What to do when a HTLF Bank account holder dies
Contact HTLF Bank — 9-step process, 7 required documents, and 10-15 business days after receipt of complete documentation. processing times may vary based on account type and state-specific probate requirements.
Customer Service
Phone1-800-821-5184
Mailing Address
UMB Bank, n.a., 1010 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64106
WebsiteLearn more →
Customer Service
Phone1-800-821-5184
Mailing Address
UMB Bank, n.a., 1010 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64106
WebsiteLearn more →
Death Claims / Estate Services
Phone1-800-821-5184
Toll-Free1-800-821-5184
Mailing Address
UMB Bank, n.a., 1010 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64106
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
When a HTLF 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 HTLF Bank's Death Claims / Estate Services (1-800-821-5184) to access and distribute the funds.
HTLF Bank provides an online portal for initiating death claims, which can simplify the initial notification and document submission process. Claims can also be started by phone or by mailing the required documents.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at HTLF Bank:
Filing a claim
1Contact UMB Bank customer service at 1-800-821-5184 or visit a local branch to report the death
2Provide the deceased account holder's full legal name, Social Security number, and account numbers if known
3Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
4For accounts with POD beneficiary: provide beneficiary identification and the death certificate for direct distribution
5For joint accounts with right of survivorship: provide the death certificate to have the account transferred to the surviving owner
6For accounts without beneficiary: obtain probate documents, letters testamentary, or small estate affidavit as required by state law
7For trust accounts: provide the death certificate, trust documentation, and successor trustee identification
8For IRA accounts: provide the death certificate, beneficiary identification, and complete any required distribution forms
9The bank will review documentation and process the claim; additional forms may be required depending on account type
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Valid government-issued photo identification for the beneficiary, executor, or successor trustee
- Account information for the deceased (account numbers, if known)
- For accounts without beneficiary: letters testamentary, letters of administration, or small estate affidavit (varies by state)
- For trust accounts: trust documentation including successor trustee provisions, signature pages, and any amendments
- For IRA accounts: IRA distribution or transfer forms as provided by the bank
- Written instructions for distribution preference (new account, transfer, or check)
All former HTLF subsidiary bank accounts (Dubuque Bank & Trust, Citywide Banks, Rocky Mountain Bank, Illinois Bank & Trust, Wisconsin Bank & Trust, etc.) are now serviced by UMB Bank. In-branch visits are recommended for faster processing. Additional documentation may be required depending on the specific circumstances of each estate.
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.
1Notify UMB Bank of the borrower's death by calling customer service at 1-800-821-5184
2Provide the deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number, and loan number
3Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
4Request the Successor in Interest documentation packet from the mortgage servicing department
5Complete and return the Successor in Interest documentation with proof of your ownership interest in the property (e.g., probated will, court order, deed, or trust document)
6The bank will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest
7Once confirmed, you will have access to loan information and can discuss options: continue making payments, apply for loss mitigation, assume the loan, refinance, or pay off the balance
8Continue 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
- Completed Successor in Interest documentation (obtained from mortgage servicing)
- Documentation proving ownership interest in the property (one or more of the following): probated will naming you as heir, court order of succession, recorded deed transferring ownership, trust document showing you as successor trustee or beneficiary
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if going through probate)
- Marriage certificate (if surviving spouse)
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), the lender 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. Former HTLF and PrimeWest Mortgage customers have been transitioned to UMB Bank servicing.
Processing timelines at HTLF Bank: 10-15 business days after receipt of complete documentation. Processing times may vary based on account type and state-specific probate requirements.. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
HTLF Bank requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified copy of the death certificate, Valid government-issued photo identification for the beneficiary, executor, or successor trustee, and Account information for the deceased (account numbers, if known), 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
Log in to UMB Online Banking at umb.com and navigate to beneficiary management, or visit your nearest UMB Bank branch. You can add POD (Payable on Death) beneficiaries to checking, savings, money market, and time deposit (CD) accounts. Provide the beneficiary full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship. For IRA accounts, contact your branch or call customer service at 1-800-821-5184 to complete a beneficiary designation form.
Contact UMB Bank customer service at 1-800-821-5184 or visit your nearest branch. You will need a certified copy of the death certificate and valid government-issued identification for the claimant. The bank will provide instructions based on the account type (POD, joint, trust, IRA, or individual). Additional documents such as letters testamentary, letter of administration, or a small estate affidavit may be required depending on the circumstances. In-branch visits are recommended for faster processing.
HTLF Bank's Death Claims / Estate Services can be reached by phone at 1-800-821-5184 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple HTLF Bank accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Death Claims / Estate Services can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Customer Service
Phone1-800-821-5184
Mailing Address
UMB Bank, n.a., 1010 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64106
WebsiteLearn more →
Customer Service
Phone1-800-821-5184
Mailing Address
UMB Bank, n.a., 1010 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64106
WebsiteLearn more →
Death Claims / Estate Services
Phone1-800-821-5184
Toll-Free1-800-821-5184
Mailing Address
UMB Bank, n.a., 1010 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64106
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
Tools for settling a HTLF Bank estate
Calculators and checklists to help navigate estate settlement after a HTLF Bank account holder passes away.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Get a personalized checklist for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.
Get Checklist
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.
Use Calculator
How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Calculate how much an executor (personal representative) can charge for administering an estate. See if your state has statutory fees or uses reasonable compensation.
Use Calculator
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need based on the assets and accounts you need to close. See state-specific ordering information.
Use Calculator
Do I Need Probate?
Answer a few questions to find out if an estate needs full probate, qualifies for simplified probate, or can avoid probate entirely with a small estate affidavit.
Check Now
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
Use Calculator