What to do when a FNBO account holder dies
Contact FNBO's FNBO Wealth - Trust & Estate Services — 5-step process, 6 required documents, and pod accounts: typically within days once documentation is verified. estate accounts: varies based on probate process and documentation.
Personal Banking & Lending
Phone1-800-642-0014
Mailing Address
First National Bank of Omaha, P.O. Box 3128, Omaha, NE 68103
Credit Card Service
Mortgage Service
Wealth Service
International Calls (Collect)
WebsiteLearn more→
FNBO Wealth - Trust & Estate Services
Phone1-800-538-7298
Wealth Services
FNN Trust Company
Private Banking
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone1-800-642-0014
Toll-Free1-800-642-0014
Mailing Address
First National Bank of Omaha, P.O. Box 3128, Omaha, NE 68103
Trust & Estate Services
Mortgage Servicing
Verified Apr 2026
When a FNBO account holder passes away, the next step depends on how the accounts were set up. Accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate. Accounts titled solely in the deceased's name require the estate's legal representative to work with FNBO's FNBO Wealth - Trust & Estate Services (1-800-642-0014) to access and distribute the funds.
Before contacting FNBO, have the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any available account numbers ready. A certified death certificate is required to initiate the claim.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
The death claim process at FNBO works as follows:
Filing a claim
1
Call FNBO customer service at 1-800-642-0014 to report the death
2
For trust or estate accounts, contact Wealth Services at 1-888-916-8378 or Trust & Estate at 1-800-538-7298
3
Provide initial information:
- Deceased account holder's name and account information
- Certified death certificate (multiple copies recommended)
4
Submit documentation based on account type:
- POD accounts: named beneficiary provides certified death certificate and valid government-issued ID to claim funds
- Non-POD accounts: executor or administrator provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from probate court
- Trust accounts: successor trustee provides death certificate, trust document, and trustee identification
- Small estates: a small estate affidavit may be accepted in lieu of full probate documents
5
Bank will restrict account access and guide the representative through remaining steps
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate (multiple copies recommended)
- Government-issued photo ID for beneficiary, executor, or trustee
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (for non-POD, non-trust accounts)
- Trust agreement and successor trustee documentation (for trust accounts)
- Small estate affidavit (if applicable under state law)
- Court order (if required)
Wealth Services: 1-888-916-8378 (Monday-Friday, business hours). Trust & Estate direct line: 1-800-538-7298. FNN Trust Company: 1-800-994-2445. Private Banking: 402-602-1750 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST). For mortgage-related death claims, contact mortgage servicing at 1-877-217-9714.
Mortgage and home lending
Mortgages and home equity loans are liabilities, not assets. They do not have beneficiaries and cannot be retitled to a trust. When a borrower dies, the loan obligation transfers with the property to whoever inherits it. Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Act, the lender cannot accelerate the loan or call it due when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, or the borrower’s revocable trust.
1
Notify FNBO of the borrower's death by calling mortgage servicing at 1-877-217-9714 or general customer service at 1-800-642-0014
2
Provide initial borrower information:
- Deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number, and loan number
- Certified copy of the death certificate
3
Request the Successor in Interest application and provide documentation proving your ownership interest in the property (e.g., probated will, court order, deed, or trust document)
4
FNBO will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest
5
Once confirmed, discuss available options:
- Continue making payments
- Apply for loss mitigation
- Assume the loan, refinance, or pay off the balance
6
Continue making monthly mortgage payments during the review process to avoid default
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Documentation proving ownership interest in the property (probated will, court order, recorded deed, or trust document)
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if going through probate)
- Marriage certificate (if surviving spouse)
- Trust document showing successor trustee or beneficiary (if applicable)
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), FNBO cannot enforce a due-on-sale clause when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, relative upon death, or the borrower's revocable living trust. Confirmed Successors in Interest are treated as borrowers under CFPB mortgage servicing rules and are entitled to account information and loss mitigation options.
Expected timelines at FNBO: POD accounts: typically within days once documentation is verified. Estate accounts: varies based on probate process and documentation. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
FNBO requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate (multiple copies recommended), Government-issued photo ID for beneficiary, executor, or trustee, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (for non-POD, non-trust accounts), 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
Yes. The FDIC insures deposits up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership category. By adding Payable on Death beneficiaries to your accounts, you can increase your insured coverage beyond the standard limit. FNBO also offers Insured Cash Sweeps (ICS) through the IntraFi network to automatically distribute excess deposits across multiple FDIC-insured banks for additional coverage.
The process depends on the account type. Accounts with a Payable on Death (POD) beneficiary designation pass directly to the named beneficiary outside of probate -- the beneficiary provides a certified death certificate and government-issued ID to claim funds. Joint accounts with Right of Survivorship pass to the surviving owner. Trust accounts pass to the successor trustee. Accounts without POD, joint, or trust designations must go through the probate process, requiring Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. Contact FNBO customer service at 1-800-642-0014 to report a death, or Wealth Services at 1-888-916-8378 for trust and estate accounts.
POD (Payable on Death) designations are used for deposit accounts such as checking, savings, money market, and CDs. IRA accounts require a separate IRA beneficiary designation form. Both designations direct funds to named beneficiaries outside of probate upon the account holder's death. The key difference is the form used and the tax treatment: POD beneficiaries receive funds with no income tax consequences, while IRA beneficiaries may owe income tax on distributions depending on the IRA type, distribution method, and their relationship to the deceased. Named beneficiaries on both POD and IRA forms override any instructions in a will.
FNBO's Death Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-642-0014 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple FNBO accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The FNBO Wealth - Trust & Estate Services can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Personal Banking & Lending
Phone1-800-642-0014
Mailing Address
First National Bank of Omaha, P.O. Box 3128, Omaha, NE 68103
Credit Card Service
Mortgage Service
Wealth Service
International Calls (Collect)
WebsiteLearn more→
FNBO Wealth - Trust & Estate Services
Phone1-800-538-7298
Wealth Services
FNN Trust Company
Private Banking
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone1-800-642-0014
Toll-Free1-800-642-0014
Mailing Address
First National Bank of Omaha, P.O. Box 3128, Omaha, NE 68103
Trust & Estate Services
Mortgage Servicing
Verified Apr 2026
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