What to do when a STCU account holder dies
Contact STCU's STCU Investment Services (through LPL Financial) — 5-step process, 7 required documents, and 5-10 business days after all documentation is received, though complex estates may take longer
STCU, P.O. Box 1954, Spokane, WA 99210-1954
STCU Investment Services (through LPL Financial)
STCU Investment Services, 9 S. Washington St., Suite 105, Spokane, WA 99201-3719
STCU, P.O. Box 1954, Spokane, WA 99210-1954
After a member of STCU dies, the estate services team manages the transfer of accounts. POD-designated and trust-owned accounts pass directly to beneficiaries. Accounts held solely in the member's name may require probate court documents—Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration—before funds can be released.
STCU provides an online portal for initiating death claims, which can simplify the initial notification and document submission process. Claims can also be started by phone or by mailing the required documents.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at STCU:
Filing a claim
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant
- For accounts with POD beneficiary: provide the death certificate and beneficiary ID to claim funds directly -- POD accounts bypass the probate process
- For joint accounts with right of survivorship: provide the death certificate; surviving owner retains access to the account
- For accounts without beneficiary or survivorship: a court order may be required to designate a personal representative to manage the estate -- STCU cannot accept a will as legal authority to access accounts
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant (beneficiary, personal representative, or joint owner)
- Account information for the deceased (account numbers if available)
- For accounts without beneficiary: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the court
- For small estates: Small Estate Affidavit as permitted under applicable state law (Washington RCW 11.62 or Idaho Code 15-3-1201)
- For trust accounts: trust documentation including successor trustee provisions and trustee ID
- For IRA accounts: IRA beneficiary claim forms and applicable distribution election forms
What to know at this institution
STCU recommends reporting the death as soon as possible. STCU cannot accept a will as legal authority to access any account for which you are not the joint owner; a court order designating a personal representative may be required. For accounts held in community property states (WA, ID), specific state laws may affect the disposition of jointly held or community property assets. Visiting a local branch is the most direct way to initiate the estate settlement process.
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.
- Deceased borrower's full legal name and loan number
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Continue making payments on the existing loan
- Assume the loan
- Refinance in your own name
- Pay off the remaining balance
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Completed Successor in Interest form (obtained from loan servicing department)
- Documentation proving ownership interest in the property: probated will, court order, recorded deed, or trust document showing you as successor trustee or beneficiary
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if going through probate)
- Marriage certificate (if surviving spouse)
What to know at this institution
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3), STCU 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. STCU makes mortgage decisions locally and services most conventional home loans, which may simplify the Successor in Interest process.
Prepare your letter of instruction to STCU
STCU accepts a claimant-drafted letter of instruction. We draft it for you — addressed to STCU's verified claims department, with the documents it requires enclosed.
Build your letter of instructionProcessing timelines at STCU: 5-10 business days after all documentation is received, though complex estates may take longer. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
STCU requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified copy of the death certificate, Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant (beneficiary, personal representative, or joint owner), and Account information for the deceased (account numbers if available), 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
When an account holder with a POD (Payable on Death) designation dies, the named beneficiary can claim the account funds by visiting any STCU branch with a certified copy of the death certificate and a valid government-issued photo ID. POD accounts bypass the probate process and pass directly to the named beneficiary upon the death of the last joint account owner. STCU cannot accept a will alone as legal authority to access an account without a court order or POD designation.
Call STCU at (509) 326-1954 (Washington), (208) 619-4000 (Idaho), or toll-free (800) 858-3750 as soon as possible. STCU will review all accounts held by the deceased and check whether any credit cards or loans include life insurance benefits. For accounts without a POD beneficiary or joint owner, a court-appointed personal representative with Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration is required. Small estates may qualify under Washington RCW 11.62 or Idaho Code 15-3-1201 for a simplified affidavit process. A step-by-step checklist is available at stcu.org/support/general-support/report-a-death.
STCU's estate services team can be reached by phone at 1-800-858-3750 and fax at (509) 344-2190 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple STCU accounts, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The estate services team can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Sources
Data sourced from STCU primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
STCU, P.O. Box 1954, Spokane, WA 99210-1954
STCU Investment Services (through LPL Financial)
STCU Investment Services, 9 S. Washington St., Suite 105, Spokane, WA 99201-3719
STCU, P.O. Box 1954, Spokane, WA 99210-1954
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