What to do when a Security Service FCU account holder dies
Contact Security Service FCU — 8-step process, 6 required documents, and a survivor assistance specialist will reach out within 2-3 business days upon notification of death (may take longer if management or legal review of documents is needed). joint accounts and pod accounts are processed more quickly than estate accounts requiring probate, which vary based on court timelines.
Phone1-888-415-7878
Toll-Free1-800-527-7328
Fax210-444-3000
Mailing Address
Security Service FCU, P.O. Box 691510, San Antonio, TX 78269-1510
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone1-888-415-7878
Toll-Free1-800-527-7328
Fax210-444-3000
Mailing Address
Security Service FCU, P.O. Box 691510, San Antonio, TX 78269-1510
WebsiteLearn more →
Survivor Assistance
Phone1-800-832-4602
Toll-Free1-800-832-4602
Fax(210) 476-4047
Mailing Address
Security Service Federal Credit Union, Attn: Account Services Survivor Assistance, P.O. Box 691510, San Antonio, TX 78269-1510
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Feb 2026
When a Security Service FCU member passes away, the Survivor Assistance handles the transition of accounts to beneficiaries or the estate. Accounts with Payable on Death designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate, while solely-owned accounts may require Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court.
Security Service FCU provides an online portal for initiating death claims, which can simplify the initial notification and document submission process. Claims can also be started by phone or by mailing the required documents.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Security Service FCU:
Filing a claim
1Contact the SSFCU Survivor Assistance team at 1-800-832-4602, email SurvivorAssistance@ssfcu.org, or fax 210-476-4047
2Complete the Deceased Account Checklist available at ssfcu.org/account-services/survivor-assistance
3Provide a certified death certificate
4Supporting documents can be uploaded via the online Deceased Account Checklist, or sent by email, fax, or mail
5A Survivor Assistance Specialist reviews all accounts and related documents, determines any required documents, and contacts the appropriate individual(s) within 2-3 business days
6For jointly owned accounts: surviving account owner may close accounts without a death certificate
7For POD accounts: named beneficiary provides certified death certificate and government-issued photo ID to claim funds
8For accounts without POD or joint ownership: executor or administrator provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate (not required for joint account owners wishing to close accounts)
- Government-issued photo ID for claimant
- Written request for payout
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD or joint owner)
- Court documents for the estate (if applicable)
- Trust documents and successor trustee identification (if trust is beneficiary)
SSFCU has a dedicated Survivor Assistance team for estate settlement. A Survivor Assistance Specialist will review all accounts and related documents, determine any required documents, and contact the appropriate individual(s) to review the settlement process. A specialist will reach out within 2-3 business days upon notification of death (may take longer if management or legal review is needed). Supporting documents can be uploaded via the online Deceased Account Checklist, or sent by email (SurvivorAssistance@ssfcu.org), fax (210-476-4047), or mail. An Informant Checklist and Survivor Assistance Guide (Deceased Account Settlement) are available on the Survivor Assistance page.
Processing timelines at Security Service FCU: A Survivor Assistance Specialist will reach out within 2-3 business days upon notification of death (may take longer if management or legal review of documents is needed). Joint accounts and POD accounts are processed more quickly than estate accounts requiring probate, which vary based on court timelines.. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Security Service FCU requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate (not required for joint account owners wishing to close accounts), Government-issued photo ID for claimant, and Written request for payout, and additional documentation depending on the account type. Certified copies are typically needed—photocopies are generally not accepted for death certificates or court documents.
Frequently asked questions
For deposit accounts, you can add a Pay-on-Death (POD) beneficiary online via DocuSign through the Member Forms Library at ssfcu.org, by visiting any branch, or by calling 1-888-415-7878. You will need the beneficiary's legal name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number. For IRA accounts, complete the separate IRA Beneficiary Designation form. For Coverdell ESAs, use the CESA Death Beneficiary Designation form. POD beneficiaries receive the funds on deposit upon the death of the account holder.
A POD beneficiary is a person named on your Security Service Member Agreement to receive the funds on deposit upon the death of the account holder. POD designations allow deposit accounts to pass directly to the named beneficiary without going through probate, upon presentation of a death certificate and government ID. Each POD beneficiary provides additional NCUA insurance coverage of up to $250,000.
If the account has a named POD beneficiary, funds pass directly to the beneficiary upon presentation of a death certificate and government ID. Joint accounts pass to the surviving joint owner automatically -- the surviving owner can even close accounts without a death certificate. For trust accounts, the trustee may withdraw funds; on the death of the last surviving trustee, ownership passes to the trust beneficiary. Accounts without POD, joint ownership, or trust titling pass through the estate and may require probate.
Contact the SSFCU Survivor Assistance team at 1-800-832-4602 (Monday-Friday 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM CT), email SurvivorAssistance@ssfcu.org, or fax 210-476-4047. Complete the Deceased Account Checklist at ssfcu.org. You will need a certified death certificate, government-issued ID, and any relevant estate documents. A Survivor Assistance Specialist will review all accounts and reach out within 2-3 business days. Supporting documents can be uploaded online via the Deceased Account Checklist, or sent by email, fax, or mail.
Security Service FCU's Survivor Assistance can be reached by phone at 1-800-832-4602, email at SurvivorAssistance@ssfcu.org, and fax at (210) 476-4047 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Security Service FCU accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Survivor Assistance can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Phone1-888-415-7878
Toll-Free1-800-527-7328
Fax210-444-3000
Mailing Address
Security Service FCU, P.O. Box 691510, San Antonio, TX 78269-1510
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone1-888-415-7878
Toll-Free1-800-527-7328
Fax210-444-3000
Mailing Address
Security Service FCU, P.O. Box 691510, San Antonio, TX 78269-1510
WebsiteLearn more →
Survivor Assistance
Phone1-800-832-4602
Toll-Free1-800-832-4602
Fax(210) 476-4047
Mailing Address
Security Service Federal Credit Union, Attn: Account Services Survivor Assistance, P.O. Box 691510, San Antonio, TX 78269-1510
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Feb 2026
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