What to do when a First Commonwealth account holder dies
Contact First Commonwealth's First Commonwealth Wealth Management — Trust & Estate — 5-step process, 4 required documents, and pod and joint accounts typically release within days of receiving a certified death certificate; probated accounts follow pennsylvania or ohio court timelines.
F
Customer Service
Phone1-800-711-2265
Emailengage@fcbanking.com
Mailing Address
First Commonwealth Bank, 601 Philadelphia St., Indiana, PA 15701
WebsiteLearn more→
First Commonwealth Wealth Management — Trust & Estate
Phone1-800-711-2265
Mailing Address
First Commonwealth Bank, 601 Philadelphia St., Indiana, PA 15701
WebsiteLearn more→
Verified Jun 2026
After a First Commonwealth account holder dies, accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer to the designated recipients without probate. Solely-owned accounts require the estate's representative to contact First Commonwealth's First Commonwealth Wealth Management — Trust & Estate at 1-800-711-2265 with the proper legal authority documents.
The claim process begins with a phone call to 1-800-711-2265. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate available when making initial contact.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with First Commonwealth:
Filing a claim
1
Notify First Commonwealth of the account holder's death by calling 1-800-711-2265 or visiting a Pennsylvania or Ohio branch
2
Provide a certified copy of the death certificate
3
Establish your authority (POD beneficiary, joint owner, executor, administrator, or successor trustee)
4
Submit estate documentation as required for the account type and your role
5
For accounts held in trust or estates served by First Commonwealth Wealth Management, contact the trust and estate team to coordinate settlement
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the person handling the estate
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if the estate is probated)
- Small estate affidavit (if eligible under state law and no probate is opened)
Expected timelines at First Commonwealth: POD and joint accounts typically release within days of receiving a certified death certificate; probated accounts follow Pennsylvania or Ohio court timelines. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
To process a claim, First Commonwealth needs Certified copy of the death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for the person handling the estate, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if the estate is probated), and Small estate affidavit (if eligible under state law and no probate is opened). Death certificates and court documents must be certified copies—photocopies are not accepted.
Frequently asked questions
Call First Commonwealth at 1-800-711-2265 (Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., weekends 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.) or visit a Pennsylvania or Ohio branch with a certified death certificate. There is no dedicated online death-claim portal; the bank verifies your role in the estate before releasing or transferring accounts.
No. First Commonwealth does not offer online POD beneficiary management. Add or update POD beneficiaries on deposit accounts by calling 1-800-711-2265 or visiting a branch. IRA beneficiaries are designated through the IRA agreement.
First Commonwealth operates in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and the probate process and small-estate thresholds are governed by the deceased account holder's state of residence. Pennsylvania and Ohio have different small-estate procedures, so confirm the rules for the decedent's home state before relying on a small-estate affidavit.
First Commonwealth's Customer Service can be reached by phone at 1-800-711-2265 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple First Commonwealth accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the First Commonwealth Wealth Management — Trust & Estate to confirm what applies.
F
Customer Service
Phone1-800-711-2265
Emailengage@fcbanking.com
Mailing Address
First Commonwealth Bank, 601 Philadelphia St., Indiana, PA 15701
WebsiteLearn more→
First Commonwealth Wealth Management — Trust & Estate
Phone1-800-711-2265
Mailing Address
First Commonwealth Bank, 601 Philadelphia St., Indiana, PA 15701
WebsiteLearn more→
Verified Jun 2026
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