What to do when a S&T Bank account holder dies
Contact S&T Bank — 6-step process, 6 required documents, and varies based on account type and documentation. joint accounts and pod accounts may be processed more quickly. probated estates depend on court timelines.
S&T Bank, P.O. Box 190, Indiana, PA 15701
S&T Bank, P.O. Box 190, Indiana, PA 15701
Death Claims / Solution Center
S&T Bank, P.O. Box 190, Indiana, PA 15701
When an account holder at S&T Bank passes away, the next step depends on how the accounts were set up. Accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate. Accounts titled solely in the deceased's name require the estate's legal representative to work with S&T Bank's Death Claims / Solution Center (1-724-349-1800) to access and distribute the funds.
The claim process can be initiated by phone at 1-724-349-1800 or by sending documentation to solutioncenter.service@stbank.com. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate available when making initial contact.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what S&T Bank requires:
Filing a claim
- Surviving joint account holder: the bank may treat the account as your sole property
- Named POD beneficiary: provide the death certificate and your ID to claim funds
- Executor or administrator: provide Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the court
- Successor trustee: provide trust documents to gain access to accounts held in trust
- Joint accounts pass to the surviving account holder
- POD accounts pass to the named beneficiary
- Trust accounts pass per trust terms
- Probate accounts require court direction
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the claimant
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if court-appointed executor or administrator)
- Trust agreement (if account is held in trust)
- Small Estate Affidavit (if estate qualifies under Pennsylvania or Ohio law)
- Proof of relationship to the deceased
What to know at this institution
Per the S&T Bank Deposit Account Agreement and Disclosures (Rev 12/31/25): for a joint account, in the event of death of any person named on the account the bank "may continue to honor checks, withdrawals, orders or requests by any surviving person named on this account," and may treat the account as the sole property of any surviving person(s) named on the account. For a joint account with NO survivorship, upon receipt of notice of death the bank may freeze the account until it is satisfied all legal documents necessary to make payment have been delivered, or a court orders disposition. For an in-trust-for / POD deposit, when the owner dies the beneficiary or their legal representative can withdraw the balance, but the bank "will not release any funds... until all legal documents have been delivered to us and a check will be made payable to all beneficiaries." The agreement also warns that account title/ownership may carry inheritance-tax implications on an owner's death (relevant to Pennsylvania inheritance tax).
Prepare your letter of instruction to S&T Bank
S&T Bank accepts a claimant-drafted letter of instruction. We draft it for you — addressed to S&T Bank's verified claims department, with the documents it requires enclosed.
Build your letter of instructionOpening an account for the estate itself
Checks made out to the estate deposit into an account titled to the estate, opened by the appointed executor or administrator under the estate's EIN.
How to open an estate account at S&T Bank →How long the process takes at S&T Bank: Varies based on account type and documentation. Joint accounts and POD accounts may be processed more quickly. Probated estates depend on court timelines. 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 S&T Bank includes Certified copy of the death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for the claimant, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if court-appointed executor or administrator), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Call the S&T Solution Center at 800.325.2265 or visit a local branch. Bring a certified death certificate and government-issued photo ID. For POD accounts, the bank will release funds once all legal documents are received. For probated estates, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the court are required. For time deposit accounts (CDs), the bank may freeze the account upon notice of death until all required legal documents are received.
S&T Bank's Death Claims / Solution Center can be reached by phone at 1-800-325-2265, email at solutioncenter.service@stbank.com, and fax at 724-465-6874 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple S&T Bank accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Death Claims / Solution Center can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Sources
Data sourced from S&T Bank primary sources (29 pages reviewed). How we research.
S&T Bank, P.O. Box 190, Indiana, PA 15701
S&T Bank, P.O. Box 190, Indiana, PA 15701
Death Claims / Solution Center
S&T Bank, P.O. Box 190, Indiana, PA 15701
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