What to do when a Clearview FCU account holder dies
Contact Clearview FCU — 8-step process, 8 required documents, and pod and joint accounts processed upon verification of death certificate and identification. estate accounts depend on probate court timelines. clearview offers estate checking and savings accounts for managing the deceased's financial affairs during the settlement process.
Clearview Federal Credit Union, 8805 University Boulevard, Moon Township, PA 15108
Clearview Federal Credit Union, 8805 University Boulevard, Moon Township, PA 15108
Death Claims / Member Care Center
Clearview Federal Credit Union, 8805 University Boulevard, Moon Township, PA 15108
When a member of Clearview FCU passes away, the Death Claims / Member Care Center handles the transition of accounts to beneficiaries or the estate. Accounts with Payable on Death designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate, while solely-owned accounts may require Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court.
The first step is contacting Clearview FCU at 1-800-926-0003 with the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate in hand.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Clearview FCU requires:
Filing a claim
- Joint accounts with right of survivorship: surviving owner retains full access; the account may need to be closed or retitled to remove the deceased
- Single-titled accounts: the account is restricted immediately upon notification to prevent additional transactions
- POD beneficiary exists: funds pass directly to the named beneficiaries outside of the estate upon providing death certificate and government-issued photo ID
- Account titled in a trust: successor trustee provides trust documents, death certificate, and trust EIN
- No joint owner, POD beneficiary, or trust: estate goes through probate; present Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
- IRA accounts: beneficiaries complete distribution election forms
- Investment accounts through LPL Financial: contact the Clearview Wealth Management Group advisor directly
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for beneficiary, joint owner, or personal representative
- Short Certificate / Letters of Administration or Letters Testamentary (if no POD beneficiary; Short Certificate issued by the Pennsylvania Register of Wills)
- Estate Tax ID Number (TIN) and executor/administrator information (for estate accounts)
- Prepared IRS Form 1310 affidavit (when claiming a refund due a deceased taxpayer)
- Small Estate Affidavit/Petition (if estate qualifies under Pennsylvania law, 20 Pa. C.S. 3102)
- Trust documents and trust EIN (if trust-owned account)
- IRA beneficiary distribution election forms (for retirement accounts)
What to know at this institution
Clearview publishes "A Guide to Settling Your Loved One's Accounts" (PDF at https://www.clearviewfcu.org/ClearviewFCU/media/Documents/Settling-Accounts.pdf) with detailed instructions for surviving family members. Two dedicated Deceased/Estate Specialists are named in the guide: Arlynn Trautman at 1-800-926-0003 ext. 21315 and Cynthia Rogers at 1-800-926-0003 ext. 21264. To settle accounts, Clearview may request a death certificate, Short Certificate (Pennsylvania Letters), Letters of Administration, the estate's Tax ID Number (TIN), executor/administrator information, and a prepared IRS Form 1310 affidavit. For loan life-protection (credit insurance) claims, call Securian at 1-800-328-9422 and provide a copy of the death certificate. A Power of Attorney ceases at the date of death in Pennsylvania and cannot be used to conduct transactions. Clearview continues to report tax information on the decedent's account under their tax identification number to the IRS as required by law. Separately, Pennsylvania imposes a state inheritance tax on the transfer of a decedent's property, including credit union deposits: 0% to a surviving spouse, 4.5% to lineal descendants and heirs (children, grandchildren, parents), 12% to siblings, and 15% to other heirs (per the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue). The tax is reported on Form REV-1500 and becomes delinquent nine months after the date of death, with a 5% discount for payment within three months; the estate or beneficiary, not Clearview, is responsible for filing and paying it.
Prepare your letter of instruction to Clearview FCU
Clearview FCU asks for a letter of instruction alongside its claim form. We prepare a transmittal cover letter and the enclosure checklist Clearview FCU requires.
Build your letter of instructionExpected timelines at Clearview FCU: POD and joint accounts processed upon verification of death certificate and identification. Estate accounts depend on probate court timelines. Clearview offers estate checking and savings accounts for managing the deceased's financial affairs during the settlement process. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
Documentation required by Clearview FCU includes Certified copy of the death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for beneficiary, joint owner, or personal representative, and Short Certificate / Letters of Administration or Letters Testamentary (if no POD beneficiary; Short Certificate issued by the Pennsylvania Register of Wills), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Clearview does not allow members to add or change Payable on Death (POD) beneficiary designations through digital banking or the mobile app. The credit union requires an in-branch visit or a Clearview Live video call so that an employee can witness the policy owner sign the beneficiary designation form. Schedule the appointment at https://www.clearviewfcu.org/Appointment/Joint-Owners-and-Beneficiaries-Appointment or call 1-800-926-0003. Beneficiaries themselves do not need to be present at the appointment.
Yes. For estates that qualify under Pennsylvania law (20 Pa. C.S. 3102 - personal property not exceeding $50,000 exclusive of real estate, funeral expenses, family exemption, and certain other items), Clearview accepts a Small Estate Affidavit/Petition in place of full Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. Bring the affidavit, a certified death certificate, and government-issued photo ID to any financial center. For estates above that threshold or with real estate involved, the personal representative will need Letters issued by the Pennsylvania Register of Wills.
Investment and advisory accounts at Clearview Wealth Management Group are held through LPL Financial, not Clearview FCU directly. They are settled by LPL according to the beneficiary or TOD designation on file, separate from your credit union deposit accounts. After a death, the successor or beneficiary should call the Clearview Wealth Management Group at 1-800-926-0003 ext. 21040 directly. LPL accounts are not NCUA insured and the settlement process (broker forms, Medallion Signature Guarantee for some transfers) differs from deposit-account settlement.
Clearview FCU's Death Claims / Member Care Center can be reached by phone at 1-800-926-0003 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Clearview FCU accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Death Claims / Member Care Center can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Sources
Data sourced from Clearview FCU primary sources (28 pages reviewed). How we research.
Clearview Federal Credit Union, 8805 University Boulevard, Moon Township, PA 15108
Clearview Federal Credit Union, 8805 University Boulevard, Moon Township, PA 15108
Death Claims / Member Care Center
Clearview Federal Credit Union, 8805 University Boulevard, Moon Township, PA 15108
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