What to do when a First National Bank account holder dies
Contact First National Bank's F.N.B. Wealth Management / First National Trust Company — 3-step process, 7 required documents, and contact fnb for case-specific timelines; pod/tod claims with proper documentation may be processed within a few business days
First National Bank, 4140 E. State Street, Hermitage, PA 16148-3487
F.N.B. Wealth Management / First National Trust Company
F.N.B. Wealth Management, 626 Washington Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Customer Service / Estate Settlement (legal documents to Legal Dept.)
Legal documents: First National Bank of Pennsylvania, Attn: Legal Dept., 3015 Glimcher Blvd., Hermitage, PA 16148. General correspondence: First National Bank, 4140 E. State Street, Hermitage, PA 16148-3487
What happens to First National Bank accounts after the account holder dies depends on how each account was titled. Beneficiary-designated and trust-owned accounts transfer directly. Accounts in the deceased's name alone go through the estate, and the executor or administrator works with First National Bank's Customer Service / Estate Settlement (legal documents to Legal Dept.) (1-800-555-5455) to claim the funds.
Death claims at First National Bank can be started through an online portal, which streamlines the initial notification and document upload. Phone and mail options are also available.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at First National Bank:
Filing a claim
- POD accounts: beneficiary presents a certified death certificate and valid government-issued ID at a branch to claim funds
- Joint accounts: the surviving account holder presents a certified death certificate to update the account
- Accounts without a beneficiary or POD/TOD: obtain letters testamentary, letters of administration, or a state small estate affidavit from probate court
- Trust accounts: the successor trustee presents the death certificate, trust documentation evidencing successor trustee authority, and valid ID
- IRA accounts: contact FNB or F.N.B. Wealth Management to complete IRA Beneficiary Distribution paperwork and applicable inherited IRA documentation
- Investment and wealth management accounts: contact F.N.B. Wealth Management at 1-877-871-7680
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Valid government-issued photo ID for beneficiary or claimant
- Account information for the deceased
- For accounts without a beneficiary: letters testamentary or letters of administration from probate court, or state small estate affidavit
- For trust accounts: trust document pages evidencing successor trustee authority
- For IRA accounts: completed IRA Beneficiary Distribution form and inherited IRA application
- For Estate Management Account opening: Letter of Testamentary, Letter of Administration, or Letter of Representation
What to know at this institution
FNB maintains more than 350 banking offices across PA, OH, WV, VA, MD, NC, SC, and DC for in-person estate settlement support. Legal documents (including estate-settlement paperwork such as certified death certificates and letters testamentary/of administration) are directed to a dedicated Legal Department: First National Bank of Pennsylvania, Attn: Legal Dept., 3015 Glimcher Blvd., Hermitage, PA 16148 (distinct from the general correspondence address at 4140 E. State Street). The Estate Management Account is available for court-appointed representatives or executors at no cost with no minimum balance. For complex estates involving investment accounts, trusts, or business succession, F.N.B. Wealth Management professionals can assist. Contact F.N.B. Wealth Management at 626 Washington Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or call 1-877-871-7680.
Prepare your letter of instruction to First National Bank
First National Bank accepts a claimant-drafted letter of instruction. We draft it for you — addressed to First National 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 First National Bank →How long the process takes at First National Bank: Contact FNB for case-specific timelines; POD/TOD claims with proper documentation may be processed within a few business days. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.
First National Bank requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate, Valid government-issued photo ID for beneficiary or claimant, and Account information for the deceased, and additional documentation depending on the account type. Certified copies are typically needed—photocopies are generally not accepted for death certificates or court documents.
Frequently asked questions
The Estate Management Account is a specialized checking account for court-appointed estate representatives or executors. It has no minimum opening balance, no monthly service charge, unlimited free monthly transactions, surcharge-free access to 1,600+ FNB ATMs, and Business Online Banking and mobile app access. To open, bring a Letter of Testamentary, Letter of Administration, or Letter of Representation, a valid certified death certificate, and a non-expired government-issued photo ID. Call 833-BANK-FNB (1-833-226-5362) to schedule an appointment, or visit https://www.fnb-online.com/personal/checking-savings/specialty-banking/estate-management-account.
First National Insurance Agency, LLC (FNIA), a subsidiary of FNB, offers Term Life (including Basic Term Life for coverage up to $500,000 and Term Life for Asset Accumulation for amounts over $500,000) and Permanent Life insurance (Whole Life and Universal Life). Whole Life provides a guaranteed premium, death benefit, and cash value. Universal Life offers flexible premium payments. Term policies can be converted to permanent life insurance at the end of the term. Permanent life insurance and term life policies can be assigned to an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) for estate planning purposes. A trust can also be named as beneficiary. Contact your FNB insurance representative or visit fnb-online.com/personal/insurance for details.
FNB's Health Savings Account offers triple tax advantages: tax-deductible contributions, tax-free earnings, and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses. There is no minimum balance required. The account is free with e-statements for FNB personal checking customers and includes a free debit card. Funds carry over from year to year and remain in the account even if you are no longer enrolled in a high-deductible health plan. If a spouse is named as beneficiary, the HSA becomes their HSA upon death.
First National Bank's Customer Service / Estate Settlement (legal documents to Legal Dept.) can be reached by phone at 1-800-555-5455 and email at FNBCustomerService@fnb-corp.com for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple First National Bank accounts, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Customer Service / Estate Settlement (legal documents to Legal Dept.) can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Sources
Data sourced from First National Bank primary sources (31 pages reviewed). How we research.
First National Bank, 4140 E. State Street, Hermitage, PA 16148-3487
F.N.B. Wealth Management / First National Trust Company
F.N.B. Wealth Management, 626 Washington Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Customer Service / Estate Settlement (legal documents to Legal Dept.)
Legal documents: First National Bank of Pennsylvania, Attn: Legal Dept., 3015 Glimcher Blvd., Hermitage, PA 16148. General correspondence: First National Bank, 4140 E. State Street, Hermitage, PA 16148-3487
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