What to do when a Columbia Bank account holder dies
Report the death to Columbia Bank Customer Service at 1-866-486-7782
What happens to Columbia Bank accounts after the account holder dies depends on how each account was titled. Beneficiary-designated and trust-owned accounts transfer directly. Accounts in the deceased's name alone go through the estate, and the executor or administrator works with Columbia Bank Customer Service (1-866-486-7782) to claim the funds.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Columbia Bank requires:
Filing a claim
- Give the deceased person's full legal name, date of death and Social Security number
- A certified copy of the death certificate
- Your own government-issued photo ID
- Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, a small estate affidavit, or the trust document and Trust Authorization, depending on your role
- Full legal name
- Date of death
- Social Security number
- Account numbers, if you have them
- What ownership form and beneficiary designation are on the account records
- Which documents Columbia wants to verify the death and to verify who is entitled to the funds
- Whether any items were reversed or returned when the account was frozen, and whether automatic payments or direct deposits are still scheduled
- The deceased person's full legal name, date of death, Social Security number and known account numbers
- Your name, relationship to the deceased person, capacity (POD payee, surviving joint owner, successor trustee, executor), mailing address and daytime phone
- A certified copy of the death certificate
- A copy of your Letters, small estate affidavit or trust documentation
- A request that automatic payments and scheduled transfers on the individual accounts be stopped, and that you be told which items were reversed or returned
Required Documents
- Death certificateA certified copy. Columbia may keep a copy.
- Government-issued photo ID, for the POD payee, surviving owner, executor or successor trustee
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, where there is no POD payee, survivorship or trust
- Small estate affidavit, if the deceased person's state allows collection by affidavit
- The Trust Authorization on file, the trust document and trustee identification, for a trust-titled account
- Further documents Columbia requestsThe agreement lets Columbia ask for the documents it needs to verify the death and to verify who is entitled to the funds.
What happens to each kind of account7
- Account in one name
For an individual account with no POD payee, the executor or administrator presents Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, or a small estate affidavit if the state allows one.1
- Payable-on-death account
On a single-party payable-on-death account, named payees take in equal shares on presenting a certified death certificate and government-issued photo ID. On an informal trust or pay-on-death account, a beneficiary cannot withdraw unless all persons who created the account have died and the beneficiary is then living.1
On a multiple-party payable-on-death account, ownership passes to the surviving owners first. The POD payees take only after all owners have died.1
- Joint account with survivorship
On a joint account with survivorship, ownership passes to the surviving owners.1
- Joint account without survivorship
On a tenants-in-common account, the deceased person's share goes to that tenant's own POD payees or, if there are none, to that tenant's estate through probate.1
- Trust account
For a trust account subject to a Trust Authorization, the successor trustee presents the Trust Authorization on file, the trust document and trustee ID.1
- Fiduciary account
Columbia's fiduciary accounts clause covers accounts opened by executors, administrators and conservators under court orders.2
- Safe deposit box
Safe deposit boxes are rented at select branches and are not covered by the deposit account documents. Ask about one separately.1
State law on paying a balance without lettersOregon, Washington
- Oregon
ORS 708A.430
Oregon law permits a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on an affidavit, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.ORS 708A.430Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Paid to: surviving spouse
Limit: $25,000 held at the institution and $25,000 in total from every holder
When: at any time after the death
Paid to: Oregon Health Authority or Department of Human Services (no surviving spouse; preferred claim under ORS 411.708, 411.795 or 416.350)
Limit: $25,000 held at the institution and $25,000 in total from every holder
When: not less than 46 days and no more than 75 days after the death
Paid to: surviving children 18 or older; else surviving parent(s); else surviving brothers and sisters 18 or older; else any other surviving heir
Limit: $25,000 held at the institution and $25,000 in total from every holder
When: not earlier than 76 days after the death; not earlier than 46 days after the death where the institution obtains prior verbal or written authorization from both the Oregon Health Authority and the Department of Human Services
Paid to: estate administrator of the State Treasurer (intestate, no known heirs)
Limit: $25,000 held at the institution and $25,000 in total from every holder
The section permits the payment. It does not require the bank to make it. The section sets further conditions.
