What to do when a Mountain America account holder dies
Contact Mountain America's Member Services — 9-step process, 6 required documents, and pod and joint accounts: typically 5-10 business days after complete documentation. accounts requiring probate: varies by state court timelines.
Member Services
Phone1-800-748-4302
Toll-Free1-800-748-4302
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 2331, Sandy, UT 84091
Member Services
Phone1-800-748-4302
Mailing Address
Mountain America Credit Union, P.O. Box 2331, Sandy, UT 84091
Verified Mar 2026
When a Mountain America member 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.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting Mountain America. A certified death certificate is the primary document required to start any claim.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Mountain America:
Filing a claim
1Notify Mountain America of the death by calling 800-748-4302 or visiting a branch
2Provide the deceased member's full name, date of birth, Social Security number, and date of death
3Submit a certified copy of the death certificate to a branch or by mail
4For POD accounts: beneficiary provides government-issued ID and completes claim paperwork at a branch
5For joint accounts with right of survivorship: surviving joint owner retains access; death certificate still required for record update
6For accounts without POD or joint owner: executor or administrator provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from probate court
7For trust accounts: successor trustee provides trust documents, death certificate, and trustee ID
8Mountain America reviews documentation and releases funds per designation or estate instructions
9Any outstanding obligations owed to the credit union are satisfied before fund disbursement per the Membership Agreement
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for claimant (beneficiary, executor, or trustee)
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD or joint owner)
- Small Estate Affidavit (if estate qualifies under state law)
- Trust documents and successor trustee identification (if trust is involved)
- Proof of relationship to deceased (may be required)
Upon the death of an individual account holder, all funds on deposit are paid according to express instructions in the Membership Application (such as POD beneficiary). If no beneficiary is designated, funds are paid to the estate of the account holder. Payment of any sums to a joint owner, beneficiary, or other party is subject to payment of all outstanding obligations owed to the credit union. Life insurance benefits linked to accounts through TruStage/CUNA Mutual should be claimed separately.
Processing timelines at Mountain America: POD and joint accounts: typically 5-10 business days after complete documentation. Accounts requiring probate: varies by state court timelines.. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Mountain America requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for claimant (beneficiary, executor, or trustee), and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD or joint owner), 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
Visit a Mountain America branch with your government-issued photo ID and request a Payable on Death (POD) beneficiary designation form. You can name primary and contingent beneficiaries, including trusts. You can also call 800-748-4302 to request a form by mail. Changes must be signed by all living account owners. Beneficiary designations cannot currently be managed through online banking.
If the account has a POD beneficiary, funds are paid directly to the named beneficiary upon presentation of a death certificate and ID. For joint accounts with right of survivorship, the surviving owner retains access. If there is no POD designation or joint owner, funds are paid to the estate of the account holder and may require probate. Any outstanding credit union obligations are satisfied before disbursement per the Membership Agreement.
At minimum, you need a certified death certificate and government-issued photo ID. POD beneficiaries complete claim paperwork at a branch. If the account goes through probate, you need Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. For trust accounts, the successor trustee needs the trust documents and trustee identification. A Small Estate Affidavit may apply if the estate qualifies under state law.
Mountain America's Member Services can be reached by phone at 1-800-748-4302 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Mountain America accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Member Services can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Member Services
Phone1-800-748-4302
Toll-Free1-800-748-4302
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 2331, Sandy, UT 84091
Member Services
Phone1-800-748-4302
Mailing Address
Mountain America Credit Union, P.O. Box 2331, Sandy, UT 84091
Verified Mar 2026
Tools for settling a Mountain America estate
Calculators and checklists to help navigate estate settlement after a Mountain America account holder passes away.
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