What to do when a City National account holder dies
Contact City National's Investments & Trust Services — 5-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
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Phone1-800-773-7100
Toll-Free1-800-773-7100
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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 May 2026
After a City National account holder 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 City National's Investments & Trust Services at 1-800-708-8881 with the proper legal authority documents.
Before contacting City National, have the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any available account numbers ready. A certified death certificate is required to initiate the claim.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
The death claim process at City National works as follows:
Filing a claim
1
Notify City National by calling Investments & Trust Services at (800) 708-8881 or general customer service at (800) 773-7100
2
Provide initial account information:
- Deceased account holder's full legal name
- Account number(s)
- Date of death
3
Submit a certified death certificate to the bank
4
Next steps depend on account type:
- Joint accounts: surviving owner retains full access automatically
- POD/TOD accounts: beneficiary presents death certificate and government-issued photo ID; assets transfer without probate into a new account in the beneficiary's name
- Non-designated accounts: estate settlement through probate is required; provide Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
5
City 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.
1
Notify City National Bank of the borrower's death by calling Mortgage Servicing at (800) 700-6901 or general customer service at (800) 773-7100
2
Provide the deceased borrower's information:
- Full legal name
- Social Security number
- Loan number
3
Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
4
Request the Successor in Interest documentation package from the mortgage servicing department
5
Complete 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)
6
City National Bank will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest
7
Once confirmed, discuss options with City National:
- Continue making payments
- Apply for loss mitigation
- Assume the loan
- Refinance
- Pay off the balance
8
Continue 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.
City National's Investments & Trust Services can be reached by phone at 1-800-708-8881 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple City National accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Investments & Trust Services to confirm what applies.
Client Solutions and Service Enablement
Phone1-800-773-7100
Toll-Free1-800-773-7100
Self-Directed Brokerage Support
Mortgage Servicing
Check Card/ATM
Credit Card - Personal
Fraud
International Banking
Equipment Leasing
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 May 2026
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