What to do when a Philadelphia FCU account holder dies
Report the death to Philadelphia FCU at 1-215-934-3500
Philadelphia FCU coordinates account transitions after a member's death. How each account is handled depends on its setup: POD and trust accounts transfer automatically, while solely-owned accounts typically require court authorization through Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
The claim process begins with a phone call to the institution. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and the death certificate available when making initial contact.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Philadelphia FCU:
Filing a claim
Required Documents
- Indemnity agreement, if PFCU requires one before honoring a claim to a deceased owner's account
What happens to each kind of account7
- Account in one name
Subject to applicable law, the interest in an individual account passes to the owner's estate or to the POD or trust beneficiary.1
- Joint account with survivorship
Unless the Account Card or online application states otherwise, a joint account includes rights of survivorship, so all sums pass to the surviving owner or owners.1
- Joint account without survivorship
Without survivorship, the deceased owner's interest in a joint account passes to their estate.1
- Payable-on-death account
Once the last owner has died, a POD account is payable to all surviving POD beneficiaries, in equal shares without survivorship unless state law or PFCU's documentation provides otherwise. A POD designation does not apply to an IRA.1
- Custodial account (UTMA/UGMA)
If the custodian of a UTMA account dies, PFCU may suspend the account until it receives instructions from a person authorized by law to withdraw funds, or a court order authorizing withdrawals.1
- Certificate of deposit
PFCU may, at its option, pay a certificate before maturity without an early withdrawal penalty when an account owner dies.1
- Fiduciary account
An Estate Account is a temporary account that holds the assets of a deceased person's estate. The executor or administrator uses the funds to pay bills and taxes, settle debts, and distribute assets to beneficiaries.2
The Estate Account has no annual fee, with two checking accounts to choose from: Free Checking and Better Checking.2
State law on paying a balance without lettersPennsylvania
- Pennsylvania
20 Pa.C.S. § 3101(b)
Pennsylvania law directs a credit union to pay from a deceased member'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.
What Philadelphia FCU's agreement and guidance say3
- Payments after the death
PFCU may honor transfer orders, withdrawals, deposits and other transactions until it knows of the member's death. Even then, it may pay checks or drafts drawn on the account for ten days after the death, unless a person claiming an interest in the account tells it to stop payment.1
- Indemnity a claimant may have to give
"To the extent permitted by law, we may require anyone claiming funds from a deceased owner's account to indemnify us for any losses we sustain if we honor that claim."1
- Debts owed to the institution
A surviving joint owner's interest is subject to PFCU's statutory lien for the deceased owner's obligations, and to any security interest or pledge the deceased owner granted, even if the survivor did not consent to it.1
On PFCU's membership application, a surviving joint owner agrees to pledge the shares on the account to any loan balance due from the deceased person.3
Not in Philadelphia FCU's published guidance5
- A procedure for reporting a death
- A claim form
- A department for deceased-customer accounts
- Whether the death certificate must be certified
- How long a claim takes
Sources
Data sourced from Philadelphia FCU primary sources (37 pages reviewed). How we research.
Philadelphia FCU death claims support
Member Service
Phone
Outside of Philadelphia
Teller Phone (automated phone banking)
Hours
Mailing address
Website
Death notifications go through general customer service.
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Philadelphia FCU accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
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