What to do when a East West Bank account holder dies
Contact East West Bank's Wealth Management — 8-step process, 8 required documents, and varies based on account type and documentation. pod, joint-survivorship, and trust-account claims are the fastest because the account passes outside the estate. a claim that requires letters testamentary or letters of administration waits on the probate court. a california section 13100 affidavit claim can be made 40 days after the death without any court involvement.
Death Claims
East West Bank, 135 N. Los Robles Ave., 7th Floor, Pasadena, CA 91101
When an account holder at East West Bank passes away, the next step depends on how the accounts were set up. Accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate. Accounts titled solely in the deceased's name require the estate's legal representative to work with East West Bank's Death Claims (1-888-895-5650) to access and distribute the funds.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting East West Bank. A certified death certificate is the primary document required to start any claim.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Follow these steps to file a death claim with East West Bank:
Filing a claim
- Contact customer service at 1-888-895-5650 (Mon-Fri 6:00 AM - 7:00 PM PT, Sat 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM PT) or visit a branch (https://www.eastwestbank.com/en/branch-locator)
- Provide the deceased account holder's name, account number(s), and date of death
- Submit a certified death certificate
- POD accounts: beneficiary provides certified death certificate and valid government-issued ID to claim funds; the account is not part of the deceased party's estate
- Totten trust / informal trust accounts: under the agreement a beneficiary may not withdraw before ALL trustees are deceased; on the death of the last surviving trustee the account passes to the named beneficiary(ies) and is not part of the trustee's estate
- Formal revocable-trust accounts: the successor trustee provides the death certificate, the Certificate of Trust or trust agreement, and trustee ID
- Community property accounts (California and other community property states): one-half of the account belongs to the surviving spouse and the deceased spouse's half goes to that spouse's estate. The bank may hold one-half of the funds and refuse transactions on them until the surviving spouse and the deceased spouse's personal representative or heirs agree on the disposition, and it may refuse to freeze the account at all until it receives a death certificate or other proof satisfactory to it
- Accounts without POD, trust, or survivorship: the executor or administrator provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (or other documentation duly issued and satisfactory to the bank) so it can consider payment to the estate representative
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary, joint owner, trustee, or estate representative
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD, trust, or joint survivorship)
- Certificate of Trust or complete trust agreement, plus trustee identification (for trust accounts)
- California: Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property under Cal. Prob. Code sections 13100-13101 (estate at or under $208,850; at least 40 days after death) — presented to the bank, not filed with a court
- Small estate affidavit under the applicable state law for accounts held outside California
- Marriage certificate (surviving spouse claiming a community property account)
- Any claim or transfer form the branch or claims team issues
Claims Contact
What to know at this institution
The Deposit Account Agreement (effective 6/1/2024, "Death or Adjudication of Incompetency") requires you to notify East West Bank immediately of the death of any owner, authorized signer, or designated beneficiary. The bank may freeze, offset, refuse, or reverse deposits and transactions -- for example, government or retirement benefit payments payable to the deceased -- after it learns of a death, and it may require letters testamentary or other appropriate documentation before it will consider paying the heirs or personal representative. For 10 days after the date of death, the bank may still pay checks the deceased drew on or before that date unless a stop payment is placed or an adverse claim is made. POD account funds pass directly to named beneficiaries without probate. Under the agreement's "Totten Trust" clause, an informal trust account is owned by the trustee, a beneficiary may not withdraw before all trustees are deceased, and on the death of the last surviving trustee the account passes to the named beneficiary(ies) outside the trustee's will. A tenants-in-common account has no survivorship: the deceased owner's interest passes to that owner's POD payee, or to that owner's estate. On a community property account the surviving spouse keeps one-half and the deceased spouse's half goes to that spouse's estate; the bank may hold one-half of the funds until the surviving spouse and the deceased spouse's representative or heirs agree, and may refuse to freeze the account at all until it receives a death certificate or other satisfactory proof. Governing law is the state where the account is held, and for accounts opened digitally through Online Banking the agreement generally establishes the account at a California location under California law unless it was opened through a code or link tied to an out-of-state branch — so most digitally opened East West accounts are California accounts for estate purposes, which is what makes the Cal. Prob. Code section 13100 affidavit ($208,850 limit, 40-day wait) the usual small-estate route to the funds. Section 13106 discharges the bank from further liability once it pays on that affidavit. Multilingual service is available in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Spanish.
