What to do when a NBH Bank account holder dies
Report the death to NBH Bank at 1-877-877-0395
When an account holder at NBH 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 NBH Bank (1-877-877-0395) to access and distribute the funds.
Begin by calling NBH Bank at 1-877-877-0395. You will need the deceased's full name, account numbers, and the death certificate to get the process started.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
The death claim process at NBH Bank works as follows:
Filing a claim
- Community Banks of Colorado: 877.877.0395
- Bank Midwest: 800.867.2265
- Vista Bank, including former Hillcrest Bank accounts: 877.888.4782
- Bank of Jackson Hole: 877.877.0397
Required Documents
- Written notice of the death, from any account holder, deposit account owner or authorized signer
- Documents and authorizations confirming the authority of the person acting, on an estate or other fiduciary accountThe bank may require "such documents and authorizations as we may deem necessary or appropriate," at opening and afterward.
- Copy of the trust agreement, for a formal trust account
- Trustee affidavit, for a formal trust account, if the bank requests one
What happens to each kind of account5
- Joint account with survivorship
All joint account holders are joint tenants with right of survivorship by the bank's policy, so a deceased owner's interest "will immediately pass to the other joint Account Holder(s)".1
- Payable-on-death account
A P.O.D. account is owned by the surviving P.O.D. payees, in equal shares unless the account records state otherwise. With no surviving payee, state law determines ownership.1
A Totten Trust Account is owned by the named beneficiary or beneficiaries when the last trustee dies.1
- Trust account
On a Formal Trust Account, the trustees act under the written trust agreement. The bank may request a copy of it and a trustee affidavit.1
- Fiduciary account
On an estate or other fiduciary account, the bank may require "such documents and authorizations as we may deem necessary or appropriate" to confirm the authority of the person withdrawing funds, at opening and afterward.1
- Certificate of deposit
When an owner dies, the bank "may allow" withdrawal before maturity without an early withdrawal penalty.1
State law on paying a balance without lettersFlorida, New Mexico, Texas
- Florida
Fla. Stat. § 735.303
Florida law permits a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on an affidavit made under oath, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.Fla. Stat. § 735.303Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Paid to: family member (surviving spouse; else adult child; else adult descendant; else parent)
Limit: $2,000 held at the institution and $2,000 in total from every holder
When: not earlier than 6 months after the date of the decedent’s death
The section permits the payment. It does not require the bank to make it. The section sets further conditions.
- New Mexico
NMSA 1978 § 58-1-8
New Mexico law permits a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on proof the institution accepts, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.NMSA 1978 § 58-1-8Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Limit: $2,000 held at the institution
Paid to: the surviving spouse; the surviving next of kin, of the closest degree of lineal consanguinity (in that order)
The section permits the payment. It does not require the bank to make it. The section sets further conditions.
- Texas
Tex. Est. Code § 152.051
Texas law permits a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on an order of the court, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.Tex. Est. Code § 152.051Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Paid to: a funeral home or the applicant, for funeral and burial expenses
Limit: $5,000 in total from every holder
When: the application may be filed "not earlier than the third day after the date of the decedent's death and not later than nine months after the date of the decedent's death"
The section permits the payment. It does not require the bank to make it. The section sets further conditions.
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- Trust and Wealth Department of Bank of Jackson Hole
Accounts administered by the Trust and Wealth Department2
Phone: 1-307-732-3071
What NBH Bank's agreement and guidance say1
- Accounts from a merged institution
Vista Bank clients who opened accounts before July 27, 2026 and have not signed a new signature card may hold an "Alternative Joint Account": a multiple-party account without right of survivorship, where a deceased owner's share passes to the P.O.D. beneficiaries.1
Those Vista Bank clients may also hold a community property account, whose ownership after death "is determined solely by applicable state law."1
Not in NBH Bank's published guidance2
- A procedure for reporting a death
- A claim form
Sources2
- 1.Deposit Account Agreement and Disclosure, Effective: July 27, 2026
- 2.Bank of Jackson Hole Trust and Wealth: Contact Us
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.
- By transfer in Online Banking
- By recurring ACH, with the form emailed to MortgageServicing@nbhbank.com
- Through the online payment service
- By phone: Community Banks of Colorado 877.877.0395; Bank Midwest and Vista Bank 800.867.2265; Bank of Jackson Hole 877.877.0397
- By check to PO Box 36200, Colorado Springs, CO 80936-3620
- At a banking center
- Include the borrower's name, the account number, and a description of the error or the information requested
Required Documents
- Signed authorization to release the information, to request a payoff statement
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-866-505-1468
Email: MortgageServicing@nbhbank.com
Mailing address: Written loan error or information requests: [Division name], a division of NBH Bank, Attention: Loan Operations, PO Box 410207, Kansas City, MO 64141-0207. Payments: PO Box 36200, Colorado Springs, CO 80936-3620.
What happens to each kind of account1
Federal law on calling a home loan after a death
These exemptions apply to a loan secured by residential real property containing less than five dwelling units.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d); 12 CFR 191.5(b), 141.14Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer by devise, descent, or operation of law on the death of a joint tenant or tenant by the entirety.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(3); 12 CFR 191.5(b)(1)(iii)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer to a relative resulting from the death of a borrower.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(5)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer where the spouse or children of the borrower become an owner of the property.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(6)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
A federal regulation sets further conditions on these transfers.12 CFR 191.5(b)(1)(v)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
What NBH Bank provides to the estate1
- Payoff statement
A payoff statement is requested by email with a signed authorization to release the information; it is not provided by phone. The Community Banks of Colorado FAQ gives LoanPayoffRequests@nbhbank.com; the Bank Midwest, Vista Bank and Bank of Jackson Hole FAQs give MortgageServicing@nbhbank.com.1, 2, 3, 4
Not in NBH Bank's published guidance1
- A procedure for reporting a death
Sources4
NBH Bank can be reached by phone at 1-877-877-0395 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from NBH Bank primary sources (27 pages reviewed). How we research.
NBH Bank death claims support
Phone
Bank Midwest - Client Services and Solutions
Vista Bank - Client Services and Solutions
Bank of Jackson Hole - Client Services and Solutions
Trust and Wealth Department of Bank of Jackson Hole
Mortgage Loss Mitigation (late payments)
Hours
Website
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