What to do when a Mission Fed account holder dies
Report the death to Mission Fed's Member Services at 1-800-500-6328
When a member of Mission Fed passes away, the Member Services handles the transition of accounts to beneficiaries or the estate. Accounts with Payable on Death designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate, while solely-owned accounts may require Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Mission Fed:
Filing a claim
- Payable-on-death beneficiary: the death certificate and your ID are enough to claim the funds directly
- Executor or administrator: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
- Small estate with no beneficiary and no surviving owner: a small estate affidavit, handed to Mission Fed directly
- Successor trustee of a Formal Trust Account: a new Certification of Trust and a certified death certificate for the deceased trustee
- IRA beneficiary: the IRA beneficiary claim and distribution election forms, obtained from Mission Fed
- Payable-on-death beneficiary: request distribution of the account funds
- Surviving joint owner: bring a copy of the death certificate, and confirm what Mission Fed needs to move the account into your name
- Executor or administrator: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
- Small estate: the small estate affidavit
- Successor trustee: a new Certification of Trust plus the certified death certificate of the deceased trustee
- A copy of the death certificate
- The legal document for your role: Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, a small estate affidavit, or a new Certification of Trust
- A copy of your government-issued photo ID
- A cover letter with the deceased member's name, the account number, and your name, mailing address and phone number
Required Documents
- Copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the claimant, beneficiary, surviving joint owner, executor, administrator or successor trustee
- The deceased member's account or membership number, if known
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, for an estate with no payable-on-death beneficiary or surviving owner
- Small estate affidavit for collection of personal property, for a small estate with no payable-on-death beneficiary or surviving ownerFurnished directly to Mission Fed.
- New Certification of Trust and a certified death certificate for the deceased trustee, for a Formal Trust Account
- Notarized letter of resignation, for a Formal Trust Account, from a trustee who is resigning rather than deceased
- IRA beneficiary claim and distribution election forms, for an IRAObtained from Mission Fed.
Forms Mission Fed issues1
- IRA beneficiary claim and distribution election forms
Completed by the IRA beneficiary. Sent by the institution on request.1
What happens to each kind of account5
- Account in one name
With no beneficiary and no surviving owner, the funds go to the estate. They are released on Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, or for a small estate on a small estate affidavit.1
- Payable-on-death account
Mission Fed calls a payable-on-death account an "Informal Trust Account". The beneficiary presents the death certificate and photo ID to claim the funds directly.1
- Joint account with survivorship
All Mission Fed shares are held in joint tenancy with right of survivorship, so ownership passes to the surviving owners on the death certificate. Removing a joint owner who has died does not require closing the membership, as removing a living joint owner does.2
- Trust account
On a Formal Trust Account, the successor trustee produces a certified death certificate for the deceased trustee and a new Certification of Trust. A trustee who resigns rather than dies gives a notarized letter of resignation.2
- Rewards
Under the Mission Rewards terms, "Points are not the property of the cardholder, and cannot be bought, sold or transferred in any way (including upon death or as part of a domestic relations matter)". The program may be terminated where "the last Cardholder on the account is deceased".3
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- CMFG Life Insurance Company
Claims on the TruStage Accidental Death & Dismemberment coverage made available to members1
What Mission Fed provides to the estate1
- Statement copies
Statement copies are $3.00 each. The first two member check copies a month are free "within prior 7 years", then $3.00 each, and research is billed at $25.00 per hour.4
What Mission Fed's agreement and guidance say5
- Debts owed to the institution
By signing the membership card, the member gives Mission Fed a consensual and statutory lien on all share accounts for any obligation owed to it. On default the funds may be applied to the debt "without notice or legal process", so a loan, credit card or line of credit balance can be paid from the deposits first.2
Certificate funds applied this way remain "subject to an early withdrawal penalty". Retirement accounts are excluded from the lien on shares, and the security interest in collateral "does not apply to loans secured by your primary residence".2
- Disputes between claimants
If Mission Fed believes there is a dispute about ownership or control of an account, it may hold the funds until it receives a court order and/or instructions signed and notarized by every person claiming an interest. It may withhold payment "until proper evidence of authority is provided".2
- Dormant and unclaimed accounts
An account under $100 with no activity for 12 months is treated as inactive and may be charged a monthly fee. After three years with no deposit, withdrawal or contact, the balance is remitted to the California State Controller.2
The Consumer Fee Schedule lists an Escheat Notification fee of $2.00.4
- Fees
The Consumer Fee Schedule charges $75.00 for Legal Processing, $25.00 per hour plus actual retrieval costs for Research, and $25.00 per hour with a $12.50 minimum for Statement Reconciliation.4
- Which state governs the account
The agreement is governed by California law, and all litigation and arbitration is held in the County of San Diego. An action to enforce a right under the agreement must be commenced within one year after the cause of action accrues.2
Not in Mission Fed's published guidance5
- A procedure for reporting a death
- How long a claim takes
- Whether the death certificate must be certified
- Payments after the death
- Deposits after the death
Sources4
- 1.Locations
- 2.Account Agreement and Disclosures, revision AA-D-3/25
- 3.Mission Rewards Program Terms and Conditions, MR-TC-10/23
- 4.Consumer Fee Schedule, dated 9/1/2026
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.
- The deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number and loan number
- A copy of the death certificate
- Continue making payments on the existing loan
- Assume the loan
- Refinance in your own name
- Pay off the remaining balance
Required Documents
- Copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Documentation proving ownership interest in the propertyA probated will, a court order, a recorded deed, or a trust document showing you as successor trustee or beneficiary.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, if the estate is in probate
- Marriage certificate, if you are the surviving spouse
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
What Mission Fed's agreement and guidance say2
- Debts owed to the institution
Under the Account Agreement, the security interest in collateral "does not apply to loans secured by your primary residence", so the home loan is outside the lien on the member's deposits. Any other Mission Fed debt can still be taken out of the share accounts before heirs are paid.1
- Fees
The Consumer Fee Schedule carries a Legal Processing fee of $75.00 and a Research fee of $25.00 per hour.2
Not in Mission Fed's published guidance2
- A claim form
- How long a claim takes
Sources2
- 1.Account Agreement and Disclosures, revision AA-D-3/25
- 2.Consumer Fee Schedule
Mission Fed's Member Services can be reached by phone at 1-800-500-6328 and email at membercare@missionfed.com for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Mission Fed primary sources (18 pages reviewed). How we research.
Mission Fed death claims support
Member Services
Phone
Toll-free
Local and outside the USA
TruStage AD&D claims (CMFG Life Insurance Company)
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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