What to do when a Elevations CU account holder dies
Contact Elevations CU's Wealth Management (via CUSO Financial Services / LPL Financial) — 5-step process, 7 required documents, and joint accounts transfer immediately. pod accounts are typically processed within 2-4 weeks. estate accounts requiring probate documentation may take 30-90 days depending on court timelines.
Member Services
Phone1-800-429-7626
Fax303-441-2961
Mailing Address
Elevations Credit Union, Attn: Operations Dept, P.O. Box 9004, Boulder, CO 80301
WebsiteLearn more→
Wealth Management (via CUSO Financial Services / LPL Financial)
Phone1-800-429-7626
WebsiteLearn more→
Member Services - Trust & Estate Accounts
Phone1-800-429-7626
Fax303-441-2961
Mailing Address
Elevations Credit Union, Attn: Operations Dept, P.O. Box 9004, Boulder, CO 80301
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
After a Elevations CU member dies, the Wealth Management (via CUSO Financial Services / LPL Financial) 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.
Elevations CU provides an online portal for initiating death claims, which can simplify the initial notification and document submission process. Claims can also be started by phone or by mailing the required documents.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Elevations CU requires:
Filing a claim
1
Notify Elevations Credit Union of the member's death:
- Call (800) 429-7626 (Mon-Fri 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM MT, Sat 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM MT)
- Visit any branch location in person (https://www.elevationscu.com/locations)
2
Provide a certified copy of the death certificate and all affected account numbers
3
Elevations reviews the account type and ownership structure to determine the distribution path:
- Joint accounts with right of survivorship: surviving joint owner retains access to the account
- Accounts with POD designation: funds are paid to named surviving POD beneficiaries after the last owner's death
- Accounts with no POD and no joint owner: funds pass to the estate and require probate documentation
- If all POD beneficiaries predeceased the owner(s): funds are paid to the estate of the last surviving owner
4
For estate accounts (when probate is required):
- Complete the probate process and appoint a personal representative
- Obtain Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration issued in Colorado
- Open an estate account at Elevations to manage the deceased's financial affairs during settlement
- The decedent must have been an Elevations member, qualified for membership, or all named estate beneficiaries must be current members
5
For conservatorship estate accounts (if applicable):
- Obtain Letters of Conservatorship issued in Colorado
- The Protected Person must be a current Elevations member or qualify for membership
- Visit a branch to open the conservatorship estate account
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for each beneficiary, claimant, or personal representative
- All affected account numbers
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration issued in Colorado (when probate is required)
- Estate/Conservatorship Authorization Form (provided by Elevations as a condition of opening an Estate or Conservatorship account)
- Trust documents and trustee identification (when trust is named as beneficiary)
- Letters of Conservatorship issued in Colorado (for conservatorship estate accounts)
Per the Trust & Estate Accounts page (https://www.elevationscu.com/personal/trust-estate-accounts), estate accounts are temporary accounts opened after death to allow the personal representative to manage the deceased's financial affairs during estate settlement. Powers of attorney are not accepted for opening estate accounts. Elevations requires Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration issued in Colorado. As a condition to opening an estate or conservatorship account, the personal representative must provide an Estate/Conservatorship Authorization Form and any additional documentation requested; failure to provide may result in involuntary closure of the account. A probate estate can be opened if the decedent qualified for membership, held an existing account at the time of death, or all named beneficiaries of the estate are current members. Lending products and shared (CO-OP) branching are not available with estate accounts. Conservatorship estate accounts are also available for situations where a Protected Person needs financial management.
Expected timelines at Elevations CU: Joint accounts transfer immediately. POD accounts are typically processed within 2-4 weeks. Estate accounts requiring probate documentation may take 30-90 days 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.
Documentation required by Elevations CU includes Certified copy of the death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for each beneficiary, claimant, or personal representative, and All affected account numbers, along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Contact Elevations at (800) 429-7626 or visit any branch to add a Payable on Death (POD) beneficiary to your savings, checking, money market, or certificate account. You will need each beneficiary's full legal name, Social Security number, date of birth, relationship, and the percentage allocation. Trusts can also be named as POD beneficiaries using the trust name and Tax ID Number.
Complete the probate process and obtain Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration issued in Colorado. The decedent must have been an Elevations member, qualified for membership, or all named estate beneficiaries must be current members. Visit a branch with the required documents and photo ID and complete the Estate/Conservatorship Authorization Form. Powers of attorney are not accepted for opening estate accounts. See https://www.elevationscu.com/personal/trust-estate-accounts.
A formal trust account is a new account opened under the trust name, requiring a Trust Agreement and a branch visit. Naming your trust as POD beneficiary keeps the account in your personal name but directs funds to the trust upon your death. Both approaches can help assets pass outside of probate. The formal trust account may offer more control during your lifetime, while the POD approach is simpler to set up. Contact Elevations at (800) 429-7626 to discuss which option fits your situation.
Call Member Services at (800) 429-7626 (Mon-Fri 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM MT, Sat 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM MT) or visit any branch in person to report the death. You will need to provide a certified copy of the death certificate and the affected account numbers. For accounts that pass to the estate, the personal representative must obtain Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration in Colorado before an estate account can be opened.
Elevations CU's Member Services - Trust & Estate Accounts can be reached by phone at 1-800-429-7626 and fax at 303-441-2961 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple Elevations CU accounts, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Wealth Management (via CUSO Financial Services / LPL Financial) can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Member Services
Phone1-800-429-7626
Fax303-441-2961
Mailing Address
Elevations Credit Union, Attn: Operations Dept, P.O. Box 9004, Boulder, CO 80301
WebsiteLearn more→
Wealth Management (via CUSO Financial Services / LPL Financial)
Phone1-800-429-7626
WebsiteLearn more→
Member Services - Trust & Estate Accounts
Phone1-800-429-7626
Fax303-441-2961
Mailing Address
Elevations Credit Union, Attn: Operations Dept, P.O. Box 9004, Boulder, CO 80301
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
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