What to do when a CPB account holder dies
Contact CPB's Trust and Asset Management Division — 5-step process, 7 required documents, and 5-10 business days after all documentation is received, though complex estates may take longer
Customer Service Center
Phone1-808-544-0500
Mailing Address
Central Pacific Bank, P.O. Box 3590, Honolulu, HI 96811
Toll-Free
TTY/TDD
Infoline (Automated Banking)
Infoline Toll-Free
Mortgage Services
Japanese Speaking Assistance
Lost/Stolen Debit Card
Lost/Stolen Credit Card
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Service / Trust and Asset Management
Phone1-808-544-0500
Mailing Address
Central Pacific Bank, P.O. Box 3590, Honolulu, HI 96811
Toll-Free
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
After a CPB 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 CPB's Trust and Asset Management Division at 1-808-544-0500 with the proper legal authority documents.
Death claims at CPB can be started through an online portal, which streamlines the initial notification and document upload. Phone and mail options are also available.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what CPB requires:
Filing a claim
1
Notify Central Pacific Bank of the account holder's death by visiting a local branch or calling (808) 544-0500 or toll-free 1-800-342-8422
2
Gather required documentation:
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant
3
Choose the appropriate settlement path:
- For accounts with POD beneficiary: provide the death certificate and beneficiary ID to claim funds directly
- For joint accounts with right of survivorship: provide the death certificate; surviving owner retains access to the account
- For accounts without beneficiary or survivorship: obtain Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, or a Small Estate Affidavit from the court and provide along with the executor or administrator's ID
4
If needed, open an estate account at a Central Pacific Bank branch to manage estate proceeds and pay bills
5
Central Pacific Bank will review submitted documentation and process the claim
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant (beneficiary, executor, or administrator)
- Account information for the deceased (account numbers if available)
- For accounts without beneficiary: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the court
- For small estates: Small Estate Affidavit as permitted under Hawaii Revised Statutes §560:3-1201
- For trust accounts: trust documentation including successor trustee provisions and trustee ID
- For IRA accounts: IRA beneficiary claim forms and applicable distribution election forms
Visiting a local branch is the most direct way to initiate the estate settlement process. Central Pacific Bank's Trust and Asset Management division can also assist with estate and trust administration, acting as executor, personal representative, trustee, or agent. CPB handles all aspects of court-supervised processes including inventorying and safeguarding assets, recordkeeping, court appearances, tax filings, and asset distribution.
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 Central Pacific Bank of the borrower's death by calling Customer Service at (808) 544-0500 or toll-free at 1-800-342-8422
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 mortgage 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
Central Pacific Bank will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest
6
Once confirmed, choose from available options:
- Continue making payments on the existing loan
- Assume the loan
- Refinance in your own name
- Pay off the remaining 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 mortgage 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), Central Pacific 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. Contact CPB mortgage loan officers via https://www.cpb.bank/personal-banking/mortgage-loans/contact-a-mortgage-loan-officer.
How long the process takes at CPB: 5-10 business days after all documentation is received, though complex estates may take longer. 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 CPB includes Certified copy of the death certificate, Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant (beneficiary, executor, or administrator), and Account information for the deceased (account numbers if available), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
When an account holder with a POD (Payable on Death) designation dies, the named beneficiary can claim the account funds by visiting a Central Pacific Bank branch with a certified copy of the death certificate and a valid government-issued photo ID. POD accounts bypass the probate process and pass directly to the named beneficiary.
Call Central Pacific Bank's Customer Service Center at (808) 544-0500 or toll-free at 1-800-342-8422 (Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 6:00 pm HST; Saturday & Sunday, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm HST). You can also visit any CPB branch in person. CPB's Trust and Asset Management division can assist with estate and trust administration, including serving as executor, personal representative, trustee, or agent. Mail documentation to Central Pacific Bank, P.O. Box 3590, Honolulu, HI 96811.
CPB's Customer Service / Trust and Asset Management can be reached by phone at 1-808-544-0500 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple CPB accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Trust and Asset Management Division to confirm what applies.
Customer Service Center
Phone1-808-544-0500
Mailing Address
Central Pacific Bank, P.O. Box 3590, Honolulu, HI 96811
Toll-Free
TTY/TDD
Infoline (Automated Banking)
Infoline Toll-Free
Mortgage Services
Japanese Speaking Assistance
Lost/Stolen Debit Card
Lost/Stolen Credit Card
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Service / Trust and Asset Management
Phone1-808-544-0500
Mailing Address
Central Pacific Bank, P.O. Box 3590, Honolulu, HI 96811
Toll-Free
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
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