What to do when a SECU account holder dies
Contact SECU's Financial Advisory Services / Members Trust Company — 5-step process, 6 required documents, and up to 90 days to process a death claim. pod accounts are processed more quickly than estate accounts.
SECU, P.O. Box 27963, Raleigh, NC 27611-7963
Financial Advisory Services / Members Trust Company
SECU Life Insurance Claims
SECU, P.O. Box 27963, Raleigh, NC 27611-7963
The SECU Life Insurance Claims at SECU 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.
To start a claim, contact SECU by phone at 1-888-732-8562 or email documentation to info@ncsecu.org. You will need the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what SECU requires:
Filing a claim
- Joint accounts: the surviving joint owner continues to use the account normally
- Single owner with POD: SECU closes the account and distributes funds equally to the designated beneficiaries after satisfying any open loans
- Single owner without POD: SECU distributes funds to the estate; executor provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
- Provide government-issued photo ID to claim funds
- For trust beneficiaries: provide trust documents and trustee identification
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for each beneficiary or claimant
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (required when account has no POD designation)
- Complete trust document or Certificate of Trust (when trust is named beneficiary)
- Property Worksheet (available from SECU) for estate inventory
- Clerk of Superior Court documentation for estate accounts
What to know at this institution
SECU advises contacting them as soon as possible after a death. Life insurance claims require a separate claim form: call SECU Life at (855) 732-8467 or visit a branch to obtain it. The 10-step estate settlement guide on ncsecu.org outlines the full process including filing a 90-day inventory, publishing notice to creditors (at least 90 days), and filing final tax returns.
Prepare your letter of instruction to SECU
SECU accepts a claimant-drafted letter of instruction. We draft it for you — addressed to SECU's verified claims department, with the documents it requires enclosed.
Build your letter of instructionHow long the process takes at SECU: Up to 90 days to process a death claim. POD accounts are processed more quickly than estate accounts. 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 SECU includes Certified copy of the death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for each beneficiary or claimant, and Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (required when account has no POD designation), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
To obtain a life insurance claim form, call SECU Life at (855) 732-8467 or visit a local branch. A completed claim form, a copy of the death certificate, and a photo ID of the beneficiary are required to process the claim. Life insurance claims are handled separately from deposit account death claims.
SECU's SECU Life Insurance Claims can be reached by phone at 1-855-732-8467, email at info@ncsecu.org, and fax at (919) 839-8130 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple SECU accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the SECU Life Insurance Claims to confirm what applies.
Sources
Data sourced from SECU primary sources (18 pages reviewed). How we research.
SECU, P.O. Box 27963, Raleigh, NC 27611-7963
Financial Advisory Services / Members Trust Company
SECU Life Insurance Claims
SECU, P.O. Box 27963, Raleigh, NC 27611-7963
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your SECU accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
More tools for handling this estate
Calculators and checklists for executors and trustees.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.
How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Calculate how much an executor (personal representative) can charge for administering an estate. See if your state has statutory fees or uses reasonable compensation.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
What's Fair Trustee Compensation?
Find out what's fair compensation for serving as trustee. Compare family, professional, and corporate trustee rates based on your situation.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax (12 states + DC), and inheritance tax (5 states) for an estate or trust.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need based on the assets and accounts you need to close. See state-specific ordering information.
