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)
Mortgage Loss Mitigation
Verified Apr 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.
Before contacting Simmons Bank, have the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any available account numbers ready. A certified death certificate is required to initiate the claim.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Simmons Bank:
Filing a claim
1
Contact Simmons Bank at 1-866-246-2400 or visit your nearest branch to report the death of an account holder (Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CT; Saturday 8:00 a.m. to noon CT)
2
For accounts with POD beneficiary:
- Provide a certified copy of the death certificate
- Provide valid government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary
3
For joint accounts with right of survivorship: provide a certified copy of the death certificate to remove the deceased from the account
4
For trust accounts:
- Provide a certified copy of the death certificate
- Provide trust documentation showing the successor trustee provision
- Provide government-issued photo ID for the successor trustee
5
For accounts without beneficiary designation:
- Provide probate documents such as Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
- Or provide a small estate affidavit if applicable under state law
6
For IRA accounts:
- Provide a certified copy of the death certificate and beneficiary identification
- Complete any required IRA distribution or inherited IRA forms
7
Submit all required documentation in person at a branch or by mail
8
Simmons 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. Per Arkansas law and Simmons Bank terms, the 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.
1
Notify Simmons Bank of the borrower's death by calling Customer Service at 1-866-246-2400 (Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CT; Saturday 8:00 a.m. to noon CT)
2
Provide borrower identification:
- Full legal name, Social Security number, and mortgage loan number
- Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
3
Request the Successor in Interest documentation package from the representative
4
Complete and return the Successor in Interest documentation:
- Include proof of your ownership interest in the property (e.g., probated will, court order, recorded deed, or trust document)
- Simmons Bank will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest under CFPB mortgage servicing rules
5
Once confirmed, discuss available options:
- Continue making payments, apply for loss mitigation, assume the loan, refinance, or pay off the balance
- If experiencing financial difficulty, call 1-877-876-3500 (option 3) for mortgage payment assistance
6
Continue 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).
Expected timelines at Simmons Bank: 5-10 business days for initial review after complete documentation is received; processing may take longer for accounts requiring probate. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
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
Per Simmons Bank's Personal Terms and Conditions, a POD beneficiary cannot access account funds until all persons who created the account have died and the beneficiary is alive at that time. If multiple POD beneficiaries survive, they own the account in equal shares with right of survivorship. During the account owner's lifetime, the owner retains full control and may change beneficiaries, change account types, or withdraw all funds at any time. To claim a POD account after the owner's death, the beneficiary must present a certified copy of the death certificate and valid government-issued photo ID at a branch or by mail to P.O. Box 7009, Pine Bluff, AR 71611.
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 is transferred to the borrower's revocable living trust, as long as the borrower remains a beneficiary and the transfer does not relate to a change of occupancy. This means a homeowner may transfer their Simmons Bank-mortgaged property into a revocable trust for estate planning purposes without triggering a loan acceleration. Upon the borrower's death, heirs or successor trustees who assume ownership may be entitled to Successor in Interest status under CFPB mortgage servicing rules, which allows them to be treated as borrowers for purposes of account information and loss mitigation options.
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)
Mortgage Loss Mitigation
Verified Apr 2026
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