What to do when a OCCU account holder dies
Contact OCCU — 5-step process, 7 required documents, and 5-10 business days after all documentation is received, though complex estates may take longer
Phone1-800-365-1111
Mailing Address
OCCU, P.O. Box 77002, Springfield, OR 97475-0146
Local (Eugene area)
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-365-1111
Mailing Address
OCCU, P.O. Box 77002, Springfield, OR 97475-0146
Local (Eugene area)
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-365-1111
Mailing Address
OCCU, P.O. Box 77002, Springfield, OR 97475-0146
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
When a OCCU member passes away, the estate services team 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 first step is contacting OCCU at 1-800-365-1111 with the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate in hand.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what OCCU requires:
Filing a claim
1
Notify OCCU of the account holder's death by visiting a local branch or calling 800-365-1111
2
Gather required documentation:
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant
3
Choose the appropriate settlement path:
- For accounts with POD beneficiary: provide the death certificate and beneficiary ID to claim funds directly
- For joint accounts with right of survivorship: provide the death certificate; surviving owner retains access to the account
- For accounts without beneficiary or survivorship: obtain Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, or a Small Estate Affidavit from the court and provide along with the executor or administrator's ID
4
If needed, open an estate account at an OCCU branch to manage estate proceeds and pay bills
5
OCCU will review submitted documentation and process the claim
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant (beneficiary, executor, or administrator)
- Account information for the deceased (account numbers if available)
- For accounts without beneficiary: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the court
- For small estates: Small Estate Affidavit as permitted under Oregon law (ORS 114.515)
- For trust accounts: trust documentation including successor trustee provisions and trustee ID
- For IRA accounts: IRA beneficiary claim forms and applicable distribution election forms
Visiting a local OCCU branch is the most direct way to initiate the estate settlement process. A branch representative can help open an estate account if needed to manage proceeds and pay estate obligations. OCCU accounts are insured by the NCUA for up to $250,000 per member. Oregon allows small estate affidavits for estates under $75,000 in personal property and $200,000 in real property (ORS 114.515).
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. When a borrower dies, the loan obligation transfers with the property to whoever inherits it. Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Act, the lender cannot accelerate the loan or call it due when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, or the borrower’s revocable trust.
1
Notify OCCU of the borrower's death by calling 800-365-1111 or visiting a local branch
2
Provide initial information:
- Deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number, and loan number
- Certified copy of the death certificate
3
Request the Successor in Interest documentation package from OCCU's mortgage servicing department
4
Complete and return the Successor in Interest form with supporting documentation proving your ownership interest in the property (e.g., probated will, court order, deed, or trust document)
5
OCCU will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest
6
Once confirmed, choose from available options:
- Continue making payments on the existing loan
- Apply for loss mitigation
- Assume the loan
- Refinance in your own name
- Pay off the remaining balance
7
Continue making monthly mortgage payments during the review process to avoid default
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Completed Successor in Interest form (obtained from OCCU mortgage servicing)
- Documentation proving ownership interest in the property: probated will, court order, recorded deed, or trust document showing you as successor trustee or beneficiary
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if going through probate)
- Marriage certificate (if surviving spouse)
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3), OCCU cannot enforce a due-on-sale clause when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, relative upon death, or the borrower's revocable living trust. Confirmed Successors in Interest are treated as borrowers under CFPB mortgage servicing rules.
Processing timelines at OCCU: 5-10 business days after all documentation is received, though complex estates may take longer. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Documentation required by OCCU includes Certified copy of the death certificate, Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant (beneficiary, executor, or administrator), and Account information for the deceased (account numbers if available), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
When an account holder with a POD (Payable on Death) designation dies, the named beneficiary can claim the account funds by visiting an OCCU branch with a certified copy of the death certificate and a valid government-issued photo ID. POD accounts bypass the probate process and pass directly to the named beneficiary.
OCCU's estate services team can be reached by phone at 1-800-365-1111 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple OCCU accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The estate services team can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Phone1-800-365-1111
Mailing Address
OCCU, P.O. Box 77002, Springfield, OR 97475-0146
Local (Eugene area)
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-365-1111
Mailing Address
OCCU, P.O. Box 77002, Springfield, OR 97475-0146
Local (Eugene area)
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-365-1111
Mailing Address
OCCU, P.O. Box 77002, Springfield, OR 97475-0146
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
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