What to do when a Huntington account holder dies
Contact Huntington's Personal Trust and Estate Services — 7-step process, 7 required documents, and varies by account type; pod and joint account claims typically processed within 1-2 weeks; probate-dependent claims may take longer
Huntington National Bank, PO Box 1558, Columbus, OH 43272-4195
Personal Trust and Estate Services
Huntington National Bank, Attn: Transfer Desk, 7 Easton Oval, EA4E77, Columbus, OH 43219
Death Claims
Huntington Customer Service Center (EA5C42), P.O. Box 1558, Columbus, OH 43216
What happens to Huntington accounts after the account holder dies depends on how each account was titled. Beneficiary-designated and trust-owned accounts transfer directly. Accounts in the deceased's name alone go through the estate, and the executor or administrator works with Huntington's Death Claims (1-800-480-2265) to claim the funds.
Before contacting Huntington, have the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any available account numbers ready. A certified death certificate is required to initiate the claim.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Huntington:
Filing a claim
- POD accounts: named beneficiary presents valid government-issued ID, certified death certificate, and completes claim form provided by Huntington
- Joint accounts with right of survivorship: surviving owner retains access after providing death certificate
- Non-POD individual accounts: executor or administrator provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
- Trust accounts: successor trustee provides death certificate, trust documentation, and trustee ID
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for beneficiary, executor, or successor trustee
- Completed claim form (provided by Huntington)
- Any necessary tax releases or inheritance-tax waivers required by the decedent's state (per the Consumer Deposit Account Agreement)
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD, joint ownership, or trust)
- Trust documents and successor trustee certification (if trust is owner or beneficiary)
- Small Estate Affidavit (if eligible under state law)
What to know at this institution
Per the Consumer Deposit Account Agreement (effective March 15, 2026), on the death of an account owner (or of all joint owners) Huntington pays the balance to the then-living designated POD beneficiary or beneficiaries -- in equal shares unless the records specify otherwise -- but only after it is "furnished with adequate proof of death, any necessary tax releases and proper identification," and it may first deduct any amounts owed to the bank. The "necessary tax releases" requirement means a state inheritance-tax waiver (e.g., New Jersey Form L-8, Pennsylvania) may be required before funds are released in states that impose one. If you do not have all account details, Huntington can help locate accounts using the deceased's Social Security number. Online banking access is suspended upon notification of the account holder's death.
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.
- Include a statement that you are or may be a successor in interest
- Identify the borrower and loan number
- Proof of your ownership interest in the property (e.g., probated will, court order, deed, or trust document)
- Huntington will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest
- Continue making payments on the existing loan
- Apply for loss mitigation
- Assume the loan or refinance
- Pay off the balance
- If experiencing payment hardship, contact Mortgage Payment Assistance at 1-800-323-9865
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Written request identifying you as a potential Successor in Interest with borrower name and loan number
- 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)
What to know at this institution
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), Huntington 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. Confirmed Successors in Interest are treated as borrowers under CFPB mortgage servicing rules. Successor in Interest written requests: P.O. Box 340996, Columbus, OH 43234. Mortgage Customer Service: 1-800-323-4695 (M-F 8am-8pm ET, Sat 8am-2pm ET). Mortgage Payment Assistance: 1-800-323-9865 (M-F 8am-9pm ET, Sat 8am-1pm ET). Mortgage Online Support: 1-877-932-2265 (Daily 7am-7pm ET). Mortgage applications: 1-800-562-6871 (M-F 8am-7pm ET, Sat 8am-2pm ET).
Prepare your letter of instruction to Huntington
Huntington accepts a claimant-drafted letter of instruction. We draft it for you — addressed to Huntington's verified claims department, with the documents it requires enclosed.
Build your letter of instructionOpening an account for the estate itself
Checks made out to the estate deposit into an account titled to the estate, opened by the appointed executor or administrator under the estate's EIN.
How to open an estate account at Huntington →Processing timelines at Huntington: Varies by account type; POD and joint account claims typically processed within 1-2 weeks; probate-dependent claims 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.
Huntington requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for beneficiary, executor, or successor trustee, and Completed claim form (provided by Huntington), 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
Notify Huntington Bank by visiting a branch or calling 1-800-480-2265 (daily 7am-8pm ET). Individual accounts are frozen and automatic payments stopped. The process depends on account type: POD accounts pay directly to the named beneficiary upon presentation of a death certificate and ID. Joint accounts with right of survivorship pass to the surviving owner. Individual accounts without POD or joint ownership require Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration through probate. Trust accounts are handled by the successor trustee with trust documentation.
No. All legacy TCF Financial accounts were converted to Huntington systems in late 2021 following the June 2021 acquisition. If statements or checks still show the TCF name, the underlying account is now a Huntington account and should be reported through Huntington's standard death-claim process: call 1-800-480-2265 or visit any Huntington branch with a certified death certificate. The account number on the most recent statement is sufficient even if the branding looks dated.
Yes. Huntington applies the small-estate-affidavit rules of the state where the account holder resided, and those thresholds vary widely across its 21-state footprint. Ohio (where many Huntington estates are administered) recognizes a small-estate procedure for estates up to $35,000, or up to $100,000 if the surviving spouse inherits everything. Michigan's small-estate threshold is around $27,000 (adjusted annually for inflation). Pennsylvania allows the procedure for estates up to $50,000. Bring the death certificate, the completed state-specific small-estate affidavit, and a government-issued ID to any branch -- Huntington will not pre-fill the affidavit but will release funds once it is presented.
Report the death through Huntington's standard process: call 1-800-480-2265 or visit any Huntington branch with a certified death certificate and your government-issued ID. Huntington acquired Veritex Holdings (closed October 20, 2025; legacy systems converted January 20, 2026) and Cadence Bank (completed February 1, 2026). Former Veritex accounts are already on Huntington systems. Cadence customers continue banking at their existing branches for now, with account conversion to Huntington systems expected in mid-2026; until conversion completes, confirm with the representative whether the claim is handled on Cadence or Huntington systems. The account number on the most recent statement is sufficient even if the statement still carries the Veritex or Cadence name. The applicable small-estate-affidavit rules follow the state where the account holder resided.
Huntington's Death Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-480-2265 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple Huntington accounts, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Death Claims can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Sources
Data sourced from Huntington primary sources (21 pages reviewed). How we research.
Huntington National Bank, PO Box 1558, Columbus, OH 43272-4195
Personal Trust and Estate Services
Huntington National Bank, Attn: Transfer Desk, 7 Easton Oval, EA4E77, Columbus, OH 43219
Death Claims
Huntington Customer Service Center (EA5C42), P.O. Box 1558, Columbus, OH 43216
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