What to do when a M&T Bank account holder dies
Contact M&T Bank's Estate Administration Services / Wilmington Trust — 6-step process, 5 required documents, and varies based on account type, documentation, and state probate requirements
Customer Service
Phone1-800-724-2440
Toll-Free1-800-724-2440
Fax(716) 274-1087
Mailing Address
PO Box 1850, Buffalo, NY 14240
Estate Administration Services / Wilmington Trust
Phone1-800-982-4620
Toll-Free1-800-724-2440
Fax(716) 274-1087
Mailing Address
PO Box 1850, Buffalo, NY 14240
WebsiteLearn more→
Estate Services
Phone1-800-724-2440
Fax(716) 274-1087
Mailing Address
M&T Bank Estate Services, PO Box 1850, Buffalo, NY 14240
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
What happens to M&T 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 M&T Bank's Estate Administration Services / Wilmington Trust (1-800-724-2440) to claim the funds.
Death claims at M&T Bank can be started through an online portal, which streamlines the initial notification and document upload. Phone and mail options are also available.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what M&T Bank requires:
Filing a claim
1
Contact M&T Bank at 1-800-724-2440, visit a local branch, or email EstateServices@mtb.com to notify of the death
2
Provide initial identification for the deceased account holder:
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Social Security number
3
Submit a legible copy of the death certificate with a visible seal
4
Upon receipt, M&T will update the account name to "Estate of..." and restrict account activity
5
Claim process varies by account type:
- POD accounts: named beneficiary provides government-issued ID to claim funds directly
- Joint accounts with right of survivorship: surviving owner retains full account access
- Non-POD individual accounts: provide Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, or Small Estate Affidavit as applicable
6
M&T communicates with the appointed estate representative to identify options and assist with disbursements
Required Documents
- Legible copy of death certificate with visible seal (obituary or newspaper notice may serve as initial proof)
- Government-issued ID for beneficiary or estate representative
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD designation)
- Small Estate Affidavit (where applicable under state law)
- Trust documents (if a trust is the named beneficiary)
Court and probate documents vary by state and estate size. Legal Document Processing (for overnight/in-person delivery): 626 Commerce Drive, Amherst, NY 14228. Legal Document Processing (USPS): P.O. Box 844, Buffalo, NY 14240-0844.
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
Notify M&T Bank of the borrower's death by calling the Mortgage Department at 1-800-724-2224 or visiting a local branch
2
Submit required documentation to M&T Bank:
- Send a legible copy of the death certificate with a visible seal
- Submit letters or legal documents appointing the representative(s) of the estate
- If the deceased left a will, provide a copy of the probated will reflecting the named beneficiary(ies) of the property with any necessary seals visible
- If property was held in a trust, provide the trust document identifying the entitled party(ies)
- Documentation proving familial relationship to the deceased may be required (marriage or birth certificate)
3
Upon receipt, M&T will update the account name to "Estate of..." and restrict account activity
4
M&T will review documentation to confirm your status as a Successor in Interest
5
Once confirmed as Successor in Interest, discuss available options:
- Continue making payments on the existing loan
- Apply for loss mitigation or repayment assistance
- Assume the loan (complete and return the Customer Information Form and W-9 form)
- Refinance the mortgage
- Pay off the remaining balance
6
Continue making monthly mortgage payments during the review process to avoid default
Required Documents
- Legible copy of the death certificate with visible seal
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if applicable)
- Copy of the probated will reflecting named beneficiary(ies) of the property
- Trust document identifying entitled party(ies) (if property held in trust)
- Copy of the deed showing transfer of property to the beneficiary(ies) (if applicable)
- Marriage certificate or birth certificate (to prove familial relationship)
- Customer Information Form and W-9 (if assuming the loan)
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), M&T Bank 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 and are entitled to account information, loss mitigation options, and assumption rights. Legal Document Processing (overnight/in-person): 626 Commerce Drive, Amherst, NY 14228. Legal Document Processing (USPS): P.O. Box 844, Buffalo, NY 14240-0844. Estate Services email: EstateServices@mtb.com.
Expected timelines at M&T Bank: Varies based on account type, documentation, and state probate requirements. 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 M&T Bank includes Legible copy of death certificate with visible seal (obituary or newspaper notice may serve as initial proof), Government-issued ID for beneficiary or estate representative, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD designation), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
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. M&T Bank allows a trust to be named as a Payable on Death (POD) beneficiary on deposit accounts including checking, savings, money market, and CD accounts. To do so, provide the trust name, date established, and Employer Identification Number (EIN) when completing the POD designation form at a branch or by calling 1-800-724-2440. POD designations pass account funds directly to the named beneficiary or trust at death, outside of probate.
M&T Bank's Estate Services can be reached by phone at 1-800-724-2440, email at EstateServices@mtb.com, and fax at (716) 274-1087 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple M&T Bank accounts, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Estate Administration Services / Wilmington Trust can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Customer Service
Phone1-800-724-2440
Toll-Free1-800-724-2440
Fax(716) 274-1087
Mailing Address
PO Box 1850, Buffalo, NY 14240
Estate Administration Services / Wilmington Trust
Phone1-800-982-4620
Toll-Free1-800-724-2440
Fax(716) 274-1087
Mailing Address
PO Box 1850, Buffalo, NY 14240
WebsiteLearn more→
Estate Services
Phone1-800-724-2440
Fax(716) 274-1087
Mailing Address
M&T Bank Estate Services, PO Box 1850, Buffalo, NY 14240
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
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