- Washington
RCW 30A.22.190(2)
Washington law permits a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on an affidavit, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.RCW 30A.22.190(2)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Limit: $2,500 held at the institution
Paid to: the surviving spouse, next of kin, funeral director, or other creditor who may appear to be entitled thereto
The section permits the payment. It does not require the bank to make it. The section sets further conditions.
RCW 30A.22.190(1)
Washington law permits a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on an affidavit, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.RCW 30A.22.190(1)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Limit: The section sets no dollar limit.
Paid to: the surviving spouse (party to a community property agreement with the decedent that reaches the funds)
The section permits the payment. It does not require the bank to make it. The section sets further conditions.
Accounts handled elsewhere2
- Columbia Bank Home Preservation
A mortgage or HELOC in the deceased person's name1
Phone: 1-866-743-4931
- Columbia Trust Company
Trust administration and professional estate settlement1
Phone: 1-253-305-1552
What Columbia Bank's agreement and guidance say8
- Telling the institution
The Personal Rules & Regulations say: "Notify us immediately if any Account owner dies or is declared incompetent by a court. Until we receive notice otherwise, we may act as if all owners are alive and competent."2
- What it does when notified
After notice, "we may freeze the Account, refuse to accept transactions, and reverse or return Items to the Account." A freeze can reverse or return deposits and payments that were already in flight.2
Columbia is "not required to release funds in the Account until we receive any documents we request to verify the death or incompetence, as well as who is entitled to the funds."2
- Payments after the death
An item the deceased person authorized before death but that is presented afterward may still be paid: "we are authorized to pay the Item after the owner's death."2
- Debts owed to the institution
If the deceased person owed Columbia a debt at the time of death, the agreement lets the bank exercise its right of setoff against the account balance before paying anyone else.2
- Wills, probate and small estates
Columbia pays according to the ownership form on the account records, not according to the will.1
- Dormant and unclaimed accounts
An account with no deposits or withdrawals for 24 consecutive months is treated as dormant and charged $10 per month.1
Under Columbia's unclaimed property clause, funds are surrendered to the state after the period state law specifies. Activity at a branch, checks clearing, ATM and POS withdrawals, and address or phone changes all reset the clock.2
- Fees
If a creditor serves a garnishment, tax levy or other court administrative order on the account, Columbia charges $125 per request for legal processing, whether or not funds are paid.1
- Which state governs the account
The deposit agreement is governed by federal law and the laws of the State of Oregon.2
Not in Columbia Bank's published guidance4
- A department for deceased-customer accounts
- A claim form
- A mailing address for claim documents
- How long a claim takes
Sources2
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.
- Give the deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number and loan number
- Ask whether Columbia owns the loan or services it for another owner
- Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
- Provide documentation of your ownership interest in the property (probated will, court order, recorded deed, trust document or marriage certificate)
- Continue making payments on the existing terms
- Apply for loss mitigation or mortgage payment relief through the request form on the Foreclosure Prevention page
- Assume the loan, refinance or pay off the balance
Required Documents
- Death certificateA certified copy.
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Documentation of the ownership interest in the propertyA probated will, court order, recorded deed, trust document or marriage certificate.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, if the estate is going through probate
- Loan number and the borrower's information
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-866-743-4931
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM PT (except holidays)
What happens to each kind of account1
- Loan
Columbia may service a loan for another company that owns it. Where another company owns the loan, that company determines the options.1
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
Sources1
- Give the deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number and account number
- Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
- Once confirmed, discuss paying off the outstanding balance, refinancing, or negotiating repayment terms
Required Documents
- Death certificateA certified copy.
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Documentation of the ownership interest in the propertyA probated will, court order, recorded deed or trust document.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, if the estate is going through probate
- Marriage certificate, for a surviving spouse
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-866-486-7782
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:00 AM-6:00 PM PT; Saturday-Sunday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM PT
What happens to each kind of account1
- Loan
The draw period ends on the borrower's death. No additional advances can be taken, and the smartLock lock-in feature no longer applies to new draws.1
What Columbia Bank's agreement and guidance say1
- Fees
The $75 annual fee is charged for the life of the draw period.1
Sources1
Columbia Bank Customer Service can be reached by phone at 1-866-486-7782 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Columbia Bank primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Columbia Bank death claims support
Columbia Bank Customer Service
Phone
Home Preservation (mortgage and HELOC death notifications)
Columbia Trust Company
Hours
Website
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