What to do when a Busey account holder dies
Contact Busey's Busey Wealth Management - Trust Services & Estate Advisory — 4-step process, 5 required documents, and varies by account type; pod and joint account claims are typically resolved faster than probate-dependent claims
Busey Customer Care
Phone800.672.8739
Mailing Address
Busey Bank, 100 W University Ave, Champaign, IL 61820
WebsiteLearn more→
Busey Wealth Management - Trust Services & Estate Advisory
WebsiteLearn more→
Busey Customer Care
Phone800.672.8739
Mailing Address
Busey Bank, 100 W University Ave, Champaign, IL 61820
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
After a Busey account holder dies, accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer to the designated recipients without probate. Solely-owned accounts require the estate's representative to contact Busey's Busey Wealth Management - Trust Services & Estate Advisory at 800.672.8739 with the proper legal authority documents.
Busey 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
The death claim process at Busey works as follows:
Filing a claim
1
Notify Busey Bank of the account holder's death:
- Call Customer Care at 800.672.8739
- Visit a local Busey banking center
2
Provide a certified death certificate
3
Proceed based on account type and ownership structure:
- For POD accounts: named beneficiary provides death certificate and valid government-issued ID to claim funds
- For joint accounts with right of survivorship: ownership passes automatically to surviving owner(s)
- For non-POD individual accounts: executor or administrator provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from probate court
- For IRA accounts: named beneficiary provides death certificate and completes distribution paperwork
- For trust accounts: successor trustee provides trust documentation, death certificate, and trustee identification
4
Complete any required claim forms provided by the bank
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for beneficiary or authorized representative
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (for probate estates)
- Trust documentation and successor trustee ID (if account held in trust)
- Small Estate Affidavit (if applicable under state law)
Busey Wealth Management provides professional estate administration services for clients who need assistance settling complex estates. Early withdrawal penalties on CDs may be waived upon death of the account holder. Contact Customer Care at 800.672.8739 (Monday-Friday 7:30am-6pm CT, Saturday 8am-12pm CT) for guidance on the claims process.
How long the process takes at Busey: Varies by account type; POD and joint account claims are typically resolved faster than probate-dependent claims. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.
Busey requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for beneficiary or authorized representative, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (for probate estates), 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
Busey Wealth Management provides comprehensive trust administration, estate advisory, and estate settlement services with over $15.7 billion in assets under care. Services include serving as trustee or co-trustee, estate administration under wills or trust agreements, inheritance planning, and coordination of financial affairs after death. Busey acts as an impartial liaison to ensure wishes are executed in accordance with legal documents.
You can add or update a Payable on Death (POD) beneficiary by visiting any Busey banking center with a valid government-issued photo ID or by calling Customer Care at 800.672.8739. Provide the full legal name and identifying information for each beneficiary, designate primary and contingent beneficiaries, and specify percentage allocations if naming multiple beneficiaries. IRA beneficiary designations are handled separately from deposit account POD designations.
Busey offers Visa credit cards issued by Elan Financial Services. Options include a Cash Back card (5% back on first $2,000 in two chosen categories per quarter, unlimited 2% in one category, 1% on all other purchases) and a Rewards card (1.5 points per $1, with bonus points at restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, and streaming services). Credit card balances become obligations of the estate upon death and cannot be retitled to a trust.
Busey offers CDs in 6-month, 12-month, 18-month, 24-month, 36-month, 48-month, and 60-month terms with a $1,000 minimum balance. CDs automatically renew at maturity with a 10-day grace period for penalty-free withdrawal. Early withdrawal penalty is 6 months of interest for terms of 12 months or less, and 12 months of interest for terms over 12 months (not more than total interest earned during the current term). Early withdrawal penalties may be waived upon death of the account holder.
The process depends on the account type. For POD accounts, the named beneficiary presents a certified death certificate and valid ID to claim funds. For joint accounts with right of survivorship, ownership passes automatically to the surviving owner. For non-POD individual accounts, the executor or administrator provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from probate court. For trust accounts, the successor trustee provides trust documentation and identification. Contact Busey Customer Care at 800.672.8739 or visit a banking center to begin the process.
Busey's Busey Customer Care can be reached by phone at 800.672.8739 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple Busey accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Busey Wealth Management - Trust Services & Estate Advisory to confirm what applies.
Busey Customer Care
Phone800.672.8739
Mailing Address
Busey Bank, 100 W University Ave, Champaign, IL 61820
WebsiteLearn more→
Busey Wealth Management - Trust Services & Estate Advisory
WebsiteLearn more→
Busey Customer Care
Phone800.672.8739
Mailing Address
Busey Bank, 100 W University Ave, Champaign, IL 61820
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
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