What to do when a First Western Trust account holder dies
Contact First Western Trust's Trust and Estate Services — 5-step process, 6 required documents, and pod and tod claims typically process within 5-10 business days after receipt of all documentation; trust and probate settlements vary based on complexity
First Western Trust Bank Client Services
First Western Trust Bank, 1900 16th St. Mall, Suite 1200, Denver, CO 80202
Trust and Estate Services
First Western Trust Bank, 1900 16th St. Mall, Suite 1200, Denver, CO 80202
Trust and Estate Services
First Western Trust Bank, 1900 16th St. Mall, Suite 1200, Denver, CO 80202
After a First Western Trust 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 Western Trust's Trust and Estate Services at (303) 531-8100 with the proper legal authority documents.
Death claims at First Western Trust 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
The death claim process at First Western Trust works as follows:
Filing a claim
- Contact the local office where the account was held or call the Denver headquarters at (303) 531-8100
- Provide the deceased's full legal name and account number(s)
- For POD deposit accounts: named beneficiary provides death certificate and valid government-issued ID to claim funds
- For joint accounts with survivorship: ownership passes automatically to the surviving owner
- For TOD investment accounts: named beneficiary provides death certificate and ID, completes transfer paperwork
- For trust-held accounts: successor trustee provides death certificate, trust documentation, and trustee identification
- For accounts where First Western is trustee: the bank initiates trust administration per the trust terms
- For non-designated individual accounts: executor provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from probate court
- For IRA accounts: named beneficiary provides death certificate and completes distribution paperwork
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for beneficiary, trustee, or authorized representative
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (for probate estates)
- Trust agreement or Certificate of Trust (for trust-held accounts)
- Successor trustee documentation (if applicable)
- IRA beneficiary distribution election form (for retirement accounts)
Claims Contact
What to know at this institution
First Western Trust provides estate settlement services as a corporate trustee. When the bank serves as trustee, it initiates administration upon receipt of the death certificate. For accounts where the bank is not trustee, contact the local office where the relationship was managed. Early withdrawal penalties on CDs may be waived upon death of the account holder.
Prepare your letter of instruction to First Western Trust
First Western Trust accepts a claimant-drafted letter of instruction. We draft it for you — addressed to First Western Trust'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 Western Trust →Processing timelines at First Western Trust: POD and TOD claims typically process within 5-10 business days after receipt of all documentation; trust and probate settlements vary based on complexity. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
First Western Trust requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for beneficiary, trustee, or authorized representative, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (for probate estates), 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
For deposit accounts, you can add a Payable on Death (POD) beneficiary designation by contacting your relationship manager or visiting a branch office. For investment accounts, a Transfer on Death (TOD) registration is available. For IRA accounts, a separate beneficiary designation form is required. Provide each beneficiary's full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and their designation as primary or contingent beneficiary.
First Western Trust's Trust and Estate Services can be reached by phone at (303) 531-8100 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple First Western Trust accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Trust and Estate Services to confirm what applies.
Sources
Data sourced from First Western Trust primary sources (18 pages reviewed). How we research.
First Western Trust Bank Client Services
First Western Trust Bank, 1900 16th St. Mall, Suite 1200, Denver, CO 80202
Trust and Estate Services
First Western Trust Bank, 1900 16th St. Mall, Suite 1200, Denver, CO 80202
Trust and Estate Services
First Western Trust Bank, 1900 16th St. Mall, Suite 1200, Denver, CO 80202
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your First Western Trust accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
