What to do when a Pawtucket CU account holder dies
Contact Pawtucket CU — 6-step process, 5 required documents, and varies by account type and complexity. joint accounts with survivorship transfer immediately. the rhode island voluntary informal administration path cannot begin until 30 days after the date of death. pod and estate claims typically take several weeks.
Brand change
Pawtucket Credit Union rebranded as Coastal1 Credit Union in 2022. This is a name change, not a merger or acquisition: the same member-owned credit union continues, and account ownership, POD beneficiary designations, joint titling, and trust-titled accounts established under the Pawtucket Credit Union name remain in force. There is no successor institution -- use Coastal1 channels (coastal1.org, 401-722-2212) for all account, beneficiary, and estate matters.
The procedures below reflect Pawtucket CU's accounts. Account servicing may transfer as the change takes effect.
Phone1-401-722-2212
Toll-Free1-800-298-2212
Mailing Address
Coastal1 Credit Union, 1200 Central Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02861
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-401-722-2212
Toll-Free1-800-298-2212
Mailing Address
Coastal1 Credit Union, 1200 Central Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02861
WebsiteLearn more→
Retail Services Department
Phone1-401-722-2212
Toll-Free1-800-298-2212
Mailing Address
Coastal1 Credit Union, 1200 Central Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02861
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
After a Pawtucket CU member dies, the Retail Services Department manages the transfer of accounts. POD-designated and trust-owned accounts pass directly to beneficiaries. Accounts held solely in the member's name may require probate court documents—Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration—before funds can be released.
The claim process begins with a phone call to 1-401-722-2212. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate available when making initial contact.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Pawtucket CU:
Filing a claim
1
Notify Coastal1 by calling the Retail Services Department at 401-722-2212 or 800-298-2212 (Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm ET, Saturday 8:30am-12:00pm ET), or visit any of the 19 branches. Accounts opened under the Pawtucket Credit Union name are the same accounts -- the credit union only rebranded
2
Provide a certified copy of the death certificate
3
Proceed based on account type:
- Joint accounts with right of survivorship: surviving owner retains access to funds
- POD beneficiary accounts: named beneficiaries present certified death certificate and government-issued ID to claim funds
- Accounts without beneficiary or joint owner, Rhode Island small estate: if the decedent was an RI resident and left personal property (excluding tangible personal property) of $15,000 or less, an eligible relative or interested party may, 30 days after death and provided no petition for Letters has been filed, file a verified statement with the probate court of the city or town where the decedent lived and obtain a certification of appointment of voluntary administrator (R.I. Gen. Laws Section 33-24-1; $30 filing fee, $5 for the certification). Present that certification to Coastal1
- Accounts without beneficiary or joint owner, larger estates: personal representative provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the Rhode Island probate court
- Trust accounts: successor trustee provides certified death certificate, trust documents, and government-issued ID
- IRA accounts: beneficiaries complete IRA beneficiary distribution forms at a branch (Coastal1 opens and services IRAs in branch, not online)
- Certificates of deposit: ask the Retail Services Department to waive the early withdrawal penalty on the owner's death, which Coastal1's deposit disclosure states the law permits or requires in certain circumstances
4
Report the death of a Coastal1 VISA credit cardholder separately to Elan Financial Services, which issues the cards: 800-558-3424 (personal) or 866-552-8855 (business)
5
Contact the Loan Servicing Department through 401-722-2212 for any outstanding auto loan, personal loan, home equity, or mortgage balance in the decedent's name
6
Coastal1 processes the claim and distributes funds according to account ownership and designations
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for claimant
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if personal representative)
- Trust documents and successor trustee certification (for trust accounts)
- IRA beneficiary distribution forms (for retirement accounts)
What to know at this institution
Coastal1 is the Pawtucket Credit Union charter under a 2022 brand change, so accounts, POD designations, and trust titling created under the old name carry over unchanged. Coastal1 does not publish a credit union-specific decedent affidavit or death claim form, so the documentary path runs through Rhode Island probate: for an RI resident whose probate personal property (excluding tangible personal property) is $15,000 or less, R.I. Gen. Laws Section 33-24-1 lets a surviving spouse, child, grandchild, parent, sibling, niece, nephew, aunt, uncle, or other interested party of full age who resides in Rhode Island file a verified statement with the probate court 30 days after death -- provided no petition for Letters has been filed -- and receive a certification of appointment of voluntary administrator ($30 filing fee plus $5 for the certification). Larger estates need Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. One product-level detail worth acting on: Coastal1's deposit disclosure at coastal1.org/rates/deposits states that in circumstances such as the death or incompetence of an owner, the law permits or in some cases requires waiver of the CD early withdrawal penalty (otherwise three months interest on terms of a year or less, six months interest on longer terms), so an inherited certificate can usually be broken without the penalty. Credit cards are issued by Elan Financial Services, not Coastal1: report a deceased cardholder to 800-558-3424 (personal) or 866-552-8855 (business). The Loan Servicing Department handles outstanding loan balances. Confirm current documentation requirements with the Retail Services Department at 401-722-2212 before bringing paperwork to a branch.
