What to do when a PNC Bank account holder dies
Contact PNC Bank's PNC Private Bank Hawthorn — 6-step process, 9 required documents, and written determination within 30 days of receiving complete application
Probate Team
Phone1-844-554-9254
Toll-Free1-844-554-9254
Fax1-855-779-1956
Mailing Address
PNC Bank, 6750 Miller Road, Mailstop: BR-YB58-0E-1NOD, Brecksville, OH 44141
Verified Apr 2026
After a PNC Bank account holder dies, accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer to the designated recipients without probate. Solely-owned accounts require the estate's representative to contact PNC Bank's PNC Private Bank Hawthorn at 1-844-554-9254 with the proper legal authority documents.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting PNC Bank. A certified death certificate is the primary document required to start any claim.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Follow these steps to file a death claim with PNC Bank:
Filing a claim
1
Notify PNC Bank by calling the Probate Team at 1-844-554-9254 or visiting a local branch
2
Provide the deceased's full legal name and account information
3
Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
4
Provide documentation based on account type:
- For POD/TOD accounts: present valid ID and complete a claim form
- For joint accounts: present certified death certificate to remove deceased from account
- For probate accounts: provide Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration and a court-certified copy of the recorded will
- For trust accounts: provide death certificate and documentation of successor trustee
5
Submit documents via mail, fax, or at a PNC branch
6
PNC will provide a written determination within 30 days of receiving a complete application
Required Documents
- Certified copy of death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for claimant
- Completed claim form (for POD/TOD beneficiaries)
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if probate required)
- Court-certified copy of the recorded will (if applicable)
- Marriage certificate and written confirmation of marriage at time of death (for surviving spouse)
- Birth certificate (for children claimants)
- Name change documentation (if applicable)
- Successor Validation Package (for real estate-secured loans only)
Dedicated Probate Team: 1-844-554-9254. General customer service: 1-888-762-2265. Once death notification is submitted, the account is handled by the Probate Team. Documents can be submitted via mail, fax (1-855-779-1956), or at a PNC branch. For POD/TOD accounts, funds bypass probate and transfer directly to named beneficiaries. Written notice to modify POD designations (where state law allows) must be notarized and sent to PNC Bank, PO Box 609, Pittsburgh, PA 15230-0609.
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
Contact PNC's Home Lending Customer Service at 1-800-822-5626 or the Probate Team at 1-844-554-9254 to report the borrower's death
2
Submit required documentation:
- Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
- Download and complete the Successor Validation Package (Related to Death of Borrower) from https://www.pnc.com/en/personal-banking/borrowing/home-lending/understanding-home-lending-center/important-forms-and-documents.html
- Provide documentation establishing your ownership interest in the property (Letters Testamentary, Beneficiary Deed, court order, or trust documents)
3
Submit the completed Successor Validation Package and supporting documents by mail, fax, or at a PNC branch
4
Successor in Interest review and resolution:
- PNC will review your documents to confirm your identity and ownership interest in the property
- Once confirmed as Successor in Interest, you may opt in to receive account statements and loan correspondence
- Discuss your options: continue making payments, apply for loss mitigation, request a loan assumption, refinance, or pay off the loan
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Completed Successor Validation Package (Related to Death of Borrower) -- available at pnc.com
- Government-issued photo ID for claimant
- Documentation of ownership interest (Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, Beneficiary Deed, or trust documents)
- Court-certified copy of the recorded will (if applicable)
- Marriage certificate and written confirmation of marriage at time of death (for surviving spouse)
- Birth certificate (for children claimants)
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), PNC cannot accelerate the mortgage or enforce a due-on-sale clause when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, or the borrower's revocable living trust. PNC provides a dedicated Successor Validation Package form for death-of-borrower situations, available for download at pnc.com. Confirmed successors in interest can opt in to receive account statements and other loan communications. The Probate Team can also be reached at 1-844-554-9254 (Monday-Friday 8:00am-6:00pm ET). Submit copies only; PNC does not return original documents.
Expected timelines at PNC Bank: Written determination within 30 days of receiving complete application. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
Documentation required by PNC Bank includes Certified copy of death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for claimant, and Completed claim form (for POD/TOD beneficiaries), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. PNC checking, savings, money market, and CD accounts support POD (payable-on-death) beneficiary designations, which can be managed online through PNC Online Banking, by phone at 888-201-6505, or at a branch. PNC self-directed and advisor-assisted brokerage accounts support TOD (transfer-on-death) registration. For trusts: provide the trust name, date established, and EIN when designating. POD and TOD designations allow assets to pass directly to named beneficiaries without going through probate.
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), PNC cannot accelerate the mortgage or enforce a due-on-sale clause when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, or the borrower's revocable living trust. Heirs or successors in interest should contact the PNC Probate Team at 1-844-554-9254 and submit the Successor Validation Package (available at pnc.com) along with a certified death certificate and documentation of ownership interest. PNC will provide a written determination within 30 days of receiving a complete application.
PNC Bank's Probate Team can be reached by phone at 1-844-554-9254 and fax at 1-855-779-1956 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple PNC Bank accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the PNC Private Bank Hawthorn to confirm what applies.
Probate Team
Phone1-844-554-9254
Toll-Free1-844-554-9254
Fax1-855-779-1956
Mailing Address
PNC Bank, 6750 Miller Road, Mailstop: BR-YB58-0E-1NOD, Brecksville, OH 44141
Verified Apr 2026
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