What to do when a First Federal CU account holder dies
Report the death to First Federal CU at 1-319-743-7806
When a member of First Federal CU passes away, First Federal CU handles the transition of accounts to beneficiaries or the estate. Accounts with Payable on Death designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate, while solely-owned accounts may require Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting First Federal CU.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what First Federal CU requires:
Filing a claim
- Call or text the Contact Center at (319) 743-7806.
- Or visit one of its six branches (Cedar Rapids, Westdale, Hiawatha, Marion, Spencer, Urbana), or start a VideoCU session from FirstFedCU.com with a Contact Center representative.
What First Federal CU's agreement and guidance say1
- Dormant and unclaimed accounts
First Federal's fee schedule charges $20 per month on an account inactive for 12 months. The fee is waived with a minimum account balance of $100.1
Not in First Federal CU's published guidance5
- A procedure for reporting a death
- A department for deceased-customer accounts
- A claim form
- A list of required documents
- Whether the death certificate must be certified
Sources1
- 1.Fee Schedule, effective May 1, 2026
Sources
(2)·
Data sourced from First Federal CU primary sources (24 pages reviewed). How we research.
First Federal CU death claims support
First Federal Credit Union Contact Center
Phone
Lost or Stolen ATM/Debit Card, After Hours
Card Assistance Center (credit card disputes)
Mailing address
Website
Death notifications go through general customer service.
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your First Federal CU accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Forms for Settling an Estate
Free forms for settling an estate: probate petition, small estate affidavit, creditor notice and closing forms. Prepare each form for your state.
Affidavit of Death
Put a joint owner's or a transfer on death deed owner's death on the land records with the affidavit your state's statute names, laid out for recording.
IRS Form 56
Notify the IRS that you are the fiduciary of an estate, a trust or a person, or end a notice filed before, on the official form.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter
Prepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.
Petition for Probate and Letters
Open probate and ask the court to appoint you and issue Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
Notice to Creditors
Notify estate creditors and start the claim period — the published notice plus mailed copies for known creditors.
Renunciation of Executor
Decline an appointment as executor named in a will — the writing filed with the court before anyone is appointed.
Tools for Settling an Estate
Free tools for settling an estate: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for your state.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need and see ordering info for your state.
Do I Need Probate?
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What Happens to Jointly Owned Property When an Owner Dies?
See what your state records when a joint tenant with right of survivorship dies: an affidavit, the death certificate or a new deed.
Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
Find out which tax returns need to be filed after someone dies and whether tax clearance is required.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away.
What Do I Do When Someone Dies?
A step-by-step checklist for the days, weeks, and months after a death, with state rules noted where they apply.
