What to do when an OceanFirst account holder dies
Report the death to OceanFirst at 1-888-623-2698
When an account holder at OceanFirst 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 OceanFirst's Trust and Asset Management to access and distribute the funds.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting OceanFirst.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what OceanFirst requires:
Filing a claim
What happens to each kind of account4
- Joint account with survivorship
On the death of a party, the entire account belongs to a sole survivor. Two or more survivors keep it as joint tenants with survivorship.1
- Joint account without survivorship
Opening a joint account as tenants in common creates no right of survivorship.1
- Payable-on-death account
On a revocable trust or pay-on-death (P.O.D.) account, the beneficiaries or payees living when all parties who created the account have died own it in equal shares, without right of survivorship.1
- Certificate of deposit
OceanFirst's CD disclosure states that "In certain circumstances such as the death or incompetence of an owner of this account, the law permits, or in some cases requires, the waiver of the early withdrawal penalty."2
State requirements OceanFirst statesNew Jersey, New York
- New Jersey
Ownership of a multiple-party account at a New Jersey branch cannot be changed by will.1
- New York
After the owner of a convenience account at a New York branch dies, and before any court order stopping payment, OceanFirst may pay the executor, administrator or voluntary administrator of the estate, or another person designated under New York law.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
- OceanFirst Trust and Asset Management
Accounts with the department, and estates in which it is appointed executor or agent for an executor3
Email: trust@oceanfirst.com
What OceanFirst's agreement and guidance say5
- Telling the institution
The Terms and Conditions ask account holders to "notify us promptly if any person with a right to withdraw funds from your account(s) dies."1
- Which state governs the account
Who receives an account depends on its ownership form and on the state of the branch that holds it.1
- Payments after the death
OceanFirst may pay or certify checks drawn on or before the date of death for up to ten days after the death, unless someone claiming an interest in the account orders a stop payment.1
- Debts owed to the institution
For an account at a New Jersey branch, OceanFirst may set off account funds against a due and payable debt any account holder owes it. It may also pay a multiple-party account balance under setoff, levy, attachment or other valid legal process relating to the interest of any party.1
- Dormant and unclaimed accounts
The fee schedule lists a $15 monthly dormant account fee for checking, savings and money market accounts with no activity for the prior 24 months, and a $100 escheat fee per item.4
Not in OceanFirst's published guidance6
- A procedure for reporting a death
- A claim form
- A department for deceased-customer accounts
- A list of required documents
- Whether the death certificate must be certified
- How long a claim takes
Sources4
- 1.Terms and Conditions of Your Account
- 2.CD disclosure
- 3.Trust and Asset Management
- 4.Fee Schedule, effective June 4, 2026
OceanFirst's Trust and Asset Management can be reached by email at trust@oceanfirst.com for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from OceanFirst primary sources (22 pages reviewed). How we research.
OceanFirst death claims support
Customer Care Center (personal banking)
Phone
Lost or stolen debit card (outside Customer Care hours)
Lost or stolen personal credit card
Lost or stolen business credit card
Fraud alerts
Existing residential mortgage and home equity loans
Customer Care Center self-service
Hours
Mailing address
Website
Death notifications go through general customer service.
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your OceanFirst accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
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