What to do when a M&T Bank account holder dies

Visit an M&T Bank branch or call 1-800-724-2440 to request a Payable on Death (POD) designation form. You can name primary and contingent beneficiaries, including trusts. POD designations are available on checking, savings, money market, and CD accounts. You will need each beneficiary's full legal name, date of birth, and relationship.

Call M&T customer service at 1-800-724-2440, visit a local branch, or email EstateServices@mtb.com. You can also fax documents to 716-274-1087 or mail them to M&T Bank Estate Services, PO Box 1850, Buffalo, NY 14240. Provide the deceased's full name, date of birth, and Social Security number along with a legible copy of the death certificate with a visible seal.

Upon receipt of a valid death certificate, M&T will change the account name to "Estate of..." and restrict account activity. For accounts with POD beneficiaries, assets transfer directly to those beneficiaries without probate. For joint accounts with right of survivorship, the surviving owner retains access. For individual accounts without POD, the executor must present probate documents such as Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.

Yes. Payable on Death (POD) beneficiary designations on M&T Bank accounts take precedence over instructions in your will. Assets with POD designations transfer directly to the named beneficiaries upon proof of death, bypassing probate entirely. Keep your beneficiary designations updated whenever your circumstances change.

For POD accounts, the named beneficiary needs a government-issued photo ID and a copy of the death certificate. For accounts without POD, the estate representative needs a death certificate, government-issued ID, and court-issued Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. Small Estate Affidavits may be accepted where state law allows. If a trust is the beneficiary, trust documents are also required.