What to do when a SouthState Bank account holder dies
Report the death to SouthState Bank at 1-800-277-2175
When an account holder at SouthState Bank 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 SouthState Bank's SouthState Wealth - Estate Settlement to access and distribute the funds.
Begin by calling SouthState Bank. You will need the deceased's full name, account numbers, and the death certificate to get the process started.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
The death claim process at SouthState Bank works as follows:
Filing a claim
Required Documents
- The court order or other document under which the personal representative actsSouthState may review it.
What happens to each kind of account3
- Joint account with survivorship
On a joint account with right of survivorship, the remaining funds belong to the surviving co-owners and may be paid to them directly.1
- Payable-on-death account
The funds pass to the surviving beneficiaries in equal shares after SouthState deducts any fees or costs the last owner owed. If no beneficiary survives, they are paid to the last owner's estate.1
SouthState has no obligation to notify a beneficiary that a POD account exists.1
- Fiduciary account
A personal representative acting for the estate is designated as personal representative on the account signature card. The court order or other document under which the representative acts governs the account.1
SouthState's Business Deposit Account Agreement governs an account owned by an estate.2
State law on paying a balance without lettersFlorida, Georgia, Texas
- Florida
Fla. Stat. § 735.303
Florida law permits a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on an affidavit made under oath, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.Fla. Stat. § 735.303Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Paid to: family member (surviving spouse; else adult child; else adult descendant; else parent)
Limit: $2,000 held at the institution and $2,000 in total from every holder
When: not earlier than 6 months after the date of the decedent’s death
The section permits the payment. It does not require the bank to make it. The section sets further conditions.
- Georgia
O.C.G.A. § 7-1-239
Georgia law permits a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on an affidavit, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.O.C.G.A. § 7-1-239Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Paid to: the surviving spouse; else the children; else the father and mother; else the brothers and sisters (subsection (b))
Limit: $15,000 held at the institution
Paid to: providers of funeral services and of services for the last illness (subsection (c))
Limit: $15,000 held at the institution
When: if no application for the deposit is made by any person named in subsection (b) of this Code section within 45 days from the death of the intestate depositor
The section applies where the person died without a will. The section permits the payment. It does not require the bank to make it. The section sets further conditions.
- Texas
Tex. Est. Code § 152.051
Texas law permits a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on an order of the court, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.Tex. Est. Code § 152.051Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Paid to: a funeral home or the applicant, for funeral and burial expenses
Limit: $5,000 in total from every holder
When: the application may be filed "not earlier than the third day after the date of the decedent's death and not later than nine months after the date of the decedent's death"
The section permits the payment. It does not require the bank to make it. The section sets further conditions.
Accounts handled elsewhere1
What SouthState Bank's agreement and guidance say2
- Payments after the death
Until SouthState knows of the death and has had a reasonable opportunity to act, it may keep honoring checks and instructions. It may pay or certify checks written on or before the date of death for up to 10 calendar days afterward unless someone claiming an interest in the account orders payment stopped.1
- Deposits after the death
Federal or state benefit deposits, such as Social Security, may be reversed from the account.1
Sources4
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.
- The borrower's name
- The loan account number
- The specific reason for the request
Required Documents
- A written request about the loan's servicingIt names the borrower, the loan account number and the reason for the request.
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-800-277-2175
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:00 AM-8:00 PM ET; Saturday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM ET
Mailing address: ATTN: Inquiries, SouthState Bank, PO Box 118068, Charleston, SC 29423
Federal law on calling a home loan after a death
These exemptions apply to a loan secured by residential real property containing less than five dwelling units.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d); 12 CFR 191.5(b), 141.14Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer by devise, descent, or operation of law on the death of a joint tenant or tenant by the entirety.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(3); 12 CFR 191.5(b)(1)(iii)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer to a relative resulting from the death of a borrower.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(5)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
- A lender may not exercise a due-on-sale clause upon a transfer where the spouse or children of the borrower become an owner of the property.12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3(d)(6)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
A federal regulation sets further conditions on these transfers.12 CFR 191.5(b)(1)(v)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- SouthState Wealth
Estate settlement agency services1
Not in SouthState Bank's published guidance1
- A procedure for reporting a death
Sources1
Sources
Data sourced from SouthState Bank primary sources (31 pages reviewed). How we research.
SouthState Bank death claims support
Customer Care
Phone
Toll-free
Phone Banking
BillPay Support
After Hours Debit Card Support (lost or stolen debit cards)
Hours
Website
Death notifications go through general customer service.
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