What to do when a Cathay Bank account holder dies
Contact Cathay Bank — 8-step process, 8 required documents, and 10-15 business days after submission of complete documentation
Phone(626) 582-7380
Toll-Free1-800-922-8429
Mailing Address
777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Wealth management and estate planning advisory
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone(626) 582-7380
Toll-Free1-800-922-8429
Mailing Address
777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Wealth management and estate planning advisory
WebsiteLearn more →
Death Claims
Phone1-800-922-8429
Toll-Free1-800-922-8429
Mailing Address
Cathay Bank, 777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Verified Mar 2026
When a Cathay Bank account holder passes away, the next step depends on how the accounts were set up. Accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate. Accounts titled solely in the deceased's name require the estate's legal representative to work with Cathay Bank's Death Claims (1-800-922-8429) to access and distribute the funds.
The claim process begins with a phone call to 1-800-922-8429. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate available when making initial contact.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Cathay Bank:
Filing a claim
1Contact Cathay Bank at 1-800-922-8429 or visit a branch location to report the death of an account holder
2For accounts with POD beneficiary: provide certified death certificate and beneficiary government-issued photo ID
3For joint accounts with right of survivorship: provide certified death certificate to remove the deceased from the account
4For trust accounts: provide certified death certificate, trust documentation showing successor trustee, and successor trustee government-issued photo ID
5For accounts without beneficiary designation: provide certified death certificate, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, and executor/administrator government-issued photo ID
6For IRA accounts: provide certified death certificate, beneficiary ID, and applicable IRA distribution forms
7Submit all documents at a branch location or by mail
8The bank will review documents and process the claim according to account type and applicable state law
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant (beneficiary, executor, successor trustee, or administrator)
- Account information for the deceased
- For POD accounts: proof of identity as named beneficiary
- For trust accounts: trust documentation including successor trustee provisions, signature pages, and amendments
- For estates without beneficiary: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court
- For small estates: small estate affidavit (if applicable under state law)
- For IRA accounts: IRA distribution or transfer forms
In-branch visits are recommended for estate claims to ensure all documentation is properly submitted and reviewed. For international account holders or accounts held in Hong Kong offices, contact the main customer service line for specific instructions. Distribution options may include transfer to a new or existing account or a cashier check.
Mortgage and home lending
Mortgages and home equity loans are liabilities, not assets. They do not have beneficiaries and cannot be retitled to a trust. When a borrower dies, the loan obligation transfers with the property to whoever inherits it. Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Act, the lender cannot accelerate the loan or call it due when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, or the borrower's revocable trust.
1Notify Cathay Bank of the borrower's death by calling the Customer Service Center at 1-800-922-8429 (Option 2-4-4 for loan servicing)
2Provide the deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number, and loan number
3Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
4Request the Successor in Interest documentation package from the loan servicing department
5Complete and return the Successor in Interest form with supporting documentation proving your ownership interest in the property (e.g., probated will, court order, deed, or trust document)
6Cathay Bank will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest
7Once confirmed, you will have access to loan information and can discuss options: continue making payments, apply for loss mitigation, assume the loan, refinance, or pay off the balance
8Continue making monthly mortgage payments during the review process to avoid default
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Completed Successor in Interest form (obtained from loan servicing department)
- Documentation proving ownership interest in the property: probated will, court order, recorded deed, or trust document showing you as successor trustee or beneficiary
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if going through probate)
- Marriage certificate (if surviving spouse)
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3), Cathay Bank cannot enforce a due-on-sale clause when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, relative upon death, or the borrower's revocable living trust. Confirmed Successors in Interest are treated as borrowers under CFPB mortgage servicing rules and are entitled to account information, loss mitigation options, and assumption rights. General customer service: 1-800-922-8429. International callers: 1-626-582-7380.
Processing timelines at Cathay Bank: 10-15 business days after submission of complete documentation. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Cathay Bank requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate, Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant (beneficiary, executor, successor trustee, or administrator), and Account information for the deceased, 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 Cathay Bank branch with valid government-issued photo ID and provide the full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number for each beneficiary. You can also call customer service at 1-800-922-8429 for assistance. POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary designations are available on checking, savings, money market, and CD accounts.
Contact Cathay Bank at 1-800-922-8429 or visit any branch location. You will need a certified death certificate and valid government-issued photo ID. Additional documents depend on the account type: POD accounts require beneficiary identification, trust accounts require successor trustee documentation, and accounts without a beneficiary designation may require Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
A POD (Payable on Death) designation names a beneficiary who receives the account funds upon the account holder death, bypassing probate. A trust account is titled in the name of a trust and managed by the trustee according to the trust terms. Both methods avoid probate, but a trust provides more control over how and when beneficiaries receive the funds. Cathay Bank supports both options on eligible deposit accounts.
Cathay Bank's Death Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-922-8429 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Cathay Bank 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.
Phone(626) 582-7380
Toll-Free1-800-922-8429
Mailing Address
777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Wealth management and estate planning advisory
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone(626) 582-7380
Toll-Free1-800-922-8429
Mailing Address
777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Wealth management and estate planning advisory
WebsiteLearn more →
Death Claims
Phone1-800-922-8429
Toll-Free1-800-922-8429
Mailing Address
Cathay Bank, 777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Verified Mar 2026
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