What to do when a Granite State CU account holder dies
Contact Granite State CU — 5-step process, 5 required documents, and pod and joint accounts processed within days of document verification; non-pod accounts vary based on probate requirements and new hampshire or applicable state law
Phone1-800-645-4728
Emailmembers@gscu.org
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 6420, Manchester, NH 03108-6420
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone1-800-645-4728
Emailmembers@gscu.org
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 6420, Manchester, NH 03108-6420
WebsiteLearn more →
Member Services (Death Claims)
Phone1-800-645-4728
Toll-Free1-800-645-4728
Emailmembers@gscu.org
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 6420, Manchester, NH 03108-6420
Verified Mar 2026
When a Granite State CU member passes away, the Member Services (Death Claims) handles the transition of accounts to beneficiaries or the estate. Accounts with Payable on Death designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate, while solely-owned accounts may require Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court.
The claim process can be initiated by phone at 1-800-645-4728 or by sending documentation to members@gscu.org. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate available when making initial contact.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Granite State CU:
Filing a claim
1
Contact Granite State Credit Union at (800) 645-4728 or visit any branch to report the death of a member
2
A member service representative will review the deceased member's accounts and ownership structures
3
Provide required identification:
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the claimant
4
Settlement varies by account type:
- POD accounts: funds distributed directly to named beneficiaries upon verification of death certificate and ID
- Joint accounts with right of survivorship: surviving owner retains full ownership of the account
- Accounts without POD or joint ownership: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration required
- IRA accounts: beneficiary designation on file determines distribution; beneficiaries must provide ID and complete distribution election forms
- Trust-titled accounts: successor trustee provides trust documentation and death certificate to assume management
5
The credit union may honor transfer orders, withdrawals, and other transactions on an account until they know of a member's death; may continue to pay checks for 10 days after death unless instructed to stop
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for claimant
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (for accounts without POD, joint ownership, or trust titling)
- Trust documents and successor trustee identification (for trust-titled accounts)
- Small estate affidavit (if applicable under New Hampshire law)
Granite State Credit Union does not accept or interpret wills. Beneficiaries being aware of their designation makes the process easier and could mean faster disbursal of funds, as it eliminates GSCU trying to locate or contact the beneficiary. Contact members@gscu.org or call (800) 645-4728 for assistance.
Processing timelines at Granite State CU: POD and joint accounts processed within days of document verification; non-POD accounts vary based on probate requirements and New Hampshire or applicable state law. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Granite State CU requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for claimant, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (for accounts without POD, joint ownership, or trust titling), 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
Visit any GSCU branch or call (800) 645-4728 to request a Payable on Death (POD) beneficiary designation form. Provide each beneficiary's full name, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship. Specify percentage allocations for multiple beneficiaries. All account holders must sign the form. POD is available on checking, savings, money market, and certificate accounts. IRAs use a separate beneficiary designation form.
Yes. A trust can be named as a POD beneficiary on deposit accounts. You will need the full legal name of the trust and its tax identification number. Alternatively, you can retitle accounts directly into the name of the trust by providing trust documentation at a branch. A trust account designation is an instruction to the credit union that the account is payable to trust beneficiaries when the last account owner dies.
Contact GSCU at (800) 645-4728 or visit any branch. Provide a certified death certificate and your government-issued photo ID. A member service representative will review the deceased member's accounts, confirm ownership structures and beneficiaries, and guide you through the settlement process. POD accounts are distributed directly to named beneficiaries. Beneficiaries being aware of their designation makes the process easier and could mean faster disbursal of funds.
At minimum, a certified death certificate and government-issued photo ID for the claimant. Additional documents depend on account type: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration for accounts without POD or joint ownership, trust documents and successor trustee ID for trust-titled accounts, or a small estate affidavit if applicable under New Hampshire law. The credit union may continue to honor payments for 10 days after death unless instructed to stop.
Granite State CU's Member Services (Death Claims) can be reached by phone at 1-800-645-4728 and email at members@gscu.org for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Granite State CU accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Member Services (Death Claims) can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Phone1-800-645-4728
Emailmembers@gscu.org
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 6420, Manchester, NH 03108-6420
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone1-800-645-4728
Emailmembers@gscu.org
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 6420, Manchester, NH 03108-6420
WebsiteLearn more →
Member Services (Death Claims)
Phone1-800-645-4728
Toll-Free1-800-645-4728
Emailmembers@gscu.org
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 6420, Manchester, NH 03108-6420
Verified Mar 2026
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