What to do when a Republic Bank account holder dies

No. Republic's Deposit Account Rules state that "All Powers of Attorney (POAs) on file with Republic for an Account cease to be in effect upon the death of the grantor Account Holder" (section VII.h, Death of an Account Owner). Authority under a durable POA ends at the moment of death, no matter what the POA document itself says. From that point only a POD beneficiary, a surviving joint owner, a successor trustee, or a court-appointed executor or administrator with Letters can act on the account. Republic may also limit access to or withdrawals from the account pending receipt of documentation authorizing access.

Yes, and it can take it from more than the account it landed in. The Right of Setoff/Security Interest clause in the Deposit Account Rules lets Republic charge any of the decedent's accounts -- individual or joint -- for amounts it becomes liable to a government agency or company for "recurring payments credited to any of your Accounts after the death, legal incapacity or other termination of entitlement of the intended recipient." Do not spend a benefit, pension, or annuity payment dated after the date of death; treat it as reclaimable. The clause expressly does not apply to IRA or tax-qualified retirement accounts.

Yes. The Deposit Account Rules define "you" for arbitration purposes to include "each holder or owner of the account, each person who signs a signature card for the account, and their respective heirs, successors, representatives and beneficiaries (including pay-on-death and similar beneficiaries)." The provision survives the closing of the account. A POD beneficiary or executor with a dispute over a Republic account -- a disputed withdrawal, a setoff, a frozen balance -- is generally pushed into individual arbitration rather than court, with a class-action waiver. The Account Rules are governed by Kentucky law.