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Citizens Business Bank

Subsidiary of CVB Financial Corp.

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What to do when a Citizens Business Bank account holder dies

Report the death to Citizens Business Bank's Client Services at 1-888-228-2265

After an account holder at Citizens Business Bank 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 Citizens Business Bank's Client Services at 1-888-228-2265 with the proper legal authority documents.

Death claim process

Follow these steps to file a death claim with Citizens Business Bank:

Filing a claim

1
Report the death to Client Services at 1-888-228-2265 (Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM PT) or at a Business Financial Center. The first contact has to be made inside Pacific business hours.
2
Ask Client Services which documents to bring.
3
Complete the distribution paperwork the banker prepares. Funds are released after the bank reviews and approves the documents.

What happens to each kind of account5

Payable-on-death account

The named beneficiary presents the death certificate and ID and claims the funds outside probate.1

Joint account with survivorship

The surviving owner presents the death certificate and keeps the account.1

Trust account

For a trust-titled deposit account, the successor trustee presents the trust agreement or Certification of Trust, the death certificate and ID.1

Account in one name

With no beneficiary and no survivorship, the estate representative presents Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. For a small estate, an affidavit or declaration can be used instead of Letters.1

Investment account

A CitizensTrust Investment Services brokerage or advisory account is claimed with LPL Financial. The bank states LPL is a separate entity and the broker-dealer and registered investment advisor of record, so Client Services cannot release those assets.1

Accounts handled elsewhere2

CitizensTrust Wealth Management

Trust, estate, agency and asset management accounts, handled at a Trust Location1

LPL Financial

CitizensTrust Investment Services brokerage and advisory accounts1

What Citizens Business Bank's agreement and guidance say1

Accounts from a merged institution

An account originally with Heritage Bank of Commerce moved to Citizens Business Bank in the merger completed April 17, 2026. Check the Heritage Bank of Commerce information center before calling.2

Not in Citizens Business Bank's published guidance6

  • A procedure for reporting a death
  • An online way to report a death
  • Mailed claim kit
  • Terms in its agreements for a customer's death
  • A list of required documents
  • After-hours or weekend claims line

Sources2

Download instructions for the whole estate

Citizens Business Bank's Client Services can be reached by phone at 1-888-228-2265 for questions throughout the claims process.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Sources

Data sourced from Citizens Business Bank primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.

Citizens Business Bank death claims support

Client Services

CitizensTrust Wealth Management

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-6:00 PM PT (no after-hours or weekend claims line is published)

Mailing address

Citizens Business Bank, N.A., 701 N Haven Avenue, Ontario, CA 91764
Verified Sep 2026

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