What to do when a Navigant CU account holder dies
Contact Navigant CU — 9-step process, 6 required documents, and processing time varies by account type and complexity. pod and totten trust accounts typically process faster than probate-dependent accounts. contact navigant for specific timelines.
Phone(401) 233-4700
Mailing Address
Navigant Credit Union, 1005 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917
Telephone Banking
Credit Card Support
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone(401) 233-4700
Mailing Address
Navigant Credit Union, 1005 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917
Telephone Banking
Credit Card Support
WebsiteLearn more →
Death Claims
Phone(401) 233-4700
Fax(401) 233-4715
Mailing Address
Navigant Credit Union, 1005 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917
Verified Mar 2026
When a Navigant CU member passes away, the Death Claims 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.
The claim process begins with a phone call to (401) 233-4700. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate available when making initial contact.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Navigant CU:
Filing a claim
1Contact Navigant Credit Union by phone at 401-233-4700 or visit any branch location
2Obtain a certified death certificate from the funeral home or Rhode Island Department of Health
3For joint accounts with right of survivorship: the surviving owner retains access to the account
4For POD/Totten Trust accounts: beneficiaries present a death certificate and government-issued ID matching the beneficiary designation to claim funds
5For accounts without POD or joint ownership: provide Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the Rhode Island Probate Court
6For small estates: inquire about Rhode Island small estate affidavit procedures (R.I. Gen. Laws 33-24)
7Complete any required claim forms provided by Navigant
8Submit all documents in person at a branch or by mail
9Navigant reviews documentation and processes the account settlement
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for claimant
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if probate required)
- Small estate affidavit (if applicable under Rhode Island law)
- Trust documentation (if successor trustee is claiming trust accounts)
- IRA beneficiary distribution forms (for retirement accounts)
Account types addressed in the death claim process include individual accounts, joint accounts with right of survivorship, POD accounts, Totten Trust accounts, trust accounts, and IRA accounts. For IRA beneficiary claims, separate distribution paperwork is required per the IRA agreement. Navigant may require additional documentation depending on the specific circumstances of the estate.
Processing timelines at Navigant CU: Processing time varies by account type and complexity. POD and Totten Trust accounts typically process faster than probate-dependent accounts. Contact Navigant for specific timelines.. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Navigant CU requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for claimant, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if probate required), 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
Navigant Credit Union offers Payable on Death (POD) and Totten Trust beneficiary designations on deposit accounts. Visit any of Navigant's 25 branches, call 401-233-4700, or request a form by mail. Provide the full legal name and residential address of each beneficiary. The beneficiary has no access to the account until the death of all account owners. IRA accounts use a separate beneficiary designation process.
Both POD accounts and Totten Trust accounts allow funds to pass directly to named beneficiaries without probate upon the death of all account owners. A Totten Trust account is established without a formal trust document -- Navigant requires only the beneficiary's name and residential address. In both cases, beneficiaries have no interest in or access to the account while the owner is living. Upon the death of the last surviving owner, funds are disbursed to then-living beneficiaries in equal shares.
Contact Navigant Credit Union at 401-233-4700 or visit any branch. You will need a certified death certificate and additional documents depending on the account type. For joint accounts with right of survivorship, the surviving owner retains access. For POD or Totten Trust accounts, beneficiaries present a death certificate and matching ID to claim funds. For accounts requiring probate, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the court are needed.
Navigant CU's Death Claims can be reached by phone at (401) 233-4700 and fax at (401) 233-4715 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Navigant CU accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Death Claims can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Phone(401) 233-4700
Mailing Address
Navigant Credit Union, 1005 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917
Telephone Banking
Credit Card Support
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone(401) 233-4700
Mailing Address
Navigant Credit Union, 1005 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917
Telephone Banking
Credit Card Support
WebsiteLearn more →
Death Claims
Phone(401) 233-4700
Fax(401) 233-4715
Mailing Address
Navigant Credit Union, 1005 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917
Verified Mar 2026
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