What to do when a Hancock Whitney account holder dies
Report the death to Hancock Whitney's Client Services at 1-800-448-8812
After an account holder at Hancock Whitney 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 Hancock Whitney's Client Services at 1-800-448-8812 with the proper legal authority documents.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Hancock Whitney:
Filing a claim
- Payable-on-death and joint-survivorship claims are settled once the death certificate and ID are accepted
- Accounts that need Letters Testamentary or a Louisiana succession judgment wait on the court
Required Documents
- Death certificateCertified, at least one original.
- Government-issued photo ID, for the beneficiary, surviving joint owner, successor trustee or estate representative
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, if the account has no payable-on-death beneficiary and no survivorship
- Succession judgment, judgment of possession, or Letters of Independent Administration, in Louisiana, if the account has no valid payable-on-death affidavit and no surviving joint owner
- Trust agreement or Certification of Trust, plus the successor trustee's ID, if the trust owns or is the beneficiary of the account
- IRA beneficiary distribution paperwork, for Traditional or Roth IRA savings and IRA CDs
What happens to each kind of account6
- Payable-on-death account
The named beneficiary presents a certified death certificate and photo ID.1
- Joint account with survivorship
The surviving owner presents a certified death certificate to have the deceased owner removed.1
- Account in one name
With no payable-on-death beneficiary and no survivorship, the succession representative or executor presents Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.1
- Trust account
The successor trustee presents the trust agreement or Certification of Trust plus the death certificate.1
- IRA
The named IRA beneficiary files IRA distribution paperwork. This covers Traditional and Roth IRAs held in savings or CDs.1
- Certificate of deposit
An early withdrawal penalty of at least seven days' interest may apply to a withdrawal before maturity. The Deposit Agreement allows the penalty on a time-account withdrawal "even if you don't initiate the withdrawal," and states no death exception.2
Where an early withdrawal is only partial, the bank may close the account and impose the penalty on the whole balance, so a beneficiary taking part of a deceased person's CD can break the whole certificate.2
State requirements Hancock Whitney statesLouisiana
- Louisiana
A payable-on-death designation is effective only if the required "Payable on Death" affidavit was completed.1
The Deposit Agreement states all payable-on-death accounts are subject to Louisiana law, including its inheritance laws (forced heirship).2
The Deposit Agreement says paying the surviving joint owner protects the bank only. Surviving joint parties may still be liable to the deceased person's heirs, legatees or creditors for funds that were owed to the deceased person.2
State law on paying a balance without letters4 states
- Florida
Permits a bank to pay up to $2,000 on an affidavitFla. Stat. § 735.303Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- Louisiana
Permits a bank to pay up to $20,000 on an affidavitLa. R.S. 6:315.1Verified Oct 3, 2026View sourceLa. R.S. 6:315.1
Permits a bank to pay up to $20,000 on an affidavitLa. R.S. 9:1513Verified Oct 3, 2026View sourceLa. R.S. 9:1513
- Mississippi
Permits a bank to pay up to $12,500 on a signed receipt or releaseMiss. Code Ann. § 81-5-63Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- Texas
Permits a bank to pay up to $5,000 on an order of the courtTex. Est. Code § 152.051Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- Hancock Whitney Trust & Asset Management
Trust and estate accounts it administers; it can serve as executor, trustee or successor trustee3
Phone: 1-800-651-9227
What Hancock Whitney's agreement and guidance say4
- Telling the institution
The Deposit Agreement ("DEATH OR INCOMPETENCE") obligates account parties to notify the bank promptly when any person with a right to withdraw funds dies.2
- Payments after the death
Until it knows of the death and has had a reasonable opportunity to act, Hancock Whitney may keep honoring the account holder's checks and instructions. It may pay or certify checks drawn on or before the date of death for up to ten days after the death unless a person claiming an interest in the account stops payment.2
- Debts owed to the institution
A payable-on-death beneficiary's rights do not take priority over Hancock Whitney's right of setoff or the consensual security interest it holds in the account (a statutory security interest in Louisiana). IRAs and other tax-deferred retirement accounts are excluded from setoff.2
- Which state governs the account
The Deposit Agreement carries separate ownership-and-beneficiary rules for Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, so the state of the account controls who the bank may pay.2
Not in Hancock Whitney's published guidance1
- A claim form
Sources3
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.
- Hancock Whitney Bank, Loan Error Resolution and Information Requests, c/o Compliance Department, 701 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70139
- Its contact page says to write to this address, not call, to take full advantage of your federal rights to request information about the loan
- Include the borrower's full name, the account number, and a description of the information you are requesting
- Ask in the same letter to be confirmed as a successor in interest and to be sent whatever confirmation documents the servicer requires
Required Documents
- Death certificateA certified copy.
- Government-issued photo ID, for the heir or personal representative
- Written request for loan informationSent to the Loan Error Resolution and Information Requests address, stating your full name, the loan number and the information requested.
- Proof of your ownership interest in the propertyOne or more of: a probated will naming you as heir, a court order or succession judgment, a recorded deed transferring ownership, or a trust document showing you as successor trustee or beneficiary.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, if going through probate
- Marriage certificate, if you are the surviving spouse
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-866-695-6751
Mailing address: Hancock Whitney Bank, Loan Error Resolution and Information Requests, c/o Compliance Department, 701 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70139
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 Hancock Whitney's published guidance2
- A procedure for reporting a death
- A claim form
- Hancock Whitney Bank, Loan Error Resolution and Information Requests, c/o Compliance Department, 701 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70139
- State your full name, the account number, and the information you are requesting, and ask to be recognized as a successor in interest
Required Documents
- Death certificateA certified copy.
- Government-issued photo ID, for the heir or personal representative
- Written request for loan informationSent to the Loan Error Resolution and Information Requests address.
- Proof of your ownership interest in the propertyA probated will, a court order or succession judgment, a recorded deed, or a trust document.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, if going through probate
- Marriage certificate, if you are the surviving spouse
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-877-844-4948
Mailing address: Hancock Whitney Bank, Loan Error Resolution and Information Requests, c/o Compliance Department, 701 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70139
Not in Hancock Whitney's published guidance1
- A procedure for reporting a death
Hancock Whitney's Client Services can be reached by phone at 1-800-448-8812 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Hancock Whitney primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Hancock Whitney death claims support
Client Services (estate and deceased-account claims)
Phone
Toll-free
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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