What to do when a Great Southern Bank account holder dies
Contact Great Southern Bank's Branch Banking — 3-step process, 8 required documents, and pod and joint accounts typically processed within a few business days of receiving all required documents; probate estates may take longer
Customer Service
Phone800-749-7113
Mailing Address
218 S. Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65802
Telephone Banking
Wire Inquiries
Loan Servicing
WebsiteLearn more→
Branch Banking / Customer Service
Phone800-749-7113
Mailing Address
218 S. Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65802
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
When a Great Southern Bank 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 Great Southern Bank's Branch Banking (800-749-7113) to access and distribute the funds.
Death claims at Great Southern Bank 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 Great Southern Bank works as follows:
Filing a claim
1
Contact Great Southern Bank at 800-749-7113 to notify them of the account holder's death
2
Visit a branch with a certified copy of the death certificate and valid government-issued ID
3
Follow the process for your account type:
- For accounts with POD beneficiary: present death certificate and beneficiary ID to claim funds directly
- For joint accounts: provide death certificate and complete applicable account maintenance forms
- For IRA accounts: provide death certificate, complete IRA beneficiary claim forms, and select distribution method
- For trust accounts: provide trust documentation, death certificate, and ID for successor trustee
- For accounts without beneficiary: obtain probate documents (Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration) or small estate affidavit if applicable
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary, executor, or successor trustee
- Account information for the deceased
- For POD accounts: beneficiary designation confirmation
- For IRA accounts: IRA beneficiary claim/distribution forms
- For trust accounts: trust agreement, successor trustee documentation, and letters of successor trustee
- For probate estates: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the court
- For small estates: state-specific small estate affidavit (if applicable under state law)
Branch visit is generally required to complete estate settlement proceedings. Contact 800-749-7113 for specific documentation requirements based on account type and state of residence.
Processing timelines at Great Southern Bank: POD and joint accounts typically processed within a few business days of receiving all required documents; probate estates may take longer. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Great Southern Bank requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified copy of the death certificate, Valid government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary, executor, or successor trustee, and Account information for the deceased, 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
In Missouri, when the deceased's total non-real-property estate (after debts) is $40,000 or less and at least 30 days have passed since death, heirs can file a small-estate affidavit with the probate division of the circuit court (Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 473.097) instead of opening full probate. Once the court issues a certified affidavit of small estate, take it to a Great Southern Bank branch with the certified death certificate and your government-issued photo ID, and the banker will release the funds. POD and joint accounts bypass this process entirely and pay out on the death certificate alone. Call 800-749-7113 first so the branch can confirm exactly which form of court paperwork applies to your account.
The IRA passes to whoever is named on the IRA beneficiary designation, not according to the will. The named beneficiary brings a certified death certificate, valid photo ID, and any IRA beneficiary claim and distribution paperwork the bank provides to a branch. Non-spouse beneficiaries who inherited from an account owner who died on or after January 1, 2020 are generally subject to the SECURE Act 10-year rule (full distribution within ten years). Spouse beneficiaries can roll the inherited IRA into their own IRA. If no beneficiary is named, the IRA goes to the owner's estate and the executor claims it with Missouri Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
Great Southern Bank's Branch Banking / Customer Service can be reached by phone at 800-749-7113 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Great Southern Bank accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Branch Banking can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Customer Service
Phone800-749-7113
Mailing Address
218 S. Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65802
Telephone Banking
Wire Inquiries
Loan Servicing
WebsiteLearn more→
Branch Banking / Customer Service
Phone800-749-7113
Mailing Address
218 S. Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65802
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
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