What to do when a Service CU account holder dies
Contact Service CU — 5-step process, 8 required documents, and pod and joint accounts processed upon verification of documents; estate accounts vary based on probate requirements
Member Service
Service Credit Union, 3003 Lafayette Road, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Member Service
Service Credit Union, 3003 Lafayette Road, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Inheritor Services
Inheritor Services, Service Credit Union, P.O. Box 1268, Portsmouth, NH 03802-1268
The Inheritor Services at Service CU 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.
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
- Provide a photocopy of the death certificate to the Inheritor Services department
- Provide a Report of Casualty if applicable (military-related death)
- Provide executor information or Certificate of Appointment if applicable
- For POD accounts: beneficiary provides death certificate and government-issued photo ID to claim funds
- For joint accounts with right of survivorship: surviving owner provides death certificate to remove the deceased
- For accounts without POD or joint ownership: executor or administrator provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court
- For estate accounts: complete and submit the Fiduciary Account Application (Estate Account Application form available at https://servicecu.org/forms-and-brochures/)
- For investment accounts held through LPL Financial: a separate claims process may apply through Service Financial Group
- Close the account promptly to avoid IRS tax-filing complications
- Joint 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)
Claims Contact
What to know at this institution
Inheritor Services handles all deceased member accounts. Documents can be emailed to inheritorservices@servicecu.org or faxed to 603.430.6559. International callers can reach Inheritor Services at 00800.4728.2000 ext. 2255. 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.
Prepare your letter of instruction to Service CU
Service CU asks for a letter of instruction alongside its claim form. We prepare a transmittal cover letter and the enclosure checklist Service CU requires.
Build your letter of instructionProcessing 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
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 (becomes irrevocable upon the account holder's passing and assets distribute according to the owner's instructions), and a Payable on Death (POD) account, which is a straightforward way to transfer funds directly to beneficiaries without a formal trust agreement. Both options avoid probate. 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.
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 https://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.
Multiple Service CU accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Inheritor Services to confirm what applies.
Sources
Data sourced from Service CU primary sources (21 pages reviewed). How we research.
Member Service
Service Credit Union, 3003 Lafayette Road, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Member Service
Service Credit Union, 3003 Lafayette Road, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Inheritor Services
Inheritor Services, Service Credit Union, P.O. Box 1268, Portsmouth, NH 03802-1268
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