What to do when a Charter Oak FCU account holder dies
Report the death to Charter Oak FCU's Contact Center at 1-800-962-3237
After a member of Charter Oak FCU dies, the Contact 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.
Begin by calling Charter Oak FCU at 1-860-446-8085. You will need the deceased's full name, account numbers, and the death certificate to get the process started.
Death claim process
The death claim process at Charter Oak FCU works as follows:
Filing a claim
- Call (860) 446-8085 or toll-free (800) 962-3237, Monday-Friday 9 AM - 5 PM, Saturday 9 AM - 12 noon
- Or go to a full-service branch (Waterford, Groton, Norwich, Mystic, Niantic, Pawcatuck, Montville/Uncasville, Dayville, Putnam, Willimantic), not a school, Electric Boat or Mohegan Sun location
- The contact form has no "report a death" reason; use Account Assistance or call
Forms Charter Oak FCU issues1
- IRA beneficiary distribution election forms
Completed by the IRA beneficiary. Sent by the institution on request.1
What happens to each kind of account7
- Joint account with survivorship
The surviving joint owner keeps the account and it continues for them with no waiting period.1
A Bright Future account for ages 14-17 requires a parent or guardian as a joint owner, so those funds may pass by survivorship rather than under the will.1
- Payable-on-death account
Charter Oak pays the named beneficiaries on proof of death and of the beneficiary's identity, outside the will and outside probate. A claim moves as fast as Charter Oak can verify the death certificate and the beneficiary's identity.1
- Account in one name
With no payable-on-death beneficiary and no joint owner, the funds belong to the estate, and the personal representative presents Connecticut Probate Court Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.1
- Certificate of deposit
Charter Oak's certificate disclosures say only that "a penalty for early withdrawal may apply". Confirm with the Contact Center whether it is waived on death before breaking a certificate.2
- Credit card
The Visa credit card is an Elan Financial Services account. The Charter Oak Contact Center cannot settle it; report the death to Elan Cardmember Service.1
- Investment account
Charter Oak Retirement and Investment Services accounts are held at LPL Financial, not the credit union, and LPL runs its own estate paperwork. The Charter Oak Contact Center cannot settle them.1
Accounts handled elsewhere5
- Elan Financial Services Cardmember Service
Charter Oak Visa credit cards (24-hour service)1
Phone: 1-800-558-3424
- Charter Oak Retirement and Investment Services (LPL Financial)
Investment accounts held at LPL Financial1
Phone: 1-860-446-3398
- Todd A. Gestrich, wealth manager (Waterford)
Charter Oak Retirement and Investment Services accounts he manages1
Phone: 1-860-446-3312
- Golam Ahmed, wealth manager (Norwich)
Charter Oak Retirement and Investment Services accounts he manages1
Phone: 1-860-446-3477
What Charter Oak FCU's agreement and guidance say1
- Membership
The Regular Savings share holds the deceased member's membership. Keep it open until every other registration is settled; closing it first can complicate the rest.1
Not in Charter Oak FCU's published guidance5
- How long a claim takes
- A department for deceased-customer accounts
- A claim form to download
- A list of required documents
- Certificate early-withdrawal penalty waiver on death
Sources2
Charter Oak FCU's Contact Center can be reached by phone at 1-800-962-3237 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
(1)·
Data sourced from Charter Oak FCU primary sources (19 pages reviewed). How we research.
Charter Oak FCU death claims support
Contact Center
Phone
Toll-free
Visa Credit Card death reporting (Elan Cardmember Service)
Investment account claims (LPL Financial program line)
Wealth Manager - Todd A. Gestrich, Waterford
Wealth Manager - Golam Ahmed, Norwich
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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Forms for Settling an Estate
Free forms for settling an estate: probate petition, small estate affidavit, creditor notice and closing forms. Prepare each form for your state.
Affidavit of Death
Put a joint owner's or a transfer on death deed owner's death on the land records with the affidavit your state's statute names, laid out for recording.
IRS Form 56
Notify the IRS that you are the fiduciary of an estate, a trust or a person, or end a notice filed before, on the official form.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter
Prepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.
Petition for Probate and Letters
Open probate and ask the court to appoint you and issue Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
Notice to Creditors
Notify estate creditors and start the claim period — the published notice plus mailed copies for known creditors.
Renunciation of Executor
Decline an appointment as executor named in a will — the writing filed with the court before anyone is appointed.
Tools for Settling an Estate
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A step-by-step checklist for the days, weeks, and months after a death, with state rules noted where they apply.
