What to do when a FirstBank account holder dies
Contact FirstBank's Customer Service (no dedicated estate services department) — 5-step process, 5 required documents, and 2-4 weeks after all documentation is received
Brand change
FirstBank was acquired by PNC Financial Services Group. Branches reopened as PNC on June 22, 2026; account and routing numbers changed at conversion. Effective June 2026.
FirstBank is now part of PNC Bank. The procedures below reflect FirstBank's accounts during the transition. View the PNC Bank estate planning page.
FirstBank, 12345 W Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO 80215
Customer Service (no dedicated estate services department)
FirstBank, 12345 W Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO 80215
Customer Service (death claims handled via main line)
FirstBank, 12345 W Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO 80215
After a FirstBank 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 FirstBank's Customer Service (no dedicated estate services department) at 1-800-964-3444 with the proper legal authority documents.
Death claims at FirstBank 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
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what FirstBank requires:
Filing a claim
- Call customer service at 1-800-964-3444
- Visit any FirstBank branch location
- POD beneficiaries: valid government-issued photo ID for each beneficiary
- No POD designation: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court
- Trust accounts: trust documents showing successor trustee authority
- POD beneficiaries receive funds directly outside of probate
- Joint accounts with right of survivorship pass to the surviving owner
- Accounts without POD or joint ownership are released to the estate per probate court instructions
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate (original or certified copy)
- Government-issued photo ID for beneficiary, executor, or personal representative
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD designation or joint ownership)
- Trust documents (if account is held in trust)
- Small estate affidavit (if applicable under state law)
Claims Contact
What to know at this institution
FirstBank does not have a dedicated online death notification portal. Contact customer service by phone or visit a branch to initiate the process. Accounts with POD beneficiary designations bypass probate and allow faster distribution to named beneficiaries. PNC acquisition completed January 5, 2026; death claim procedures transition to PNC processes at customer conversion the weekend of June 18-22, 2026.
How long the process takes at FirstBank: 2-4 weeks after all documentation is received. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.
Documentation required by FirstBank includes Certified death certificate (original or certified copy), Government-issued photo ID for beneficiary, executor, or personal representative, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD designation or joint ownership), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Payable on Death (POD) designations can be added to FirstBank deposit accounts including checking, savings, money market, and time deposit accounts. Visit a branch with valid government-issued photo ID or call customer service at 1-800-964-3444. POD designations allow account funds to pass directly to named beneficiaries outside of probate upon the account holder's death.
Notify FirstBank by calling 1-800-964-3444 or visiting any branch. Provide a certified death certificate. For accounts with POD (Payable on Death) designations, named beneficiaries receive funds directly outside of probate after presenting a death certificate and valid photo ID. For joint accounts with right of survivorship, ownership passes automatically to the surviving owner. For accounts without POD or joint ownership, the estate representative must provide Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court.
FirstBank's Customer Service (death claims handled via main line) can be reached by phone at 1-800-964-3444, email at banking@efirstbank.com, and fax at 1-303-235-1047 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple FirstBank accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Customer Service (no dedicated estate services department) to confirm what applies.
Sources
Data sourced from FirstBank primary sources (20 pages reviewed). How we research.
FirstBank, 12345 W Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO 80215
Customer Service (no dedicated estate services department)
FirstBank, 12345 W Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO 80215
Customer Service (death claims handled via main line)
FirstBank, 12345 W Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO 80215
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your FirstBank accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
