What to do when a Simmons Bank account holder dies
Contact Simmons Bank — 8-step process, 8 required documents, and 5-10 business days for initial review after complete documentation is received; processing may take longer for accounts requiring probate
Phone1-866-246-2400
Mailing Address
Simmons Bank, Customer Service Center, P.O. Box 7009, Pine Bluff, AR 71611
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone1-866-246-2400
Mailing Address
Simmons Bank, Customer Service Center, P.O. Box 7009, Pine Bluff, AR 71611
WebsiteLearn more →
Death Claims
Phone1-866-246-2400
Toll-Free1-866-246-2400
Mailing Address
Simmons Bank, P.O. Box 7009, Pine Bluff, AR 71611
24-Hour Telephone Banking
Credit Card Center
Debit Card (Lost/Stolen)
Verified Feb 2026
When a Simmons Bank account holder passes away, the next step depends on how the accounts were set up. Accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate. Accounts titled solely in the deceased's name require the estate's legal representative to work with Simmons Bank's Death Claims (1-866-246-2400) to access and distribute the funds.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting Simmons Bank. A certified death certificate is the primary document required to start any claim.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Simmons Bank:
Filing a claim
1Contact Simmons Bank at 1-866-246-2400 or visit your nearest branch to report the death of an account holder
2For accounts with POD beneficiary: provide a certified copy of the death certificate and valid government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary
3For joint accounts with right of survivorship: provide a certified copy of the death certificate to remove the deceased from the account
4For trust accounts: provide a certified copy of the death certificate, trust documentation showing successor trustee, and government-issued photo ID for the successor trustee
5For accounts without beneficiary designation: provide probate documents such as Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, or a small estate affidavit if applicable under state law
6For IRA accounts: provide a certified copy of the death certificate, beneficiary identification, and complete any required IRA distribution or inherited IRA forms
7Submit all required documentation in person at a branch or by mail
8Simmons Bank will review documentation and process the claim
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant (beneficiary, executor, or successor trustee)
- Account information for the deceased
- For accounts without beneficiary: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from probate court
- For small estates: small estate affidavit (where permitted under state law)
- For trust accounts: trust documentation showing successor trustee provisions, signature and notary pages, and any amendments
- For IRA accounts: IRA distribution or inherited IRA forms as applicable
- Written instructions on preferred distribution method
For accounts with named POD beneficiaries, funds typically transfer directly to the beneficiary upon receipt of the death certificate and valid identification. If multiple POD beneficiaries survive, they own the account in equal shares with right of survivorship. In-branch visits are recommended for the most efficient processing. Simmons Bank may pay or certify checks drawn on or before the date of death for up to ten days after death unless ordered to stop by someone claiming an interest in the account. For Private Wealth Management trust accounts, contact the Private Wealth team directly for estate administration assistance.
Mortgage and home lending
Mortgages and home equity loans are liabilities, not assets. They do not have beneficiaries and cannot be retitled to a trust. When a borrower dies, the loan obligation transfers with the property to whoever inherits it. Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Act, the lender cannot accelerate the loan or call it due when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, or the borrower's revocable trust.
1Notify Simmons Bank of the borrower's death by calling Customer Service at 1-866-246-2400
2Provide the deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number, and mortgage loan number
3Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
4Request the Successor in Interest documentation package from the representative
5Complete and return the Successor in Interest documentation with proof of your ownership interest in the property (e.g., probated will, court order, recorded deed, or trust document)
6Simmons Bank will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest under CFPB mortgage servicing rules
7Once confirmed, you will have access to loan information and can discuss options: continue making payments, apply for loss mitigation, assume the loan, refinance, or pay off the balance
8If experiencing financial difficulty, call 1-877-876-3500 (option 3) for mortgage payment assistance
9Continue making monthly mortgage payments during the review process to avoid default
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Completed Successor in Interest documentation
- Documentation proving ownership interest in the property (one or more of the following): probated will naming you as heir, court order of succession, recorded deed transferring ownership, trust document showing you as successor trustee or beneficiary
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if going through probate)
- Marriage certificate (if surviving spouse)
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), Simmons Bank cannot enforce a due-on-sale clause when the property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, relative upon death, or the borrower's revocable living trust. Confirmed Successors in Interest are treated as borrowers under CFPB mortgage servicing rules and are entitled to account information and loss mitigation options. Loss mitigation department: 1-877-876-3500 (option 3).
Processing timelines at Simmons Bank: 5-10 business days for initial review after complete documentation is received; processing may take longer for accounts requiring probate. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Simmons Bank requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified copy of the death certificate, Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant (beneficiary, executor, or successor trustee), and Account information for the deceased, 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
You can add a POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary to your Simmons Bank deposit accounts through online banking, by visiting a branch, or by calling 1-866-246-2400. You will need the beneficiary's full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number. For trusts as beneficiaries, visit a branch with a copy of your Certification of Trust.
A POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary designation names who receives the funds in your account upon your death, bypassing probate. If multiple POD beneficiaries survive, they own the account in equal shares with right of survivorship. A trust account is an account titled in the name of a trust, which is managed by the trustee according to the trust terms. Both methods avoid probate, but a trust account provides additional control over how and when assets are distributed.
Contact Simmons Bank at 1-866-246-2400 (Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CT; Saturday 8:00 a.m. to noon CT) or visit your nearest branch. You will need to provide a certified copy of the death certificate and valid government-issued photo ID. The bank will advise on additional documents needed based on the type of account and whether beneficiaries are designated.
Required documents vary by situation. At minimum, you need a certified copy of the death certificate and valid government-issued photo ID. For POD accounts, beneficiary identification is sufficient. For accounts without beneficiaries, you will need Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from probate court, or a small estate affidavit where permitted under state law. For trust accounts, bring the trust documentation showing successor trustee provisions.
Simmons Bank's Death Claims can be reached by phone at 1-866-246-2400 and email at support@simmonsbank.com for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Simmons Bank accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Death Claims can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Phone1-866-246-2400
Mailing Address
Simmons Bank, Customer Service Center, P.O. Box 7009, Pine Bluff, AR 71611
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone1-866-246-2400
Mailing Address
Simmons Bank, Customer Service Center, P.O. Box 7009, Pine Bluff, AR 71611
WebsiteLearn more →
Death Claims
Phone1-866-246-2400
Toll-Free1-866-246-2400
Mailing Address
Simmons Bank, P.O. Box 7009, Pine Bluff, AR 71611
24-Hour Telephone Banking
Credit Card Center
Debit Card (Lost/Stolen)
Verified Feb 2026
Tools for settling a Simmons Bank estate
Calculators and checklists to help navigate estate settlement after a Simmons Bank account holder passes away.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Get a personalized checklist for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.
Get Checklist
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.
Use Calculator
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.
Use Calculator
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.
Use Calculator
Do I Need Probate?
Answer a few questions to find out if an estate needs full probate, qualifies for simplified probate, or can avoid probate entirely with a small estate affidavit.
Check Now
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.
Use Calculator