorney becomes void at death and cannot be used to settle accounts
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the 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 a 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 (https://docs.bellco.org/forms/consumer/GuideforHandlingDeceasedMemberEstateAssetsDebts.pdf). Decedent claims questions and documents go to the Bellco Operations Department at 855-603-1051; mail to Bellco Credit Union, Attn: Special Account Support, PO Box 5231, Greenwood Village, CO 80155. 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. Bellco also offers estate accounts, established at any branch. 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 the 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
Contact the Bellco Operations Department at 855-603-1051, or visit any branch (https://www.bellco.org/branches-and-atms/). You will need a certified copy of the death certificate with the raised seal, which Bellco returns to you. Mail documents to: Bellco Credit Union, Attn: Special Account Support, PO Box 5231, Greenwood Village, CO 80155, or deliver to any branch. Bellco publishes a detailed Guide for Handling a Deceased Member's Estate, Assets, and Debts at https://docs.bellco.org/forms/consumer/GuideforHandlingDeceasedMemberEstateAssetsDebts.pdf.
It depends on ownership structure. Per Bellco's deceased-member guide, single-owner accounts (with or without a POD beneficiary) are closed after debts are resolved and funds distributed to beneficiaries or the estate. Joint-owner deposit accounts remain open after notification; the surviving joint owner can continue writing checks, depositing, and withdrawing, and can later have the account retitled. Any debit card assigned to the deceased member is deactivated immediately to prevent unauthorized use, and Bellco Bill Pay automatic payments are discontinued.
Per federal regulation, any federal payments received in the deceased account holder's name after the date of death must be returned to the U.S. Treasury. This includes Social Security, Department of Veterans Affairs, and U.S. Railroad Retirement benefits. Bellco notes it often receives the death notification from the U.S. Government directly and reserves the right to begin the return process. For Social Security survivor benefits, contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213; processing can take up to 90 days, so notify them as soon as possible.
Bellco's Bellco Operations Department - Special Account Support can be reached by phone at 1-855-603-1051 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple Bellco accounts, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Bellco Operations Department - Special Account Support can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Member Services
Phone1-303-689-7800
Toll-Free1-800-235-5261
Mailing Address
Bellco Credit Union, P.O. Box 6611, Greenwood Village, CO 80155-6611
Local (Denver metro)
Telephone Banking
WebsiteLearn more→
Member Services
Phone1-303-689-7800
Toll-Free1-800-235-5261
Mailing Address
Bellco Credit Union, P.O. Box 6611, Greenwood Village, CO 80155-6611
Local (Denver metro)
Telephone Banking
WebsiteLearn more→
Bellco Operations Department - Special Account Support
Phone1-855-603-1051
Mailing Address
Bellco Credit Union, Attn: Special Account Support, PO Box 5231, Greenwood Village, CO 80155
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
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