What to do when a Glacier Bancorp account holder dies
Report the death to Glacier Bancorp's Customer Service at 1-800-735-4371
After an account holder at Glacier Bancorp 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 Glacier Bancorp's Customer Service at 1-406-756-4200 with the proper legal authority documents.
To start a claim, contact Glacier Bancorp by phone at 1-406-756-4200 or email documentation to glacier@glacierbank.com. You will need the account holder's full name, account numbers, and the death certificate.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
The death claim process at Glacier Bancorp works as follows:
Filing a claim
- The deceased account holder's name, account number and date of death
- A certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued identification for the claimant
- The documents for the account's registration, read under the state the account is based in
What happens to each kind of account5
- Account in one name
An account with no survivorship and no pay-on-death designation passes as part of the deceased person's estate. The executor or administrator provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.1
- Payable-on-death account
On a Single-Party Account With Pay-on-Death Designation (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Montana), ownership passes at the party's death to the designated POD beneficiaries and is not part of the party's estate. The beneficiary presents government-issued ID.1
On a Trust Account or Pay-On-Death Account (Idaho, Utah, Washington; "Revocable Trust or Pay-On-Death Account" in Wyoming; "TRUST ACCOUNT" in Texas), a beneficiary may not withdraw until all trustees are deceased. Ownership then passes to the beneficiary and is not part of a trustee's estate.1
- Joint account with survivorship
On a Multiple-Party Account With Right of Survivorship and Pay-on-Death Designation, ownership passes to the POD beneficiaries at the death of the last surviving party.1
On a Multiple-Party Account With Right of Survivorship (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Montana, Texas), ownership passes to the surviving parties. On a Joint Account - With Survivorship (Idaho, Utah, Washington, Wyoming), the balance belongs to the survivor or survivors.1
- Fiduciary account
An estate or trust account opened by an executor or trustee is a fiduciary account: the fiduciary has no ownership interest in the funds and the bank is not acting as a fiduciary. It is not subject to the bank's right of setoff, or to execution, levy or garnishment against the fiduciary personally.1
- Certificate of deposit
The deposit agreement recognizes the death or incompetence of an owner as a circumstance in which the law permits, or in some cases requires, waiver of the early withdrawal penalty.1
Under "Early Withdrawal Penalties," the bank may close the account and impose the penalty "on the entire account balance in the event of a partial early withdrawal," and may charge it on a withdrawal caused by setoff, attachment or other legal process.1
State requirements Glacier Bancorp statesTexas, Idaho
- Texas
The Texas version of the setoff clause says only "in a representative capacity" and adds a carve-out for home equity loan debt.1
- Idaho
In Idaho, a joint account transmutes community property into separate property held with survivorship. The Idaho section also offers a Community Property Account - No Survivorship.1
State law on paying a balance without lettersTexas, Washington
- Texas
Tex. Est. Code § 152.051
Texas law permits a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on an order of the court, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.Tex. Est. Code § 152.051Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Paid to: a funeral home or the applicant, for funeral and burial expenses
Limit: $5,000 in total from every holder
When: the application may be filed "not earlier than the third day after the date of the decedent's death and not later than nine months after the date of the decedent's death"
The section permits the payment. It does not require the bank to make it. The section sets further conditions.
- Washington
RCW 30A.22.190(2)
Washington law permits a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on an affidavit, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.RCW 30A.22.190(2)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Limit: $2,500 held at the institution
Paid to: the surviving spouse, next of kin, funeral director, or other creditor who may appear to be entitled thereto
The section permits the payment. It does not require the bank to make it. The section sets further conditions.
RCW 30A.22.190(1)
Washington law permits a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on an affidavit, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.RCW 30A.22.190(1)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Limit: The section sets no dollar limit.
Paid to: the surviving spouse (party to a community property agreement with the decedent that reaches the funds)
The section permits the payment. It does not require the bank to make it. The section sets further conditions.
