What to do when a Security Service FCU account holder dies
Contact Security Service FCU — 5-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.
Security Service FCU, P.O. Box 691510, San Antonio, TX 78269-1510
Security Service FCU, P.O. Box 691510, San Antonio, TX 78269-1510
Survivor Assistance
Security Service Federal Credit Union, Attn: Account Services Survivor Assistance, P.O. Box 691510, San Antonio, TX 78269-1510
After a member of Security Service FCU dies, the Survivor Assistance manages the transfer of accounts. POD-designated and trust-owned accounts pass directly to beneficiaries. Accounts held solely in the member's name may require probate court documents—Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration—before funds can be released.
Security Service FCU offers an online claims portal that makes the initial filing process more straightforward. Survivors can also initiate claims by phone or by mailing documentation directly.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Security Service FCU:
Filing a claim
- Certified death certificate
- Supporting documents uploaded via the online Deceased Account Checklist, or sent by email, fax, or mail
- Jointly owned accounts: surviving account owner may close accounts without a death certificate
- POD accounts: named beneficiary provides certified death certificate and government-issued photo ID to claim funds
- 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)
What to know at this institution
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.
Prepare your letter of instruction to Security Service FCU
Security Service FCU accepts a claimant-drafted letter of instruction. We draft it for you — addressed to Security Service FCU's verified claims department, with the documents it requires enclosed.
Build your letter of instructionProcessing 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.
Documentation required by Security Service FCU includes Certified death certificate (not required for joint account owners wishing to close accounts), Government-issued photo ID for claimant, and Written request for payout, along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. A revocable living trust can be named as the POD beneficiary on Security Service checking, savings, money market, and certificate accounts. This allows the account balance to pass directly to the trust at death, where it is then distributed according to the trust terms without going through probate. Alternatively, the account itself can be retitled into the trust name during the account holder's lifetime by visiting a branch with the trust agreement or Certificate of Trust.
If a deceased member's accounts have no POD beneficiary designation and no surviving joint owner, the accounts become part of the member's estate and must be settled through the estate administration process. The executor or administrator of the estate must present Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration to the Survivor Assistance team to claim the funds. SSFCU's Survivor Assistance team is reachable at 1-800-832-4602 (Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM CT) or by email at SurvivorAssistance@ssfcu.org.
Yes. A trust can be named as the beneficiary of a Security Service Traditional IRA or Roth IRA using the IRA Beneficiary Designation form available in the Member Forms Library at ssfcu.org. IRA accounts cannot be retitled into a trust during the owner's lifetime. Naming a trust as IRA beneficiary has significant tax implications under the SECURE Act; consult a tax advisor before doing so, as a non-qualifying trust may be required to distribute the entire IRA within 10 years of the owner's death.
When an account is retitled into the name of a revocable living trust at Security Service, any existing POD beneficiary designation on that account should be reviewed. Trust ownership of the account changes the legal nature of the account — distributions at the death of the last surviving trustee pass to the trust beneficiary, not to a separately named POD. SSFCU notes that on the death of the last surviving trustee, ownership of the account passes to the beneficiary named in the trust document.
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.
When the deceased had multiple Security Service FCU accounts, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Survivor Assistance can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Sources
Data sourced from Security Service FCU primary sources (25 pages reviewed). How we research.
Security Service FCU, P.O. Box 691510, San Antonio, TX 78269-1510
Security Service FCU, P.O. Box 691510, San Antonio, TX 78269-1510
Survivor Assistance
Security Service Federal Credit Union, Attn: Account Services Survivor Assistance, P.O. Box 691510, San Antonio, TX 78269-1510
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