What to do when a Choice Bank account holder dies
Report the death to Choice Bank's General Help Line at 1-888-894-1357
When an account holder at Choice Bank 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 Choice Bank's General Help Line (1-888-894-1357) to access and distribute the funds.
The claim process begins with a phone call to 1-888-894-1357. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and the death certificate available when making initial contact.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Choice Bank requires:
Filing a claim
What happens to each kind of account6
- Account in one name
When the only owner of an account with no payable-on-death beneficiary dies, the account becomes part of that owner's estate.1
- Joint account with survivorship
On a joint account with survivorship, the deceased owner's share goes to the owners still living, in equal shares. Where the deceased owner's spouse is one of two or more survivors, the spouse takes that share.1
- Joint account without survivorship
On a joint account without survivorship, the deceased owner's share belongs to that owner's estate rather than to the other owners.1
- Payable-on-death account
A payable-on-death account goes to the named beneficiaries who outlive the owner, split evenly among two or more of them. If none survives, it is handled as an account in the owner's name alone.1
On a joint account with survivorship and payable-on-death beneficiaries, the beneficiaries take the account only once the last owner has died, and it is not part of that owner's estate.1
- Fiduciary account
On an escrow, trust, fiduciary or custodial account under the business agreement, Choice takes no role as trustee and does not look into the fiduciary's powers. It can ask for the papers it needs to open, run and close the account.2
- Business account
On a business account, the death of someone authorized to act on it does not stop the bank from handling items until it learns of the death and has had a reasonable chance to act.2
What Choice Bank's agreement and guidance say8
- Telling the institution
Reporting an account holder's death is the customer's job under the agreement, and the bank must be able to identify the account from the notice.1
- Payments after the death
Even after it knows of the death, Choice may pay checks written on or before the date of death for 10 days, unless someone claiming an interest in the account orders it to stop.1
- Powers of attorney
An agent under a power of attorney has no ownership of the account unless named its beneficiary, and the authority ends when the account holder dies.1
- Indemnity a claimant may have to give
A surviving owner or beneficiary agrees to hold the bank harmless for paying out the account as the agreement and the account designations direct.1
- Debts owed to the institution
Where the law allows, Choice may use money in the account to pay a debt an owner owes it that has come due, and on a joint account it may do so for the debt of any one owner.1
- Which state governs the account
The account agreement is governed by North Dakota law, except where federal law controls.1
- Fees
Account research costs $50 an hour with a $50 minimum, or $1 per item, and photocopies and check copies cost $1 each.3
- Dormant and unclaimed accounts
The consumer fee schedule charges $50 when an account is escheated to the state.3
Not in Choice Bank's published guidance8
- A department for deceased-customer accounts
- A claim form
- A list of required documents
- Whether the death certificate must be certified
- Which court appointment document it accepts
- An online way to report a death
- How long a claim takes
- A small-estate procedure
Sources3
- 1.Consumer Account Agreement (form DD8001)
- 2.Business Account Agreement (form DD8001)
- 3.Consumer Fee Schedule, effective 03/01/2026
Choice Bank's General Help Line can be reached by phone at 1-888-894-1357 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
(2)·
Data sourced from Choice Bank primary sources (22 pages reviewed). How we research.
Choice Bank death claims support
General Help Line
Phone
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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