What to do when a East West Bank account holder dies
Contact East West Bank's Wealth Management — 5-step process, 5 required documents, and varies based on account type and documentation; pod claims may be processed faster than probate claims
Phone1-888-895-5650
24-Hour Automated Banking (Domestic)
24-Hour Automated Banking (International)
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone1-888-895-5650
Toll-Free1-888-895-5650
Fax626-242-9570
Mailing Address
East West Bank, 135 N. Los Robles Ave., 7th Floor, Pasadena, CA 91101
Mortgage Servicing
Verified Apr 2026
When a East West Bank account holder 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 Wealth Management (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
1
Notify East West Bank as soon as possible:
- Contact customer service at 1-888-895-5650 or visit a local branch
- Provide the deceased account holder's name, account number(s), and date of death
- Submit a certified death certificate
2
Individual accounts are typically frozen to prevent unauthorized transactions
3
Joint accounts with right of survivorship generally remain accessible to the surviving account holder
4
Provide documentation based on account type:
- POD accounts: beneficiary provides certified death certificate and valid government-issued ID to claim funds
- Trust accounts: successor trustee provides death certificate, trust document, and trustee ID
- Accounts without POD, trust, or survivorship: executor or administrator provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from probate court
5
Complete any required claim forms provided by the bank
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for beneficiary, trustee, or estate representative
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD, trust, or joint survivorship)
- Trust document and trustee identification (for trust accounts)
- Small Estate Affidavit (if eligible under state law)
POD account funds pass directly to named beneficiaries without probate. Trust account funds pass to beneficiaries upon death of the last surviving trustee. A beneficiary may not withdraw funds from a trust account before all trustees are deceased. Multilingual service 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.
1
Notify East West Bank of the borrower's death:
- 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
2
Complete the Successor in Interest process:
- 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
3
Once confirmed, discuss your options:
- Continue making payments on the existing loan
- Apply for loss mitigation
- Assume the loan, refinance, or pay off the balance
4
Continue making monthly mortgage payments during the review process to avoid default
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)
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.
How long the process takes at East West Bank: Varies based on account type and documentation; POD claims may be processed faster than probate claims. 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 beneficiary, 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.
To process a death claim, East West Bank requires a certified copy of the death certificate, government-issued photo ID for the claimant, and account information for the deceased. Beneficiaries on POD accounts can claim funds directly. Successor trustees must present the trust document and trustee identification. Estate representatives must present Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court. Call 1-888-895-5650 to begin the process.
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.
Joint accounts with right of survivorship generally remain accessible to the surviving account holder after one owner's death. Bring a certified copy of the death certificate and your government-issued photo ID to a branch to remove the deceased owner from the account. Call 1-888-895-5650 with questions.
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 Wealth Management can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Phone1-888-895-5650
24-Hour Automated Banking (Domestic)
24-Hour Automated Banking (International)
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone1-888-895-5650
Toll-Free1-888-895-5650
Fax626-242-9570
Mailing Address
East West Bank, 135 N. Los Robles Ave., 7th Floor, Pasadena, CA 91101
Mortgage Servicing
Verified Apr 2026
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