Prepare your letter of instruction to Pawtucket CU
Pawtucket CU accepts a claimant-drafted letter of instruction. We draft it for you — addressed to Pawtucket CU's verified claims department, with the documents it requires enclosed.
Build your letter of instructionHow long the process takes at Pawtucket CU: Varies by account type and complexity. Joint accounts with survivorship transfer immediately. The Rhode Island voluntary informal administration path cannot begin until 30 days after the date of death. POD and estate claims typically take several weeks. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.
Documentation required by Pawtucket CU includes Certified death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for claimant, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if personal representative), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Pawtucket Credit Union rebranded as Coastal1 Credit Union in 2022. That was a name change, not a merger or acquisition: the same member-owned credit union continues, so account ownership, POD beneficiary designations, joint titling, and any trust-titled accounts established under the Pawtucket Credit Union name remain in force. Statements, checkbooks, or certificates that still say Pawtucket Credit Union describe the same accounts. Beneficiaries and successor trustees can present the certified death certificate and supporting documents at any of the 19 Coastal1 branches or call the Retail Services Department at 401-722-2212.
Coastal1 does not publish its own decedent affidavit, so the documentation comes from the Rhode Island probate court. R.I. Gen. Laws Section 33-24-1 provides voluntary informal administration where a Rhode Island resident dies leaving an estate consisting entirely of personal property with a total value, excluding tangible personal property, of $15,000 or less. A surviving spouse, child, grandchild, parent, sibling, niece, nephew, aunt, uncle, or other interested party who is of full age and a Rhode Island resident may, 30 days after the death and provided no petition for Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration has been filed, file a verified statement with the probate court of the city or town where the decedent lived. The statement lists every solely titled asset and the intestate takers. The filing fee is $30, and for another $5 the clerk issues a certification of appointment of voluntary administrator once the probate judge has reviewed it. Present that certification, the certified death certificate, and your photo ID to Coastal1.
Coastal1's CD penalty is three months interest for an original maturity of one year or less and six months interest for longer terms. Its deposit disclosure adds that in certain circumstances such as the death or incompetence of an owner of the account, the law permits, or in some cases requires, waiver of the early withdrawal penalty. An executor or successor trustee closing an inherited CD before maturity should raise this with the Retail Services Department at 401-722-2212 rather than assume the penalty applies. IRA CDs carry the same term structure with a $500 minimum.
Coastal1 VISA credit cards are issued by Elan Financial Services, not by the credit union, so a deceased cardholder is reported to Elan directly: 800-558-3424 for a personal card or 866-552-8855 for a business card. Outstanding auto, personal, home equity, and mortgage balances stay with the credit union and are handled by the Loan Servicing Department, reachable through 401-722-2212. Deposit accounts, beneficiary claims, and trust retitling go to the Retail Services Department at the same number. Mail for any of these goes to Coastal1 Credit Union, 1200 Central Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02861.
Pawtucket CU's Retail Services Department can be reached by phone at 1-800-298-2212 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple Pawtucket CU accounts, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Retail Services Department can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Sources
Data sourced from Pawtucket CU primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Phone1-401-722-2212
Toll-Free1-800-298-2212
Mailing Address
Coastal1 Credit Union, 1200 Central Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02861
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-401-722-2212
Toll-Free1-800-298-2212
Mailing Address
Coastal1 Credit Union, 1200 Central Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02861
WebsiteLearn more→
Retail Services Department
Phone1-401-722-2212
Toll-Free1-800-298-2212
Mailing Address
Coastal1 Credit Union, 1200 Central Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02861
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
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