What to do when a Northwest account holder dies
Report the death to Northwest Direct / Customer Contact Center at 1-877-672-5678
What happens to Northwest 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 Northwest Direct / Customer Contact Center (1-877-672-5678) to claim the funds.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Northwest requires:
Filing a claim
Required Documents
- Written notice of the account owner's deathRequired by the Notices section of the Deposit Account Agreement.
- Documents and authorizations showing the authority of the person directing withdrawals, for a fiduciary account, including an estate accountNorthwest asks for the documents it deems necessary (Section 28 of the Deposit Account Agreement).
- Copy of the trust agreement, for a formal trust account, on Northwest's requestSection 24 of the Deposit Account Agreement.
What happens to each kind of account4
- Joint account with survivorship
The deceased owner's interest immediately passes to the other joint account holders.1
- Joint account without survivorship
On a joint account with no right of survivorship, or held as joint tenants in common, the deceased owner's interest immediately passes to that owner's designated beneficiaries or estate.1
- Payable-on-death account
A Totten trust ("in trust for") account is owned by the named beneficiary or beneficiaries in equal shares when the trustee dies.1
Where offered, a payable-on-death account is owned by the P.O.D. payees, in equal shares if more than one survives unless the deposit account records state otherwise. If no Totten trust beneficiary or P.O.D. payee survives, state law determines ownership of the funds.1
- Trust account
A formal trust account is held by the trustees under the written trust agreement. The trustee supplies a copy of the trust agreement on the bank's request.1
State requirements Northwest statesNew York
- New York
On a New York Convenience Account, the convenience signer has no right of survivorship. On the account holder's death, Northwest may pay the executor, administrator or voluntary administrator, or a person designated under New York's Surrogate's Court Procedure Act.1
State law on paying a balance without lettersNew York, Pennsylvania
- New York
N.Y. SCPA § 1310
New York 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.N.Y. SCPA § 1310Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Paid to: surviving spouse
Limit: $30,000 in total from every holder
When: forthwith
Paid to: surviving spouse, children eighteen or older, either parent, brother or sister, niece or nephew, or at their request a creditor or the person who paid the funeral expense
Limit: $15,000 in total from every holder
When: not less than thirty days after the death
Paid to: a distributee, a creditor, or the person who paid the funeral expenses
Limit: $5,000 held at the institution and $5,000 in total from every holder
When: not less than 6 months after the death
The section permits the payment. It does not require the bank to make it. The section sets further conditions.
- Pennsylvania
20 Pa.C.S. § 3101(b)
Pennsylvania law directs a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on an affidavit, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.20 Pa.C.S. § 3101(b)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Limit: $20,000 held at the institution
When: at any time after the death of a depositor, member or certificate holder
Paid to: the spouse; any child; the father or mother; any sister or brother
The section sets further conditions.
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- Northwest Bank Trust Department
Administers estates and will act as executor or agent of an estate2
Phone: 1-814-452-1000
What Northwest's agreement and guidance say6
- Telling the institution
Any account owner or person authorized to sign on an account must notify Northwest in writing if another owner or signer dies or is declared incompetent by a court. "All account activity will continue until Northwest is notified of the death of an account owner."1
- Debts owed to the institution
Northwest may "charge or set off funds in your Account for any direct, indirect and/or acquired obligations that any account holder owes us now or in the future to the fullest extent permitted by law."1
- Dormant and unclaimed accounts
An account with no deposit or withdrawal for an extended period, typically two years, may be classified as dormant and charged a dormant account fee. Funds in abandoned accounts are remitted to the applicable state agency, after which Northwest has no further liability for them.1
- Deposits after the death
After an account is closed, any additional deposits or electronic credits, including Social Security, pension payments and automatic payroll deposits, are returned to the originator.3
- What it says about taxes
The Deposit Account Agreement says a payable-on-death account is subject to inheritance tax liability.1
- Accounts from a merged institution
Luzerne Bank and Jersey Shore State Bank accounts became Northwest Bank accounts when those banks merged into Northwest Bank on July 25, 2025.3
Not in Northwest's published guidance4
- A claim form
- A department for deceased-customer accounts
- An online way to report a death
- How long a claim takes
Sources3
- 1.Deposit Account Agreement & Disclosure, Revised 08/12/2024
- 2.Trust & Estate Planning
- 3.Contact Us
Northwest Direct / Customer Contact Center can be reached by phone at 1-877-672-5678 and email at info@northwest.com for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Show 2 more sourcesShow fewer sources
Data sourced from Northwest primary sources (30 pages reviewed). How we research.
Northwest death claims support
Northwest Direct / Customer Contact Center
Phone
Trust customer support (Trust Department)
Hours
Mailing address
Website
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Northwest accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Forms for Settling an Estate
Free forms for settling an estate: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter
Prepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.
Petition for Probate and Letters
Open probate and ask the court to appoint you and issue Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
Notice to Creditors
Notify estate creditors and start the claim period — the published notice plus mailed copies for known creditors.
Renunciation of Executor
Decline an appointment as executor named in a will — the writing filed with the court before anyone is appointed.
Affidavit of Heirship
Prepare the sworn statement of a deceased person's family history and heirs for recording in the county land records, with your state's recording instructions.
Small Estate Affidavit
Collect a small estate's property without probate — the sworn affidavit presented to banks and other holders, with a presentation letter for each.
Tools for Settling an Estate
Free tools for settling an estate: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need and see ordering info for your state.
Do I Need Probate?
Find out if an estate needs probate or qualifies for simplified procedures.
Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
Find out which tax returns need to be filed after someone dies and whether tax clearance is required.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away.
What Do I Do When Someone Dies?
A step-by-step checklist for the days, weeks, and months after a death, with state rules noted where they apply.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax, and inheritance tax for an estate.
