What to do when a Independent Bank account holder dies
Contact Independent Bank's IB Wealth Management (a marketing name of Cetera Investment Services) — 4-step process, 9 required documents, and 5-10 business days for initial review after document submission. pod and joint account claims may be processed more quickly.
Customer Connection Hub
Phone800-355-0641
Toll-Free800-355-0641
Mailing Address
Independent Bank, 4200 East Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
24-Hour Telephone Banking
Mortgage Department
TreasuryONE Support (Mon-Fri 8 AM - 5 PM ET)
Lost or Stolen Debit Card (24/7)
Lost or Stolen Credit Card (24/7)
WebsiteLearn more→
IB Wealth Management (a marketing name of Cetera Investment Services)
Phone800-300-0459
Emailibwealth@ibcp.com
Fax616-527-1190
Mailing Address
IB Wealth Management, 230 West Main Street, Ionia, MI 48846
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Connection Hub
Phone800-355-0641
Mailing Address
Independent Bank, 4200 East Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Verified May 2026
What happens to Independent Bank 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 Independent Bank's IB Wealth Management (a marketing name of Cetera Investment Services) (800-355-0641) to claim the funds.
The first step is contacting Independent Bank at 800-355-0641 with the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate in hand.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Independent Bank:
Filing a claim
1
Contact the Customer Connection Hub at 800-355-0641 or visit any Independent Bank branch to report the death of an account holder
2
Provide a certified copy of the death certificate and your valid government-issued photo ID
3
Follow the process based on how the account is titled:
- POD beneficiary accounts: provide death certificate and beneficiary identification to claim funds
- Joint accounts with right of survivorship: provide death certificate to remove the deceased and continue account access
- Accounts without a beneficiary: obtain Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the Michigan probate court
- Trust accounts: provide death certificate, successor trustee identification, and trust documentation showing successor trustee authority
- IRA accounts: provide death certificate, beneficiary identification, and complete IRA distribution or transfer forms
4
Submit documents and await processing:
- Submit all documents to the branch or mail to the address provided by the Customer Connection Hub
- Wait for the bank to review documents and process the claim
- Additional documentation may be requested
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 (account number, account holder name)
- For accounts without beneficiary: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from Michigan probate court
- For small estates: Michigan Small Estate Affidavit (must wait 28 days after death; available for estates meeting statutory threshold)
- For trust accounts: trust agreement pages showing successor trustee provisions and signature pages
- For trust accounts: successor trustee identification
- For IRA accounts: IRA distribution or transfer forms
- Written instructions regarding distribution preference (new account, check, or transfer)
In-branch visits are recommended for the fastest processing of estate claims. Michigan allows a Small Estate Affidavit process for qualifying estates (must wait 28 days after death). Distribution options typically include transfer to an existing account, opening a new account, or a check. Contact your local branch for the most direct assistance.
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.
1
Report the borrower's death and provide initial information:
- Call the Customer Connection Hub at 800-355-0641
- Provide the deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number, and loan number
- Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
2
Complete the Successor in Interest process:
- Request the Successor in Interest documentation packet from the mortgage servicing department
- Complete and return the documentation with proof of your ownership interest in the property (e.g., probated will, court order, deed, or trust document)
- The bank will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest
3
Once confirmed as Successor in Interest, discuss available options:
- Continue making payments on the existing loan
- Assume the loan
- Refinance or pay off the balance
4
Continue 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: probated will, court order, recorded deed, or trust document
- 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.
Expected timelines at Independent Bank: 5-10 business days for initial review after document submission. POD and joint account claims may be processed more quickly. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
Documentation required by Independent Bank includes Certified copy of the death certificate, Valid government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary, executor, or successor trustee, and Account information for the deceased (account number, account holder name), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Independent Bank cannot accelerate the loan (call the full balance due) when a residential mortgage transfers to a surviving spouse, child, relative on death, or the borrower's revocable living trust. This is a federal protection under the Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3) that applies to all residential lenders. After the borrower dies, the inheriting party should call Independent Bank's Customer Connection Hub at 800-355-0641 to begin the Successor in Interest process, submit a certified death certificate, and continue making monthly payments while the bank confirms successor status. Successor in Interest review typically takes 30-45 days.
The balance becomes part of the deceased's probate estate. The personal representative must obtain Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from a Michigan probate court before Independent Bank will release funds. For smaller estates that qualify under Michigan law (MCL 700.3982 and 700.3983), a Small Estate Affidavit may be used 28 days or more after the date of death to avoid full probate. Call the Customer Connection Hub at 800-355-0641 or visit any branch to confirm the documentation required for your specific situation.
Yes. When the original (grantor) trustee of a revocable trust dies, the successor trustee can take over the trust account by providing Independent Bank with a certified copy of the death certificate, a government-issued photo ID for the successor trustee, and trust documentation confirming the successor trustee's authority (typically the relevant pages of the trust agreement or a Certification of Trust). The bank will update account records to reflect the successor trustee. No probate proceeding is required for assets already held in trust because the trust agreement governs their disposition outside the probate estate.
No. IB Wealth Management is a marketing name of Cetera Investment Services, LLC and is not affiliated with Independent Bank for estate-settlement purposes. Cetera, not Independent Bank, holds the investment assets and processes beneficiary or estate claims for brokerage and advisory accounts. For deposit accounts (checking, savings, money market, CD, IRA) call the Customer Connection Hub at 800-355-0641. For IB Wealth Management investment accounts, call 800-300-0459 (Ionia, MI office) or email ibwealth@ibcp.com to start the beneficiary claim through Cetera.
Independent Bank's Customer Connection Hub can be reached by phone at 800-355-0641 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple Independent Bank accounts, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The IB Wealth Management (a marketing name of Cetera Investment Services) can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Customer Connection Hub
Phone800-355-0641
Toll-Free800-355-0641
Mailing Address
Independent Bank, 4200 East Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
24-Hour Telephone Banking
Mortgage Department
TreasuryONE Support (Mon-Fri 8 AM - 5 PM ET)
Lost or Stolen Debit Card (24/7)
Lost or Stolen Credit Card (24/7)
WebsiteLearn more→
IB Wealth Management (a marketing name of Cetera Investment Services)
Phone800-300-0459
Emailibwealth@ibcp.com
Fax616-527-1190
Mailing Address
IB Wealth Management, 230 West Main Street, Ionia, MI 48846
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Connection Hub
Phone800-355-0641
Mailing Address
Independent Bank, 4200 East Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Verified May 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Independent Bank accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