What Glacier Bancorp's agreement and guidance say8
- Telling the institution
The "Death or Incompetence" clause states: "You agree to notify us promptly if any person with a right to withdraw funds from your account(s) dies or is adjudicated (determined by the appropriate official) incompetent."1
- Payments after the death
Until the bank knows of the death and has had a reasonable opportunity to act on it, it may keep honoring the deceased's checks, items and instructions. Even after notice, it may pay or certify checks drawn on or before the date of death for up to ten days, unless someone claiming an interest orders a stop payment.1
- Disputes between claimants
Under "Resolving Account Disputes," the bank may refuse payment or withdrawal while the account is subject to a claim adverse to the owner's interest, including by "others claiming an interest as survivors or beneficiaries of your account" or "a claim arising by operation of law."1
The hold may last as long as the bank believes reasonably necessary to allow a legal proceeding, arbitration included, or until it has satisfactory evidence that the dispute is resolved.1
- Debts owed to the institution
In Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, the setoff clause does not apply where "the debtor's right of withdrawal only arises in a representative or fiduciary capacity."1
- Which state governs the account
The deposit agreement sets account ownership separately by state, in seven "Ownership of Account and Beneficiary Designation" sections for the nine states the divisions operate in, so the same product can pass differently depending on where the account is based.1
- Arbitration
Any action to enforce a right under the agreement must be started within one year after the cause of action accrues. The agreement carries a binding arbitration provision, with an informal-resolution step before it.1
- Fees
The fee schedule effective January 1, 2026 lists a stop payment at $30.00 per item, a levy or garnishment at $75.00 per request, a cashier's check at $5.00 each, and an early closing fee of $10.00 within the first 90 days.2
- Dormant and unclaimed accounts
The fee schedule lists an unclaimed property fee that varies by state.2
Not in Glacier Bancorp's published guidance1
- A list of required documents
Sources2
- 1.Terms and Conditions of Your Account
- 2.Fee schedule, effective January 1, 2026
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.
- Call 1-800-735-4371, or the servicing division's own main number from the division directory, or visit that division's branch
- Provide the deceased borrower's full legal name, loan number, and property address
- Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-800-735-4371
Mailing address: Glacier Bank, P.O. Box 27, Kalispell, MT 59903
Federal law on calling a home loan after a death
These exemptions apply to a loan secured by residential real property containing less than five dwelling units.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d); 12 CFR 191.5(b), 141.14Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer by devise, descent, or operation of law on the death of a joint tenant or tenant by the entirety.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(3); 12 CFR 191.5(b)(1)(iii)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer to a relative resulting from the death of a borrower.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(5)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer where the spouse or children of the borrower become an owner of the property.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(6)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
A federal regulation sets further conditions on these transfers.12 CFR 191.5(b)(1)(v)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Not in Glacier Bancorp's published guidance5
- A procedure for reporting a death
- A claim form
- Terms in its agreements for a customer's death
- A list of required documents
- Loan resolution options
- Call 1-800-735-4371 or the servicing division's own main number, or visit its branch
- Provide the deceased borrower's full legal name, account number, and property address
- Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-800-735-4371
Mailing address: Glacier Bank, P.O. Box 27, Kalispell, MT 59903
State requirements Glacier Bancorp statesTexas
- Texas
The Texas version of the deposit agreement's setoff clause says the bank's right of setoff does not apply where "the debt is created by a home equity loan," so a Texas division cannot set a home-equity debt off against a deposit balance.1
Not in Glacier Bancorp's published guidance1
- A list of required documents
Sources1
Glacier Bancorp's Customer Service can be reached by phone at 1-800-735-4371 and email at glacier@glacierbank.com for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Glacier Bancorp primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Glacier Bancorp death claims support
Customer Service
Phone
Toll-free
After-Hours Debit Card and Online Banking Support
Mailing address
Website
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Glacier Bancorp 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: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
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.
Affidavit of Heirship
Prepare the sworn statement of a deceased person's family history and heirs for recording in the county land records, with your state's recording instructions.
Small Estate Affidavit
Collect a small estate's property without probate — the sworn affidavit presented to banks and other holders, with a presentation letter for each.
Tools for Settling an Estate
Free tools for settling an estate: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.
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?
Find out if an estate needs probate or qualifies for simplified procedures.
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.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax, and inheritance tax for an estate.