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. When a borrower dies, the loan obligation transfers with the property to whoever inherits it. Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Act, the lender cannot accelerate the loan or call it due when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, or the borrower’s revocable trust.
- Call Mortgage Servicing at 1-877-392-6868 or general customer service at 1-888-895-5650
- Provide the deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number, and loan number
- Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
- Request the Successor in Interest documentation package from the mortgage servicing department
- Complete and return the documentation with proof of your ownership interest in the property (e.g., probated will, court order, deed, or trust document)
- East West Bank will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest
- Continue making payments on the existing loan
- Apply for loss mitigation
- Assume the loan, refinance, or pay off the balance
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Completed Successor in Interest documentation (obtained from Mortgage Servicing)
- Documentation proving ownership interest in the property: probated will, court order, recorded deed, or trust document
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if going through probate)
- Marriage certificate (if surviving spouse)
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-877-392-6868
Email: SpecialServicing@eastwestbank.com
Fax: 626-242-9570
What to know at this institution
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), East West Bank cannot enforce a due-on-sale clause when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, relative upon death, or the borrower's revocable living trust. Confirmed Successors in Interest are treated as borrowers under CFPB mortgage servicing rules and are entitled to account information and loss mitigation options. General customer service: 1-888-895-5650. Multilingual service available in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Spanish.
Prepare your letter of instruction to East West Bank
East West Bank accepts a claimant-drafted letter of instruction. We draft it for you — addressed to East West Bank's verified claims department, with the documents it requires enclosed.
Build your letter of instructionOpening an account for the estate itself
Checks made out to the estate deposit into an account titled to the estate, opened by the appointed executor or administrator under the estate's EIN.
How to open an estate account at East West Bank →How long the process takes at East West Bank: Varies based on account type and documentation. POD, joint-survivorship, and trust-account claims are the fastest because the account passes outside the estate. A claim that requires Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration waits on the probate court. A California section 13100 affidavit claim can be made 40 days after the death without any court involvement. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.
Documentation required by East West Bank includes Certified death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary, joint owner, trustee, or estate representative, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD, trust, or joint survivorship), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Checking, savings, money market, and CD accounts at East West Bank can have POD (Payable on Death) beneficiaries. POD designations must be added in person at a branch -- East West Bank does not offer online beneficiary designation. Bring government-issued ID and the full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and address of each beneficiary. POD accounts pass directly to named beneficiaries outside of probate.
Often, yes. East West Bank is a California bank, and its Deposit Account Agreement establishes digitally opened accounts at a California location under California law unless the account was opened through a code or link tied to an out-of-state branch. That means the Cal. Prob. Code section 13100 Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property is usually the route: if the decedent's California estate is at or under $208,850 (the threshold for deaths on or after April 1, 2025) and at least 40 days have passed since the death, the successor presents the affidavit with a certified death certificate directly to the bank -- nothing is filed with a court and no Letters are needed. Section 13106 discharges the bank from further liability once it pays on the affidavit. Accounts that already carry a POD beneficiary, a trust title, or joint survivorship pass outside the estate and do not need the affidavit at all.
Under the Deposit Account Agreement's community property clause, one-half of the account belongs to the surviving spouse and the deceased spouse's half goes to that spouse's estate, where a will can direct it. The bank may hold one-half of the funds on deposit and refuse transactions on that half until the surviving spouse and the deceased spouse's personal representative or heirs agree on the disposition, and it may refuse to freeze the account at all until it receives a death certificate or other proof satisfactory to it. Community property ownership must be clearly stated on the signature card -- otherwise East West Bank treats the account as a joint tenancy account, which passes to the survivor outright. Notify the bank at 1-888-895-5650.
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), East West Bank cannot enforce a due-on-sale clause when a residential mortgage transfers to a surviving spouse, child, relative upon death, or the borrower's revocable living trust. Heirs should call Mortgage Servicing at 1-877-392-6868 to request the Successor in Interest documentation package. Confirmed Successors in Interest can continue making payments, refinance, assume the loan, or pay off the balance.
East West Bank's Death Claims can be reached by phone at 1-888-895-5650, email at talk2us@eastwestbank.com, and fax at 626-242-9570 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple East West Bank accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Death Claims can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Sources
Data sourced from East West Bank primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Death Claims
East West Bank, 135 N. Los Robles Ave., 7th Floor, Pasadena, CA 91101
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