What to do when a DCU account holder dies
Contact DCU — 8-step process, 7 required documents, and up to 10 business days to process request to close membership once all documents are received. totten (pod) accounts typically process faster than probate-dependent accounts. overall timeline varies based on account specifics and completeness of documentation.
Brand change
Digital Federal Credit Union and First Tech Federal Credit Union legally combined into First Technology Federal Credit Union on January 1, 2026, forming the 6th largest U.S. credit union by assets (about $28.7 billion, nearly 2 million members). Through 2026 the two continue operating as separate divisions under their own brands, so DCU account numbers, online banking, branches, phone (800-328-8797), and POD/trust/IRA designations remain in place. DCU CEO Shruti Miyashiro leads the combined credit union. Effective January 2026.
DCU is now part of First Tech. The procedures below reflect DCU's accounts during the transition. View the First Tech estate planning page.
Phone1-800-328-8797
Mailing Address
Digital Federal Credit Union, 853 Donald Lynch Boulevard, PO Box 9130, Marlborough, MA 01752-9130
Lost/Stolen VISA Card
Hearing Impaired (711 Relay)
Life Insurance Claims (Franklin Madison)
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-328-8797
Mailing Address
Digital Federal Credit Union, 853 Donald Lynch Boulevard, PO Box 9130, Marlborough, MA 01752-9130
Lost/Stolen VISA Card
Hearing Impaired (711 Relay)
Life Insurance Claims (Franklin Madison)
WebsiteLearn more→
Membership Maintenance (Deceased Member Services)
Phone1-800-328-8797
Toll-Free1-800-328-8797
Emaildne@dcu.org
Fax1-833-670-2311
Mailing Address
Digital Federal Credit Union, Membership Maintenance, PO Box 9130, Marlborough, MA 01752-9130
Life Insurance Claims (Franklin Madison)
Membership Fax
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
After a DCU member dies, the Membership Maintenance (Deceased Member Services) manages the transfer of accounts. POD-designated and trust-owned accounts pass directly to beneficiaries. Accounts held solely in the member's name may require probate court documents—Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration—before funds can be released.
DCU offers an online claims portal that makes the initial filing process more straightforward. Survivors can also initiate claims by phone or by mailing documentation directly.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what DCU requires:
Filing a claim
1
Contact DCU Membership Maintenance by phone at 800-328-8797, by email at dne@dcu.org, or by fax at 833-670-2311
2
Consult with financial and legal advisors before proceeding
3
Obtain a certified death certificate from the funeral home or local Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages
4
Gather additional documents based on estate type:
- For probate estates: obtain Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the court
- For out-of-state estates: complete an Affidavit of Foreign Personal Representative
- For small estates without probate: complete a Next of Kin Affidavit
5
Complete the Request to Close Membership form to instruct DCU where to disburse funds
6
Submit all documents by mail, fax, email, or in person at a branch
7
DCU reviews documentation and processes the account settlement
8
Account-specific claim procedures:
- For Totten (POD) accounts: beneficiaries present death certificate and government-issued ID matching the beneficiary designation
- For trust accounts: successor trustee provides trust documentation and assumes control
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if probate required)
- Next of Kin Affidavit (DCU form for disbursement to next of kin without probate)
- Affidavit of Foreign Personal Representative (if deceased lived outside Massachusetts or New Hampshire)
- Request to Close Membership form (DCU form instructing where to disburse funds)
- Government-issued ID for claimant
- Trust documents (if trust-owned account, for successor trustee)
Claims Contact
What to know at this institution
Account types addressed include individual accounts, joint accounts, Totten (POD) accounts, trust accounts, Individual Retirement Accounts, safe deposit products, and life insurance policies. Key forms: Request to Close Membership (request-to-close-membership-deceased.pdf), Deceased Member Resources guide (deceased-member-resources.pdf), and Deceased Member Address Change Form (deceased-member-address-change.pdf), all available from DCU. For life insurance claims, contact Franklin Madison at 877-309-6576. Membership fax: 866-874-7820.
Prepare your letter of instruction to DCU
DCU provides its own letter-of-instruction form. Answer a few questions and we complete that official form for you to print and sign.
Build your letter of instructionProcessing timelines at DCU: Up to 10 business days to process Request to Close Membership once all documents are received. Totten (POD) accounts typically process faster than probate-dependent accounts. Overall timeline varies based on account specifics and completeness of documentation. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Documentation required by DCU includes Certified death certificate, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if probate required), and Next of Kin Affidavit (DCU form for disbursement to next of kin without probate), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
DCU separates simple POD designations from formal fiduciary roles. Use the Totten Membership Application for a Payable on Death designation on a personal checking or savings account. Use the Custodial Fiduciary Membership Application for custodial (UTMA), Estate, Representative Payee, Guardianship, or Landlord/Tenant memberships. Both are available at dcu.org/dcu-support-center/applications-and-forms.html. Trust accounts use a third form, the Trust Application and Disclosure. Legal documentation (court order, trust agreement, or appointment papers) must be provided before DCU will open a fiduciary or trust account.
Contact DCU Membership Maintenance at 800-328-8797 (Mon-Fri 8:00 AM-9:00 PM ET, Sat 9:00 AM-3:00 PM ET), by email at dne@dcu.org, by fax at 833-670-2311, or by mail at Digital Federal Credit Union, Membership Maintenance, PO Box 9130, Marlborough, MA 01752-9130. DCU will provide the Request to Close Membership form (directs DCU where to disburse funds), the Deceased Member Resources guide (outlines procedures by account type), the Deceased Member Address Change Form, and where applicable a Next of Kin Affidavit or Affidavit of Foreign Personal Representative (used when the deceased lived outside Massachusetts or New Hampshire).
DCU allows up to 10 business days to process a Request to Close Membership once all required documents are received. Totten (POD) accounts typically process faster than probate-dependent accounts because the beneficiary only needs to present a certified death certificate and government-issued ID matching the POD designation. Probate-dependent accounts require Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration before DCU can release funds. Life insurance claims on DCU-related policies are administered separately by Franklin Madison at 877-309-6576.
DCU's Membership Maintenance (Deceased Member Services) can be reached by phone at 1-800-328-8797, email at dne@dcu.org, and fax at 1-833-670-2311 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple DCU accounts, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Membership Maintenance (Deceased Member Services) can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Sources
Data sourced from DCU primary sources (20 pages reviewed). How we research.
Phone1-800-328-8797
Mailing Address
Digital Federal Credit Union, 853 Donald Lynch Boulevard, PO Box 9130, Marlborough, MA 01752-9130
Lost/Stolen VISA Card
Hearing Impaired (711 Relay)
Life Insurance Claims (Franklin Madison)
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-328-8797
Mailing Address
Digital Federal Credit Union, 853 Donald Lynch Boulevard, PO Box 9130, Marlborough, MA 01752-9130
Lost/Stolen VISA Card
Hearing Impaired (711 Relay)
Life Insurance Claims (Franklin Madison)
WebsiteLearn more→
Membership Maintenance (Deceased Member Services)
Phone1-800-328-8797
Toll-Free1-800-328-8797
Emaildne@dcu.org
Fax1-833-670-2311
Mailing Address
Digital Federal Credit Union, Membership Maintenance, PO Box 9130, Marlborough, MA 01752-9130
Life Insurance Claims (Franklin Madison)
Membership Fax
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
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