What to do when a City National WV account holder dies
Report the death to City National WV's Customer Care Center at 1-888-816-8064
When an account holder at City National WV 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 City National WV's Customer Care Center (1-888-816-8064) to access and distribute the funds.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
The death claim process at City National WV works as follows:
Filing a claim
- Named POD beneficiary: request distribution of the account funds
- Surviving joint owner: present the death certificate and have the account retitled
- Successor trustee: present the trust agreement or Certification of Trust
- Executor or administrator: present Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
- Small-estate successor: present the Certificate and Authorization of Small Estate issued by the county clerk or fiduciary supervisor; an unrecorded affidavit is not enough
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- The Certificate and Authorization of Small Estate from the county clerk or fiduciary supervisor, or Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, or the trust documentation, whichever applies
- A copy of your government-issued photo ID
- A cover letter with the deceased account holder's name, date of death, account numbers, and your name, relationship, and contact information
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant, the beneficiary, surviving joint owner, successor trustee, executor or administrator
- Account information for the deceasedAccount numbers, if available.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, where the estate is administered
- Certificate and Authorization of Small Estate, for a West Virginia small estateIssued by the clerk of the county commission or the clerk's fiduciary supervisor after the small-estate affidavit is recorded. The affidavit alone is not enough.
- Trust documentation, including the successor trustee provisions, for a trust accountThe trust agreement or a Certification of Trust, plus the successor trustee's ID.
- IRA beneficiary claim forms and applicable distribution election forms, for an IRA
What happens to each kind of account4
- Payable-on-death account
The named payable-on-death beneficiary presents the death certificate and ID and is paid outside probate.1
- Joint account with survivorship
The surviving owner presents the death certificate and has the account retitled.1
- Trust account
The successor trustee presents the trust agreement or Certification of Trust, the death certificate, and ID.1
- Account in one name
Where an account has neither a beneficiary nor survivorship, the personal representative presents Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the county commission. For a West Virginia small estate, the successor presents the Certificate and Authorization of Small Estate instead.1
State law on paying a balance without lettersKentucky, West Virginia
- Kentucky
KRS 391.030(2)
Kentucky law directs a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on an order of the court, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.KRS 391.030(2)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Paid to: surviving spouse
Limit: $2,500 in total from every holder
The section sets further conditions.
- West Virginia
W. Va. Code § 44-1-28(c), (d)
West Virginia law permits a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on an affidavit, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.W. Va. Code § 44-1-28(c), (d)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Limit: $5,000 per account
When: 120 days after the death
Paid to: the decedent’s surviving spouse, if any; if no spouse survived the decedent, the distributees of the decedent under the laws of the State of West Virginia, as established by an affidavit to that effect (in that order)
The section permits the payment. It does not require the bank to make it. The section sets further conditions.
Accounts handled elsewhere2
- City Wealth Management
City Wealth Management trust and investment accounts, and estate settlement and administration services1
Phone: 1-304-255-7291
- Mortgage, home equity and consumer loans
Mortgage, home equity and consumer loan accounts1
Phone: 1-800-896-0769
Not in City National WV's published guidance3
- A procedure for reporting a death
- A department for deceased-customer accounts
- Terms in its agreements for a customer's death
Sources1
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.
- Deceased borrower's full legal name and loan number
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Your name, relationship to the borrower, and contact information
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID, for the heir, successor trustee, or personal representative
- Documentation proving an ownership interest in the propertyA probated will, court order, recorded deed, or the trust instrument.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, if the estate is in probate
- Marriage certificate, if a surviving spouse
- The loan number and the property address
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-800-896-0769
Federal law on calling a home loan after a death
These exemptions apply to a loan secured by residential real property containing less than five dwelling units.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d); 12 CFR 191.5(b), 141.14Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer by devise, descent, or operation of law on the death of a joint tenant or tenant by the entirety.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(3); 12 CFR 191.5(b)(1)(iii)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer to a relative resulting from the death of a borrower.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(5)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer where the spouse or children of the borrower become an owner of the property.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(6)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
A federal regulation sets further conditions on these transfers.12 CFR 191.5(b)(1)(v)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Not in City National WV's published guidance2
- A procedure for reporting a death
- How long a claim takes
- Deceased borrower's full legal name and account number
- Certified copy of the death certificate
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID, for the heir, successor trustee, or personal representative
- Documentation proving an ownership interest in the propertyA probated will, court order, recorded deed, or trust instrument.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, if the estate is in probate
- Marriage certificate, if a surviving spouse
- The home equity account number and property address
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-800-896-0769
What happens to each kind of account1
- Loan
The draw period ends at the borrower's death, so no further draws can be taken against the line, even before a successor is confirmed.1
Not in City National WV's published guidance2
- A procedure for reporting a death
- How long a claim takes
Sources1
The bank's own review of complete documents is usually a matter of days. A payable-on-death or survivorship claim is immediate.
City National WV's Customer Care Center can be reached by phone at 1-888-816-8064 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from City National WV primary sources (16 pages reviewed). How we research.
City National WV death claims support
Customer Care Center
Phone
Mortgage, Home Equity & Consumer Loans
City Wealth Management (trust and estate accounts)
Telephone Banking (24-hour)
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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