What to do when a Blue FCU account holder dies
Contact Blue FCU — 5-step process, 5 required documents, and joint accounts transfer immediately. pod accounts are typically processed within 2-4 weeks. estate accounts requiring probate documentation may take 30-90 days.
Blue Federal Credit Union, 2401 E. Pershing Blvd, Cheyenne, WY 82001
Blue Federal Credit Union, 2401 E. Pershing Blvd, Cheyenne, WY 82001
Death Claims
Blue Federal Credit Union, 2401 E. Pershing Blvd, Cheyenne, WY 82001
When a member of Blue FCU passes away, the Death 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.
The first step is contacting Blue FCU at 1-800-368-9328 with the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate in hand.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Blue FCU:
Filing a claim
- For joint accounts with right of survivorship: the surviving joint owner continues to use the account normally
- For single-owner accounts with POD: account is closed and funds are disbursed directly to the named beneficiaries per Wyoming Uniform Probate Code (WY Stat 2-6-101 et seq.)
- For single-owner accounts without POD: funds are distributed to the estate; executor provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
- For IRA accounts: beneficiary provides certified death certificate and completes IRA distribution paperwork
- For small estates (Wyoming decedent): a Wyoming small estate affidavit / summary distribution may be accepted when the estate value is $400,000 or less, less liens and encumbrances, per WY Stat 2-1-201 and 2-1-205 (raised from $200,000 effective July 1, 2025 by 2025 Wyoming Session Laws Ch. 85 / SF0104)
- For small estates (Colorado decedent): a Colorado Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit (form JDF 999) may be presented at least 10 days after death when the estate value, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed the year-of-death cap ($88,000 for 2026 deaths) per C.R.S. 15-12-1201; the affidavit covers personal property only and is not filed with a court
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for each beneficiary or claimant
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (when account has no POD designation and no joint owner)
- Small estate affidavit -- Wyoming small estate affidavit / summary distribution (estate value $400,000 or less per WY Stat 2-1-201 / 2-1-205) or Colorado Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit (form JDF 999, estate value at or below the year-of-death cap of $88,000 for 2026 per C.R.S. 15-12-1201), depending on the decedent's state of residence
- Trust documents and trustee identification (when trust is named as beneficiary)
What to know at this institution
Under Wyoming Uniform Probate Code (WY Stat 2-6-101 et seq.), POD beneficiary designations on deposit accounts pass funds directly to surviving beneficiaries on the death of the owner(s), bypassing probate. Wyoming has no state income tax and no state estate or inheritance tax. Because Blue FCU serves both Wyoming and Colorado, the applicable small-estate shortcut depends on the decedent's state of residence: Wyoming allows a small estate affidavit / summary distribution for estates valued at $400,000 or less, less liens and encumbrances (WY Stat 2-1-201 and 2-1-205; threshold raised from $200,000 effective July 1, 2025 by SF0104 / 2025 Wyo. Sess. Laws Ch. 85), while Colorado allows a Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit (form JDF 999) presented at least 10 days after death when the estate value, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed the year-of-death cap ($88,000 for 2026 deaths) under C.R.S. 15-12-1201. The Colorado affidavit covers personal property only, is not filed with a court, and cannot transfer real estate; both states also lack a state estate or inheritance tax.
Prepare your letter of instruction to Blue FCU
Blue FCU accepts a claimant-drafted letter of instruction. We draft it for you — addressed to Blue FCU's verified claims department, with the documents it requires enclosed.
Build your letter of instructionHow long the process takes at Blue FCU: Joint accounts transfer immediately. POD accounts are typically processed within 2-4 weeks. Estate accounts requiring probate documentation may take 30-90 days. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.
Documentation required by Blue FCU includes Certified copy of the death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for each beneficiary or claimant, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (when account has no POD designation and no joint owner), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, a revocable living trust can be named as a POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary on Blue FCU deposit accounts including checking, savings, and term share certificates. This allows funds to transfer directly to the trust upon the account holder's death, bypassing probate under the Wyoming Uniform Probate Code (WY Stat 2-6-101 et seq.). To set up a trust as POD beneficiary, visit a branch with the trust name, trustee information, and trust tax ID. IRA accounts cannot use POD designations but can name a trust as a standard beneficiary.
The distribution path depends on the account type and ownership. Joint accounts with right of survivorship transfer immediately to the surviving owner. Single-owner accounts with a POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary designation are disbursed directly to the named beneficiaries, bypassing probate under Wyoming law. Accounts without a POD or joint owner pass through the estate, requiring Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. Blue FCU serves both Wyoming and Colorado, so the small-estate shortcut depends on where the member lived: Wyoming accepts a small estate affidavit / summary distribution for estates valued at $400,000 or less, less liens and encumbrances (WY Stat 2-1-201 and 2-1-205; threshold raised from $200,000 effective July 1, 2025), while Colorado accepts a Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit (form JDF 999) at least 10 days after death when the estate value is at or below the year-of-death cap ($88,000 for 2026 deaths) under C.R.S. 15-12-1201. IRA beneficiaries must complete IRA distribution paperwork. Contact Blue FCU at 1-800-368-9328 or visit any branch to report a death.
Wyoming has no state income tax, no state estate tax, and no state inheritance tax, which generally simplifies trust administration for Wyoming-domiciled trusts. Blue FCU is headquartered in Cheyenne and is chartered in Wyoming. Under Wyoming Uniform Probate Code (WY Stat 2-6-101 et seq.), POD beneficiary designations on Blue FCU deposit accounts pass directly to beneficiaries on the owner's death, bypassing probate. Choice of trust situs is a separate legal question -- consult a licensed attorney for trust drafting and situs decisions. To open a Blue FCU trust account, visit any branch with the trust documents and trust EIN.
Blue FCU's Death Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-368-9328 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Blue FCU accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Death Claims can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Sources
Data sourced from Blue FCU primary sources (20 pages reviewed). How we research.
Blue Federal Credit Union, 2401 E. Pershing Blvd, Cheyenne, WY 82001
Blue Federal Credit Union, 2401 E. Pershing Blvd, Cheyenne, WY 82001
Death Claims
Blue Federal Credit Union, 2401 E. Pershing Blvd, Cheyenne, WY 82001
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