What to do when a City National account holder dies
Contact City National's Investments & Trust Services — 7-step process, 5 required documents, and varies by account type; pod/tod accounts may transfer within days once documents are received; probate estates depend on court timelines
Client Solutions and Service Enablement
Phone1-800-773-7100
Self-Directed Brokerage Support
Mortgage Servicing
Fraud
WebsiteLearn more →
Investments & Trust Services
Phone1-800-708-8881
Toll-Free1-800-708-8881
Mailing Address
City National Bank, 555 S. Flower Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071
Verified Mar 2026
When a City National account holder 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's Investments & Trust Services (1-800-708-8881) to access and distribute the funds.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting City National. A certified death certificate is the primary document required to start any claim.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at City National:
Filing a claim
1Notify City National by calling Investments & Trust Services at (800) 708-8881 or general customer service at (800) 773-7100
2Provide the deceased account holder's name, account number(s), and date of death
3Submit a certified death certificate to the bank
4Joint accounts: surviving owner retains full access automatically
5POD/TOD accounts: beneficiary presents death certificate and government-issued photo ID; assets transfer without probate into a new account in the beneficiary's name
6Non-designated accounts: estate settlement through probate is required; provide Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
7City National can serve as executor or administrator for estate settlement if named in the will or appointed by the court
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for beneficiary, executor, or representative
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (for estate/probate accounts)
- Trust documentation (if the account was held in trust)
- Small estate affidavit (if applicable under state law)
City National offers comprehensive estate administration services including corporate executor/administrator services, estate settlement, probate administration, conservatorships, testamentary trust administration, and preparation and filing of income and estate tax returns.
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. When a borrower dies, the loan obligation transfers with the property to whoever inherits it. Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Act, the lender cannot accelerate the loan or call it due when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, or the borrower's revocable trust.
1Notify City National Bank of the borrower's death by calling Mortgage Servicing at (800) 700-6901 or general customer service at (800) 773-7100
2Provide the deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number, and loan number
3Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
4Request the Successor in Interest documentation package from the mortgage servicing department
5Complete and return the Successor in Interest documentation with proof of your ownership interest in the property (e.g., probated will, court order, deed, or trust document)
6City National Bank will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest
7Once confirmed, you will have access to loan information and can discuss options: continue making payments, apply for loss mitigation, assume the loan, refinance, or pay off the balance
8Continue making monthly mortgage payments during the review process to avoid default
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Completed Successor in Interest documentation (obtained from Mortgage Servicing)
- Documentation proving ownership interest in the property: probated will, court order, recorded deed, or trust document
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if going through probate)
- Marriage certificate (if surviving spouse)
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), City National Bank cannot enforce a due-on-sale clause when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, relative upon death, or the borrower's revocable living trust. Confirmed Successors in Interest are treated as borrowers under CFPB mortgage servicing rules and are entitled to account information and loss mitigation options.
Processing timelines at City National: Varies by account type; POD/TOD accounts may transfer within days once documents are received; probate estates depend on court timelines. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
City National requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for beneficiary, executor, or representative, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (for estate/probate accounts), and additional documentation depending on the account type. Certified copies are typically needed—photocopies are generally not accepted for death certificates or court documents.
Frequently asked questions
Call Investments & Trust Services at (800) 708-8881 or general customer service at (800) 773-7100. Provide the deceased's account information and submit a certified death certificate. For POD/TOD accounts, the beneficiary also provides government-issued photo ID and assets transfer without probate. For accounts without beneficiary designations, probate with Letters Testamentary or Administration is required.
City National's Investments & Trust Services can be reached by phone at 1-800-708-8881 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple City National accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Investments & Trust Services can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Client Solutions and Service Enablement
Phone1-800-773-7100
Self-Directed Brokerage Support
Mortgage Servicing
Fraud
WebsiteLearn more →
Investments & Trust Services
Phone1-800-708-8881
Toll-Free1-800-708-8881
Mailing Address
City National Bank, 555 S. Flower Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071
Verified Mar 2026
Tools for settling a City National estate
Calculators and checklists to help navigate estate settlement after a City National account holder passes away.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
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How Much Does Probate Cost?
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How Much Can an Executor Charge?
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How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need based on the assets and accounts you need to close. See state-specific ordering information.
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Do I Need Probate?
Answer a few questions to find out if an estate needs full probate, qualifies for simplified probate, or can avoid probate entirely with a small estate affidavit.
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Who Inherits Without a Will?
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
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