What to do when a CrossFirst Bank account holder dies
Contact CrossFirst Bank's Busey Wealth Management - Trust Services & Estate Advisory (contact via web form; no direct phone line published) — 5-step process, 9 required documents, and processing times vary based on account type and completeness of documentation. pod claims with complete documentation are typically processed within 5-10 business days. estate claims requiring probate documents may take longer depending on court timelines.
Brand change
CrossFirst Bankshares, Inc. was acquired by First Busey Corporation effective March 1, 2025. CrossFirst Bank operated as a separate banking subsidiary until June 20, 2025, when it was merged with and into Busey Bank. Former CrossFirst banking centers now operate under the Busey Bank brand. Estate and death-claim procedures are handled by Busey Bank. Effective June 2025.
CrossFirst Bank is now part of Busey. The procedures below reflect CrossFirst Bank's accounts during the transition. View the Busey estate planning page.
CrossFirst Bank
Subsidiary of CrossFirst Bankshares, Inc. (acquired by First Busey Corporation)
busey.com→
Busey Customer Care
Busey Bank, 100 W University Ave, Champaign, IL 61820
Busey Wealth Management - Trust Services & Estate Advisory (contact via web form; no direct phone line published)
Busey Customer Care (no separate consumer estate/claims phone line; death claims run through Customer Care or in-branch)
Busey Bank, 100 W University Ave, Champaign, IL 61820
What happens to CrossFirst 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 CrossFirst Bank's Busey Customer Care (no separate consumer estate/claims phone line; death claims run through Customer Care or in-branch) (800.672.8739) to claim the funds.
Begin by calling CrossFirst Bank at 800.672.8739. You will need the deceased's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate to get the process started.
Death claim process
The death claim process at CrossFirst Bank works as follows:
Filing a claim
- For joint accounts with right of survivorship, provide a certified death certificate to have the deceased name removed
- For accounts with POD beneficiary designations, beneficiaries must provide a certified death certificate and valid government-issued photo ID
- For accounts without beneficiary designations, provide Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court
- For trust accounts, the successor trustee must provide the death certificate, trust documentation, and successor trustee identification
- For IRA accounts, beneficiaries must provide a death certificate, valid ID, and complete applicable IRA distribution forms
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary, executor, or successor trustee
- Account information for the deceased (account numbers, if available)
- For accounts without beneficiary: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court
- For accounts without beneficiary and small estates: Small Estate Affidavit (state-specific requirements apply)
- For trust accounts: trust agreement or Certification of Trust showing successor trustee provisions
- For trust accounts: successor trustee identification and acceptance documentation
- For IRA accounts: IRA distribution or transfer forms
- Written distribution instructions from the authorized claimant
What to know at this institution
Former CrossFirst Bank deposit accounts are now Busey Bank accounts and are governed by the Busey Bank deposit account agreement; there is no separate CrossFirst claims channel. Busey does not publish a dedicated consumer estate-settlement portal or a standalone claims phone line -- all consumer death claims run through Customer Care at 800.672.8739 (Monday-Friday 7:30am-6:00pm CT) or in-branch. Institution-specific points for former CrossFirst customers: CD early-withdrawal penalties may be waived on the death of the account holder; any Busey-branded Visa credit card is issued by Elan Financial Services, so an outstanding card balance is settled with Elan (866.234.4691), not Busey Bank. State small-estate thresholds vary across the states the combined bank serves; for reference, the Illinois Small Estate Affidavit (755 ILCS 5/25-1) covers personal estates of $100,000 or less. Busey Wealth Management provides professional corporate executor/trustee, trust administration, and estate advisory services (contact via https://www.busey.com/wealth-management/trust-services-estate-advisory; no direct phone line published), acting as an impartial liaison to carry out the decedent's wishes in accordance with the governing legal documents.
Prepare your letter of instruction to CrossFirst Bank
CrossFirst Bank accepts a claimant-drafted letter of instruction. We draft it for you — addressed to CrossFirst Bank's verified claims department, with the documents it requires enclosed.
Build your letter of instructionExpected timelines at CrossFirst Bank: Processing times vary based on account type and completeness of documentation. POD claims with complete documentation are typically processed within 5-10 business days. Estate claims requiring probate documents may take longer depending on court timelines. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
CrossFirst Bank requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified copy of the death certificate, Valid government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary, executor, or successor trustee, and Account information for the deceased (account numbers, if available), 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
Visit a local Busey Bank branch in person or call Customer Care at 800-672-8739. Bring or have available the deceased account details and a certified copy of the death certificate. The bank will freeze individual accounts to prevent further transactions until the estate is settled. For joint accounts with right of survivorship, the surviving account holder retains access after the deceased name is removed.
CrossFirst Bank's Busey Customer Care (no separate consumer estate/claims phone line; death claims run through Customer Care or in-branch) can be reached by phone at 800.672.8739 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple CrossFirst Bank accounts, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Busey Customer Care (no separate consumer estate/claims phone line; death claims run through Customer Care or in-branch) can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Sources
Data sourced from CrossFirst Bank primary sources (13 pages reviewed). How we research.
CrossFirst Bank
Subsidiary of CrossFirst Bankshares, Inc. (acquired by First Busey Corporation)
busey.com→Busey Customer Care
Busey Bank, 100 W University Ave, Champaign, IL 61820
Busey Wealth Management - Trust Services & Estate Advisory (contact via web form; no direct phone line published)
Busey Customer Care (no separate consumer estate/claims phone line; death claims run through Customer Care or in-branch)
Busey Bank, 100 W University Ave, Champaign, IL 61820
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your CrossFirst Bank accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
