What to do when a Broadview FCU account holder dies
Report the death to Broadview FCU's Member Service Center at 1-800-727-3328
After a member of Broadview FCU dies, the Member Service Center 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.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Broadview FCU:
Filing a claim
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo identification, for the claimant: the beneficiary, executor, administrator or successor trustee
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from Surrogate's Court, for an estate claim
- Surrogate's Court certificate of voluntary administration, for a small New York estate, presented by a voluntary administrator in place of full Letters
- Membership Application, identification for all persons, Letters and the EIN letter, to open a Broadview Estate AccountThe Letters are Letters Testamentary or of Administration, and the EIN letter is the IRS EIN Assignment Letter. All are presented at a branch.
- Trust agreement and successor-trustee identification, for trust accounts
- Superior IRA beneficiary distribution election, for IRA accountsFiled through the Superior IRA program.
Forms Broadview FCU issues2
- Membership Application
Completed by the personal representative, to open an Estate Account. Available to download.1
- Superior IRA beneficiary distribution election
Completed by the IRA beneficiary. Completed online.2
What happens to each kind of account10
- Account in one name
With no surviving owner and no beneficiary, the personal representative opens a Broadview Estate Account. A full-probate release waits on Letters from Surrogate's Court.2
- Joint account with survivorship
All sums paid into joint accounts are owned jointly with right of survivorship. "Payment to either joint owner or a survivor shall be presumed valid and releases Broadview from any liability for such payment, absent gross negligence by Broadview."3
Broadview may recommend closing the account and reopening it under the survivor's Social Security number for IRS reporting. The release is typically completed once the certified death certificate and identification are presented at a branch.2
- Payable-on-death account
The payable-on-death beneficiary is the one named at item 50 of the Membership Application.4
The beneficiary presents the certified death certificate and government-issued photo identification to claim the funds outside probate. The release is typically completed once these are presented at a branch.2
- Trust account
The successor trustee presents the death certificate, the trust agreement and successor-trustee identification to take control of the trust account.2
- IRA
An IRA passes by its own beneficiary designation. IRA beneficiaries file the distribution election through the Superior IRA program.2
- Health savings account
A health savings account passes by its own beneficiary designation.2
- Coverdell education savings account
A Coverdell education savings account passes by its own beneficiary designation.2
- Certificate of deposit
Early-redemption distributions are "usually subject to a Broadview penalty; exceptions are made in the case of the member having died."5
- Credit card
The Mastercard consumer credit card agreement makes the cardholder's death an event of default, and lets Broadview declare the balance immediately due and payable.6
- Loan
Mortgage and other secured balances remain payable by the estate. Contact Broadview directly for a payoff or an assumption.2
State law on paying a balance without lettersNew York, Pennsylvania
- New York
N.Y. SCPA § 1310
New York law permits a credit union to pay from a deceased member's balance on an affidavit made under oath, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.N.Y. SCPA § 1310Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Paid to: surviving spouse
Limit: $30,000 in total from every holder
When: forthwith
Paid to: surviving spouse, children eighteen or older, either parent, brother or sister, niece or nephew, or at their request a creditor or the person who paid the funeral expense
Limit: $15,000 in total from every holder
When: not less than thirty days after the death
Paid to: a distributee, a creditor, or the person who paid the funeral expenses
Limit: $5,000 held at the institution and $5,000 in total from every holder
When: not less than 6 months after the death
The section permits the payment. It does not require the credit union to make it. The section sets further conditions.
- Pennsylvania
20 Pa.C.S. § 3101(b)
Pennsylvania law directs a credit union to pay from a deceased member's balance on an affidavit, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.20 Pa.C.S. § 3101(b)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Limit: $20,000 held at the institution
When: at any time after the death of a depositor, member or certificate holder
Paid to: the spouse; any child; the father or mother; any sister or brother
The section sets further conditions.
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- Broadview Loss Mitigation
A delinquent secured loan in an estate; also reached at 833-985-20082
Phone: 1-518-649-4962
What Broadview FCU's agreement and guidance say3
- Debts owed to the institution
Broadview's right of offset "will take priority over any third-party claim to your account and over the rights of others claiming an interest in your account, such as pay-on-death beneficiaries to whom your account transfers in the event of your death."3
An outstanding Broadview loan, a pledged certificate or a negative checking balance can be collected from the deposit before any payout.3
- Membership
"The share account of a deceased member (other than one held in joint tenancy with another member) may be continued until the close of the dividend period in which the administration of the deceased's estate is completed."7
- Which state governs the account
The Member Benefits Guide, Broadview's account agreement, is governed by New York law.3
Not in Broadview FCU's published guidance2
- A procedure for reporting a death
- A claim form
Sources7
- 1.Specialty Accounts
- 2.Contact Us
- 3.Member Benefits Guide, revision B4000-01 07/2026
- 4.Membership Application
- 5.Certificates
- 6.Mastercard Consumer Credit Card Agreement
- 7.Bylaws
Broadview FCU's Member Service Center can be reached by phone at 1-800-727-3328 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Broadview FCU primary sources (18 pages reviewed). How we research.
Broadview FCU death claims support
Member Service Center
Phone
Live chat
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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