What to do when a Northrim Bank account holder dies
Report the death to Northrim Bank Call Center at 1-800-478-2265
After an account holder at Northrim Bank dies, accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer to the designated recipients without probate. Solely-owned accounts require the estate's representative to contact Northrim Bank Call Center at 1-907-562-0062 with the proper legal authority documents.
Claims can be filed by phone (1-907-562-0062) or by emailing documentation to cscsupport@nrim.com. Before reaching out, gather the account holder's full name, account numbers, and the death certificate.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Northrim Bank:
Filing a claim
Required Documents
- Court order appointing the executor or administrator, to open an estate account
- Name, address, date of birth, and a driver's license or other identifying documents, to open an estate account, for the person opening it
- The account's taxpayer identification number, certified as correct, to open an estate account
What happens to each kind of account5
- Account in one name
Northrim pays each deposit account according to the form of ownership on the account records. A single-party account passes as part of the owner's estate.1
- Joint account with survivorship
On a multiple-party account with right of survivorship, ownership passes to the surviving parties.1
- Payable-on-death account
On a single-party account with a pay-on-death designation, ownership passes to the designated pay-on-death beneficiaries and is not part of the estate.1
On a multiple-party account with right of survivorship and a pay-on-death designation, ownership passes to the pay-on-death beneficiaries at the death of the last surviving party.1
- Fiduciary account
A court-appointed executor or administrator may open an estate account. The Fiduciary Accounts clause lets an account be opened and maintained by executors or administrators "under court orders."1
- Certificate of deposit
The Truth in Savings Disclosure states that for CDs and IRA CDs, in certain circumstances such as the death of an owner, the law permits, or in some cases requires, waiver of the early withdrawal penalty.2
What Northrim Bank's agreement and guidance say6
- Telling the institution
The Personal Deposit Account Agreement asks account holders to notify Northrim promptly if anyone with a right to withdraw funds from the account dies.1
- What it does when notified
Until Northrim knows of the death and has had a reasonable opportunity to act on it, it may continue to honor the deceased person's checks, items and instructions.1
- Payments after the death
Northrim may pay checks drawn on or before the date of death for up to ten days after the death, unless an authorized party to the account orders it to stop payment.1
- Debts owed to the institution
A pledge of the account must be satisfied before the rights of a surviving owner or account beneficiary take effect, and the debt may be satisfied with the account funds.1
Northrim may also set off account funds against a due and payable debt owed to it, but not against an Individual Retirement Account.1
- Disputes between claimants
If a claim adverse to a survivor or beneficiary arises, Northrim may place an administrative hold on the funds until a legal proceeding determines the claim or Northrim receives evidence satisfactory to it that the dispute has been resolved.1
- Dormant and unclaimed accounts
Under the agreement's Dormancy and Unclaimed Property clause, funds with no account activity or communication over a period of years are considered unclaimed and must be surrendered to the state.1
Not in Northrim Bank's published guidance4
- A claim form
- An online way to report a death
- A department for deceased-customer accounts
- How long a claim takes
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.
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-907-562-0062
Mailing address: Northrim Bank, Attention: Mortgage Servicing, PO Box 241489, Anchorage, AK 99524-1489
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
Not in Northrim Bank's published guidance2
- A procedure for reporting a death
- A list of required documents
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-907-562-0062
Mailing address: Northrim Bank, P.O. Box 241489, Anchorage, AK 99524
What happens to each kind of account1
- Loan
Under the plan terms, Northrim can terminate the line and require the entire outstanding balance in one payment when all persons liable on the account have died, or when title to the dwelling is transferred or the dwelling is sold.1
Northrim can also suspend further advances while the borrower is in default under a material obligation of the plan.1
Not in Northrim Bank's published guidance3
- A claim form
- A list of required documents
- How long a claim takes
Northrim Bank Call Center can be reached by phone at 1-800-478-2265, email at cscsupport@nrim.com, and fax at 1-907-261-6286 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Northrim Bank primary sources (16 pages reviewed). How we research.
Northrim Bank death claims support
Northrim Bank Call Center
Phone
Toll-free
Fax
Website
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