What to do when a Park National Bank account holder dies
Report the death to Park National Bank's Customer Care Center at 1-888-474-7275
What happens to Park National Bank 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 Park National Bank's Customer Care Center (1-888-474-7275) to claim the funds.
The first step is contacting Park National Bank at 1-888-474-7275 with the account holder's full name, account numbers, and the death certificate in hand.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Park National Bank requires:
Filing a claim
What happens to each kind of account5
- Joint account with survivorship
On a joint account with survivorship, the owners intend the balance to belong to the survivors when an owner dies. Two or more survivors own it as joint tenants with survivorship.1
- Payable-on-death account
A revocable trust or payable-on-death account passes to the beneficiaries living when every person who created it has died, in equal shares and without survivorship between them.1
- Fiduciary account
Park's agreement lets an executor or administrator appointed by a court open and keep an account for the estate. Opening it does not make the bank a trustee, and the bank takes no part in policing how the fiduciary uses the funds.1
- Certificate of deposit
The bank may waive the early withdrawal penalty on a certificate of deposit in certain circumstances, such as the death of an account owner. An unwithdrawn certificate renews automatically, with 10 calendar days after maturity to withdraw without penalty.2
- IRA
The bank may waive the early withdrawal penalty on a term IRA in certain circumstances, such as the death of an account owner. The IRA account agreement may allow other exceptions.3
State law on paying a balance without lettersKentucky, Tennessee
- Kentucky
KRS 391.030(2)
Kentucky law directs a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on an order of the court, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.KRS 391.030(2)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Paid to: surviving spouse
Limit: $2,500 in total from every holder
The section sets further conditions.
- Tennessee
T.C.A. § 45-2-708
Tennessee law permits a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on proof the institution accepts, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.T.C.A. § 45-2-708Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Limit: $15,000 held at the institution
When: 30 days after the death
Paid to: the executor named in any will known to the institution; in the absence of knowledge of a purported will naming a surviving executor: a creditor for expenses of the funeral; a creditor for the expenses of the last illness; the surviving spouse; the next of kin
The section permits the payment. It does not require the bank to make it. The section sets further conditions.
T.C.A. § 30-2-103(b)(2)
Tennessee law permits a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on proof the institution accepts, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.T.C.A. § 30-2-103(b)(2)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Limit: $10,000 held at the institution
When: six (6) months have passed since the decedent's death without an application being made for the appointment of a personal representative
Paid to: the surviving spouse of a decedent or a trust for the benefit of the surviving spouse; if no surviving spouse exists, the surviving children of the decedent as tenants in common or a trust for the benefit of any surviving children (in that order)
The section permits the payment. It does not require the bank to make it. The section sets further conditions.
Accounts handled elsewhere2
- Elan Financial Services
Park National Bank Visa credit cards, which Elan issues and administers4
- Estate Planning and Settlement
Estates for which Park National Bank serves as corporate executor5
What Park National Bank's agreement and guidance say9
- Telling the institution
The account owners agree to tell the bank promptly if anyone with a right to withdraw from the account dies.1
- Payments after the death
The bank may keep honoring checks and instructions until it knows of the death and has had a reasonable chance to act. It may pay checks written on or before the date of death for up to 10 days after it, unless someone claiming an interest orders a stop.1
- Disputes between claimants
The bank may place an administrative hold on an account that becomes subject to a claim by people claiming as survivors or beneficiaries, until a court decides it or the bank has satisfactory evidence the dispute is resolved.1
- Debts owed to the institution
The bank may use the account funds to pay a due and payable debt any owner owes it. The right does not apply to an IRA or to a debtor who can withdraw only in a representative capacity.1
- Powers of attorney
A power of attorney ends at the owner's death. The bank may keep honoring the agent's transactions until it has written notice or actual knowledge of the death and a reasonable chance to act.1
- Dormant and unclaimed accounts
Funds in an account with no activity or contact for a period of years are surrendered to the state. After that, a claim for them is made to the state, not the bank.1
- Which state governs the account
The agreement follows the law of the state where the account is located, which is the branch where it was opened. An account not opened in a branch is treated as located in Ohio.1
- Fees
A statement copy costs $5.00 and record research costs $25.00 an hour, with a one-hour minimum. Closing an account turned over to the state costs $50.00 per account.6
- Accounts from a merged institution
First Citizens National Bank accounts moved to Park National Bank on August 24, 2026. Account numbers stayed the same unless the bank wrote to say otherwise, and the old routing number still works.7
After the move, online banking showed up to three months of First Citizens transaction history, with older history added over time. Statements for August came partly from First Citizens and partly from Park.7
Not in Park National Bank's published guidance8
- A department for deceased-customer accounts
- A claim form
- A list of required documents
- Whether the death certificate must be certified
- Which court appointment document it accepts
- An online way to report a death
- How long a claim takes
- A small-estate procedure
Sources7
- 1.Terms and Conditions of Your Account (Retail), Rev. 10/2026
- 2.Certificate of Deposit Truth in Savings Disclosure, Version 4.0 October 2026
- 3.Individual Retirement Accounts Truth in Savings Disclosure, Version 1.0 January 2025
- 4.List of Services as of April 1, 2026
- 5.Estate Planning and Settlement
- 6.Special Handling Fees, Effective Date 06/01/2023
- 7.Welcome, First Citizens customers
Park National Bank's Customer Care Center can be reached by phone at 1-888-474-7275 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
(4)·
Data sourced from Park National Bank primary sources (45 pages reviewed). How we research.
Park National Bank death claims support
Customer Care Center
Phone
Hours
Mailing address
Website
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Park National Bank accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
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Free forms for settling an estate: probate petition, small estate affidavit, creditor notice and closing forms. Prepare each form for your state.
Affidavit of Death
Put a joint owner's or a transfer on death deed owner's death on the land records with the affidavit your state's statute names, laid out for recording.
IRS Form 56
Notify the IRS that you are the fiduciary of an estate, a trust or a person, or end a notice filed before, on the official form.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter
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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
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Renunciation of Executor
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