What to do when a MVB Bank account holder dies
Report the death to MVB Bank's MVB Client Support at 1-844-682-2265
When an account holder at MVB Bank passes away, the next step depends on how the accounts were set up. Accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate. Accounts titled solely in the deceased's name require the estate's legal representative to work with MVB Bank's MVB Client Support (1-844-682-2265) to access and distribute the funds.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at MVB Bank:
Filing a claim
- A written message can also go through the secure Message tab in MVB Digital Banking
- MVB has no separate bereavement or estate unit; Client Support handles the accounts
- Accounts held through a fintech partner, such as Credit Karma Money, are serviced by the partner. MVB Client Support cannot access them
- Six are in West Virginia and one is at 12100 Sunset Hills Road Suite R13, Reston, VA
- The four MVB operations offices are not banking centers and do not take claims
What happens to each kind of account6
- Payable-on-death account
A payable-on-death or "in trust for" beneficiary presents a certified death certificate and photo ID, and is generally paid once they are verified at a banking center.1
- Joint account with survivorship
A surviving joint owner is generally paid once a certified death certificate and photo ID are verified at a banking center.1
- Trust account
The successor trustee presents the trust agreement or Certificate of Trust, a certified death certificate and photo ID. The account is released once the successor trustee produces the trust documents.1
- Account in one name
An account with no designation is paid to the personal representative on Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, or, for a small estate, on the West Virginia certificate and authorization or the Virginia small estate affidavit.1
- IRA
The named beneficiary completes MVB's retirement distribution paperwork and provides a certified death certificate.1
- Safe deposit box
Two MVB checking accounts carry box benefits: Service First Checking includes a small box and 55 and Better Checking carries a 50% discount. No box inventory appears on any statement.1
MVB charges $25.00 for a lost key and $165.00 to drill a box.2
State law on paying a balance without lettersWest Virginia
- West Virginia
W. Va. Code § 44-1-28(c), (d)
West Virginia law permits a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on an affidavit, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.W. Va. Code § 44-1-28(c), (d)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Limit: $5,000 per account
When: 120 days after the death
Paid to: the decedent’s surviving spouse, if any; if no spouse survived the decedent, the distributees of the decedent under the laws of the State of West Virginia, as established by an affidavit to that effect (in that order)
The section permits the payment. It does not require the bank to make it. The section sets further conditions.
Accounts handled elsewhere2
- Credit Karma
Credit Karma Money and other partner deposits MVB holds in For Benefit Of accounts1
Phone: 1-888-236-5798
- MVB Mortgage (Intercoastal Mortgage, LLC)
MVB Mortgage home loans, serviced by the mortgage company rather than the bank1
What MVB Bank's agreement and guidance say3
- Fees
Overdraft and NSF fees are $36.00 per item, capped at six fees per day, and a stop payment is $36.00. A returned mail fee of $10.00 a month applies; MVB does not use USPS mail forwarding, so the executor's address goes to MVB in writing.2
MVB charges $25.00 per hour for statement and account research and $5.00 for each check copy beyond three.2
- Payments after the death
MVB describes Overdraft Shield as a discretionary, non-contractual courtesy, and an account owner may ask at any time for an account to be excluded from it. Where checking is linked to a savings account or line of credit, money moves from the linked account before Overdraft Shield applies.3
A stop payment order on a check is effective for six months and may be renewed for further six-month periods by written request made while the order is still effective. An estate open past six months renews in writing, or the item can be paid.4
- Dormant and unclaimed accounts
A dormant account fee of $10.00 a month is charged on checking after 12 months of inactivity and on savings or money market after 24 months, with no fee at a balance of $5,000 or greater.2
Not in MVB Bank's published guidance8
- A procedure for reporting a death
- A claim form
- A list of required documents
- A fax number for claim documents
- An email address for claim documents
- A mailing address for claim documents
- How long a claim takes
- Terms in its agreements for a customer's death
Sources4
- 1.Contact Us
- 2.MVB Bank, Inc. Fee Schedule
- 3.Overdrafts
- 4.Stop Payment Terms and Conditions
MVB Bank's MVB Client Support can be reached by phone at 1-844-682-2265 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from MVB Bank primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
MVB Bank death claims support
MVB Client Support (decedent accounts)
Phone
Toll-free
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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