What to do when a DCU account holder dies
Report the death to DCU's Membership Maintenance at 1-800-328-8797
DCU merged into First TechMerged, effective January 2026
Digital Federal Credit Union and First Tech Federal Credit Union legally combined into First Technology Federal Credit Union on January 1, 2026 (NCUA charter #23521). DCU states members "are now members of the same credit union" and that the organizations operate as two divisions under the assumed business names Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) and First Tech Federal Credit Union until operations are fully combined, with complete integration anticipated in 2027. DCU account numbers, digital banking, branches, the 800-328-8797 line, and existing POD/trust/IRA designations remain in place. One estate-relevant consequence: NCUA share insurance now aggregates balances across BOTH divisions into a single $250,000 limit per individual, so a member with accounts at DCU and First Tech may hold less coverage than before the merger. Shruti Miyashiro is President and CEO of the combined credit union. The separate Digital Federal charter no longer appears in the NCUA Credit Union Locator.
After a member of DCU dies, the Membership Maintenance 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.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what DCU requires:
Filing a claim
- Transfer to your DCU membership
- Cash, available only in person at a branch and only for balances under $500.00
- A Treasurer's check mailed to the address on record or to an address you supply
- Fax to 833-670-2311
- Email to dne@dcu.org
- Mail to Digital Federal Credit Union, Membership Maintenance, PO Box 9130, Marlborough, MA 01752-9130
- Deliver it to a branch
- Fax to 833-670-2311, or mail to 220 Donald Lynch Boulevard, PO Box 9130, Marlborough, MA 01752-9130
- A death certificate must already be on file
- Faxed or in-branch requests are made within 24 hours; standard mail takes about 2 weeks
Required Documents
- Death certificateDCU accepts a legible photocopy for notification but "may require a certified copy" depending on the circumstances. A certified copy is required before any disbursement.
- Current photo identification for the person requesting closureA US driver's license, passport, US military ID or other government-issued picture ID. A second ID is always required for the "other" category.
- Request to Close Membership: Next of Kin/Personal Representative or Joint OwnerThe DCU form that says where to disburse the funds.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, where formal probate is requiredIssued by the court.
- Affidavit of Surviving Spouse or Other Next of Kin, for a small estate where the deceased member left no will, no executor or administrator was appointed, and there is no other account ownerSigned before a notary or foreign equivalent.
- Affidavit of Foreign Personal Representative, if the deceased member did not live in Massachusetts or New Hampshire and the probate documents come from another jurisdictionNotarized. Processed within 48 business hours when emailed or faxed, or in about 2 weeks by standard mail.
- Trust agreement or Certification of Trust, for a successor trustee claiming a trust account
- Deceased Member (C/O) Address Change Form, if DCU mailings must be redirected before the membership is closed
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
Forms DCU issues4
- Request to Close Membership: Next of Kin/Personal Representative or Joint Owner
Completed by the personal representative or administrator, next of kin, joint owner, or beneficiary. Available to download.1
- Affidavit of Surviving Spouse or Other Next of Kin
Available to download. Must be notarized.2
- Affidavit of Foreign Personal Representative
Available to download. Must be notarized.2
- Deceased Member (C/O) Address Change Form
Available to download.2
What happens to each kind of account5
- Joint account with survivorship
"If one accountholder dies, the surviving accountholder(s) will automatically become the sole owner(s) of the Account."3
- Payable-on-death account
Beneficiaries of a Totten (payable-on-death) membership have no interest in it until the last accountholder dies. DCU may then pay the funds to the surviving beneficiaries in equal shares.3
The surviving beneficiaries present a certified death certificate and ID matching the designation.2
- Trust account
The successor trustee presents the trust documentation and takes control of the account. DCU releases the funds to the trustee, never directly to a trust beneficiary.2
- Fiduciary account
"DCU does not offer Accounts on which two (2) or more signatures are required." Where there are two or more trustees or executors, each may act individually.3
- IRA
An IRA passes under its own beneficiary designation through the Ascensus IRA Service Center, not under the deposit-account payable-on-death designation.2
Accounts handled elsewhere2
- Franklin Madison (formerly Affinion Benefits Group)
Claims on life insurance sold through DCU2
Phone: 1-877-309-6576
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-9:00 PM; Saturday 9:30 AM-6:00 PM
- Ascensus IRA Service Center
DCU IRAs and their beneficiary designations2
What DCU's agreement and guidance say3
- Debts owed to the institution
On a Totten membership, DCU may charge the account for any amount a deceased accountholder or payable-on-death beneficiary owes it ("right of offset/lien on shares") before paying the beneficiaries.3
- Deposits after the death
"Certain government and federal treasury deposits with an effective date after the member's date of death may need to be returned before the account can be closed." A returned deposit adds a three-day wait.2
- Powers of attorney
A power of attorney "is valid only during that account owner's lifetime"; the power to act ends with the account owner's death. An agent cannot use a power of attorney to close a deceased member's account.4
Sources4
- 1.Request to Close Membership: Next of Kin/Personal Representative or Joint Owner
- 2.Deceased Member FAQ
- 3.Account Agreement for Consumers
- 4.Resources and Information guide
Up to 10 business days to process the Request to Close Membership.
DCU's Membership Maintenance 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.
Sources
Data sourced from DCU primary sources (22 pages reviewed). How we research.
DCU death claims support
Membership Maintenance (Deceased Member Services)
Phone
Toll-free
Life Insurance Claims (Franklin Madison)
Membership Fax
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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