What to do when a Citi Wealth account holder dies
Report the death to Citi Wealth's Investment Accounts at 1-800-357-3399
When an account holder at Citi Wealth passes away, the next step depends on how the investment 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 Citi Wealth's Investment Accounts (1-800-357-3399) to access and distribute the funds.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Citi Wealth requires:
Filing a claim
- Investment Accounts (Citi Self Invest, Wealth Builder, CPWM brokerage): 1-800-357-3399, Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. ET, Saturday 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. ET
- Wealth Management: 1-800-846-5200, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (TTY 1-800-788-6775)
- Citibank bank accounts, credit cards, bank IRAs, mortgages and personal loans have their own estate lines, listed with the Citi units below
- The page's guided paths cover only Banking Accounts, Credit Cards, Trust Bank Accounts and IRAs; there is no brokerage path
- Its instruction for investment accounts is to "call or visit a branch to get started"
- The will and any trust
- Statements for investment and bank accounts
- Insurance policies
- The deceased person's attorney, tax advisor or accountant
- Stock certificates and deeds
- The safe deposit box key
- Military discharge papers and vehicle titles
- Call 1-800-695-5911 for digital upload via DocuSign
- Send a certified original death certificate plus a letter with instructions and the beneficiaries' names, phone numbers and addresses
- Mail to: Retirement Plan Services, 1000 Technology Drive, O'Fallon, MO 63368
- Citibank Service Center, PO Box 6051, Sioux Falls, SD 57117-6051
- Fax: 1-866-215-6523
Required Documents
- Original death certificate or certified copyCiti states that "in most cases we require an original death certificate or certified copy"; a photocopy is not enough. Its guidance advises asking the funeral home for at least 10 original certified copies.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, for an account with no beneficiary, TOD or trust designation
- Certification of trust, for a trust-titled accountFor a Citibank trust bank account, Citi specifies a Certificate of Trust plus the pages of the trust agreement identifying the successor trustee.
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant
- Social Security numbers and dates of birth of surviving joint account holders
- Letter with instructions and the beneficiaries' names, phone numbers and addresses, for a Citibank, N.A. bank IRA
- Different documentation, where the death or the documents are foreignCiti states that "different documentation may be required".
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
Forms Citi Wealth issues1
- Securities transfer and re-registration paperwork
Sent by the institution on request.1
What happens to each kind of account6
- Investment account
For an account with a Transfer on Death or beneficiary designation, the named beneficiaries claim directly and the assets pass outside probate.1
- Account in one name
For an account with no beneficiary, TOD or trust designation, Citi asks for a court order. Its guidance names a "letter of testamentary issued by the probate court" showing you are the executor.2
- Trust account
For an account titled to a revocable trust, the successor trustee produces the death certificate plus a certification of trust.1
- IRA
A Citibank, N.A. bank IRA is settled by Citi Retirement Plan Services. A Citi Self Invest brokerage IRA is settled through the Investment Accounts line.1
Where Citi is notified of a death on an IRA, it states it "will research the beneficiaries on the account" and then "mail the beneficiaries instructions to redeem their funds."1
- Safe deposit box
Citi states that "once the lessee is deceased, access cannot be granted until all required documentation has been received," and directs you to the branch holding the box.1
- Rewards
ThankYou points must be redeemed by the estate representative within one year.1
Accounts handled elsewhere6
- Citi Estate Servicing Unit
Citi credit cards and bank accounts1
Phone: 1-833-956-0413
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-9:00 PM ET
- Citi Retirement Plan Services
Citibank, N.A. bank IRAs, with digital upload via DocuSign1
Phone: 1-800-695-5911
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-10:00 PM ET; Saturday 9:00 AM-5:30 PM ET
Mailing address: Retirement Plan Services, 1000 Technology Drive, O'Fallon, MO 63368
- Citibank Service Center
Citibank, N.A. deposit and trust bank accounts1
Fax: 1-866-215-6523
Mailing address: Citibank Service Center, PO Box 6051, Sioux Falls, SD 57117-6051
- Citi mortgage and home equity
Citi mortgages and home equity loans1
Phone: 1-866-523-6781
- Citi personal loans and lines of credit
Citi personal loans and lines of credit1
Phone: 1-800-685-0935
- Pershing LLC
Carries CPWM accounts as CGMI's clearing firm; the securities transfer settles through Pershing1
What Citi Wealth's agreement and guidance say2
- What it does when notified
Individual deposit accounts are placed on hold once Citi is notified of a death.1
- Fees
Citi's CPWM fee schedule lists an outgoing Account Transfer Fee of $95, a Termination Fee (Retirement) of $95, a Legal Transfer Fee of $30 "charged for Legal Transfer or Restricted Legal Transfer," and an Accommodation Transfer Fee of $60 for registration and shipping of certificates.3
Not in Citi Wealth's published guidance2
- How long a claim takes
- A mailing address for claim documents, for investment accounts
Sources3
- 1.Citi Estate Services
- 2.Key Steps to Take After a Loved One Passes Away
- 3.CPWM fee schedule
Citi Wealth's Investment Accounts can be reached by phone at 1-800-357-3399 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
- citi.com
- marketinsights.citi.com
- online.citi.com
- wealthmanagement.citi.com
- citigoldprivateclient.citi.com
Show 2 more sourcesShow fewer sources
Data sourced from Citi Wealth primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Citi Wealth death claims support
Investment Accounts (Citi Estate Services)
Phone
Wealth Management estate line
Citi Estate Servicing Unit — credit cards & bank accounts
Citi Retirement Plan Services — Citibank, N.A. bank IRA
Mortgage or home equity
Personal loans and lines of credit
Hours
Website
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