What to do when a Service CU account holder dies
Contact Service CU — 12-step process, 8 required documents, and pod and joint accounts processed upon verification of documents; estate accounts vary based on probate requirements
Phone00800-4728-2000
Toll-Free1-800-936-7730
Mailing Address
Service Credit Union, P.O. Box 1268, Portsmouth, NH 03801
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Phone00800-4728-2000
Toll-Free1-800-936-7730
Mailing Address
Service Credit Union, P.O. Box 1268, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Real Estate Loans
Automated Telephone Teller
Text Chat
WebsiteLearn more →
Inheritor Services
Phone1-800-936-7730
Toll-Free1-800-936-7730
Fax603-430-6559
Mailing Address
Inheritor Services, Service Credit Union, P.O. Box 1268, Portsmouth, NH 03802-1268
Verified Feb 2026
When a Service CU member passes away, the Inheritor Services 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.
The claim process can be initiated by phone at 1-800-936-7730 or by sending documentation to inheritorservices@servicecu.org. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate available when making initial contact.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Service CU:
Filing a claim
1Contact the Service CU Contact Center at 800.936.7730 (available 24/7) or visit any branch to report the death
2Provide a photocopy of the death certificate to the Inheritor Services department
3Provide a Report of Casualty if applicable (military-related death)
4Provide executor information or Certificate of Appointment if applicable
5For POD accounts: beneficiary provides death certificate and government-issued photo ID to claim funds
6For joint accounts with right of survivorship: surviving owner provides death certificate to remove the deceased
7For accounts without POD or joint ownership: executor or administrator provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court
8Submit documents by email to inheritorservices@servicecu.org, by fax to 603.430.6559, or by mail to Inheritor Services, P.O. Box 1268, Portsmouth, NH 03802-1268
9For estate accounts: complete and submit the Fiduciary Account Application (Estate Account Application form available at servicecu.org/forms-and-brochures/)
10For investment accounts held through LPL Financial: a separate claims process may apply through Service Financial Group
11Close the account promptly to avoid IRS tax-filing complications
12Joint members must notify all companies conducting automatic withdrawals about the member passing
Required Documents
- Photocopy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for claimant
- Report of Casualty (if applicable)
- Executor information or Certificate of Appointment (if applicable)
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no POD or joint account)
- Small Estate Affidavit (if estate qualifies under applicable state law)
- Trust documents (if trust is named as beneficiary)
- Fiduciary Account Application (for opening an estate account)
Inheritor Services handles all deceased member accounts. Documents can be emailed to inheritorservices@servicecu.org or faxed to 603.430.6559. For co-borrower mortgages, contact the Real Estate Department at 800.619.6575. Surviving joint members retain debit card access until closure; the deceased member's cards are deactivated.
Processing timelines at Service CU: POD and joint accounts processed upon verification of documents; estate accounts vary based on probate requirements. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Service CU requires several documents to process a claim, including Photocopy of the death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for claimant, and Report of Casualty (if applicable), 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
Visit any Service CU branch with government-issued photo ID or call the Contact Center at 800.936.7730 (available 24/7). Request a POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary designation form and provide beneficiary details including full name, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship. Changes to beneficiaries can be made at any time. Review your designations after life events such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child.
Service CU offers two options: a Living Trust account, which allows you to maintain control of your assets while ensuring a seamless transition for your beneficiaries, and a Payable on Death (POD) account, which is a straightforward way to transfer funds directly to beneficiaries without a formal trust agreement. Service CU recommends consulting an attorney to prepare a Last Will and Testament, Power of Attorney for Health Care, Durable Power of Attorney, and to ask about a Transfer on Death Deed or Trust. Service CU cannot provide legal, tax, or estate planning advice.
For POD accounts, designated beneficiaries receive the funds upon presenting a death certificate and government-issued photo ID. For joint accounts with right of survivorship, the surviving owner continues to have full access after providing a death certificate. For accounts without POD or joint ownership, the estate representative must provide Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court. Contact the Inheritor Services department at 800.936.7730 or email inheritorservices@servicecu.org to report a death.
You are eligible to open an estate account if you are the qualified administrator for a deceased Service CU member who resided within the United States on the date of death. Complete and submit the Fiduciary Account Application (Estate Account Application) available at servicecu.org/forms-and-brochures/. Mail the completed form to Inheritor Services, Service Credit Union, P.O. Box 1268, Portsmouth, NH 03802-1268. Estate accounts may include savings and checking components, online banking access, and debit card functionality.
Service CU's Inheritor Services can be reached by phone at 1-800-936-7730, email at inheritorservices@servicecu.org, and fax at 603-430-6559 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Service CU accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Inheritor Services can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Phone00800-4728-2000
Toll-Free1-800-936-7730
Mailing Address
Service Credit Union, P.O. Box 1268, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Real Estate Loans
Automated Telephone Teller
Text Chat
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone00800-4728-2000
Toll-Free1-800-936-7730
Mailing Address
Service Credit Union, P.O. Box 1268, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Real Estate Loans
Automated Telephone Teller
Text Chat
WebsiteLearn more →
Inheritor Services
Phone1-800-936-7730
Toll-Free1-800-936-7730
Fax603-430-6559
Mailing Address
Inheritor Services, Service Credit Union, P.O. Box 1268, Portsmouth, NH 03802-1268
Verified Feb 2026
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