What to do when a Cathay Bank account holder dies
Contact Cathay Bank — 4-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 Apr 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.
To start, call Cathay Bank at 1-800-922-8429. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate ready before you call.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Cathay Bank:
Filing a claim
1
Contact Cathay Bank at 1-800-922-8429 or visit a branch location to report the death of an account holder
2
Choose the appropriate settlement path:
- POD beneficiary accounts: provide certified death certificate and beneficiary government-issued photo ID
- Joint accounts with right of survivorship: provide certified death certificate to remove the deceased from the account
- Trust accounts: provide certified death certificate, trust documentation showing successor trustee, and successor trustee government-issued photo ID
- Accounts without beneficiary designation: provide certified death certificate, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, and executor/administrator government-issued photo ID
- IRA accounts: provide certified death certificate, beneficiary ID, and applicable IRA distribution forms
3
Submit all documents at a branch location or by mail
4
The 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.
1
Notify 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)
2
Provide initial information:
- Deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number, and loan number
- Certified copy of the death certificate
3
Request the Successor in Interest documentation package from the loan servicing department
4
Complete 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)
5
Cathay Bank will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest
6
Once confirmed, discuss available options:
- Continue making payments on the existing loan
- Apply for loss mitigation
- Assume the loan, refinance, or pay off the balance
7
Continue 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.
How long the process takes at Cathay Bank: 10-15 business days after submission of complete documentation. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.
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
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.
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), Cathay Bank cannot accelerate the loan when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, relative upon death, or the borrower's revocable living trust. Heirs should contact Cathay Bank at 1-800-922-8429 (Option 2-4-4 for loan servicing) to request Successor in Interest documentation. Once confirmed, heirs can continue making payments, apply for loss mitigation, assume the loan, refinance, or pay off the balance.
Yes. Per the Cathay Bank Deposit Account Agreement, Totten Trust accounts are informal trust accounts reflected on bank records without a written trust agreement. The trustee owns and controls the account during their lifetime. Upon the trustee's death, the named beneficiaries become the account owners. This can provide additional FDIC insurance coverage through beneficiary designations.
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 Apr 2026
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