What to do when a Stellar Bank account holder dies
Contact Stellar Bank — 4-step process, 4 required documents, and pod and joint accounts typically release within days of receiving a certified death certificate; probated accounts follow texas court timelines.
Brand change
Stellar Bank merged into Prosperity Bank effective July 1, 2026. Branches continue to operate under the Stellar Bank name and the 713-499-1800 customer service line until operational integration scheduled for March 2027. Effective July 2026.
Stellar Bank is now part of Prosperity Bank. The procedures below reflect Stellar Bank's accounts during the transition. View the Prosperity Bank estate planning page.
Stellar Bank
Subsidiary of Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. (successor to Stellar Bancorp, Inc.)
stellar.bank→Customer Service
Stellar Bank, P.O. Box 41314, Houston, TX 77241-1314
Customer Service
Stellar Bank, P.O. Box 41314, Houston, TX 77241-1314
Customer Service
Stellar Bank, P.O. Box 41314, Houston, TX 77241-1314
When an account holder at Stellar 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 Stellar Bank's Customer Service (713-499-1800) to access and distribute the funds.
The claim process begins with a phone call to 713-499-1800. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate available when making initial contact.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Stellar Bank:
Filing a claim
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the person handling the estate
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if the estate is probated)
- Small estate affidavit (if eligible under Texas law and no probate is opened)
What to know at this institution
Stellar Bank merged into Prosperity Bank effective July 1, 2026. Legacy Stellar accounts continue to be serviced under the Stellar Bank name and the 713-499-1800 line until operational integration in March 2027. For accounts already converted or for trust-administered accounts, Prosperity Bank handles deceased-account and estate matters at 1-800-531-1401, or through Prosperity Trust at trust@prosperitybankusa.com. There is no online death-claim portal; the bank verifies your authority before releasing or transferring accounts.
Prepare your letter of instruction to Stellar Bank
Stellar Bank accepts a claimant-drafted letter of instruction. We draft it for you — addressed to Stellar Bank's verified claims department, with the documents it requires enclosed.
Build your letter of instructionProcessing timelines at Stellar Bank: POD and joint accounts typically release within days of receiving a certified death certificate; probated accounts follow Texas court timelines. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
To process a claim, Stellar Bank needs Certified copy of the death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for the person handling the estate, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if the estate is probated), and Small estate affidavit (if eligible under Texas law and no probate is opened). Death certificates and court documents must be certified copies—photocopies are not accepted.
Frequently asked questions
Notify Stellar Bank by calling Customer Service at 713-499-1800 or visiting one of its Texas banking centers, and bring a certified copy of the death certificate plus proof of your role in the estate. There is no online death-claim portal; the bank verifies your authority before releasing or transferring accounts.
Effective July 1, 2026, Stellar Bank merged into Prosperity Bank. Stellar banking offices continue to operate under the Stellar Bank name and the 713-499-1800 customer service line until operational integration in March 2027, so legacy Stellar accounts are still settled through Stellar until that time. Bring a certified copy of the death certificate and proof of your role to a banking center. For accounts that have converted, or for trust-administered accounts, Prosperity Bank handles deceased-account and estate matters at 1-800-531-1401 or Prosperity Trust at trust@prosperitybankusa.com. POD and joint-with-survivorship accounts still pass outside probate; accounts in the decedent's sole name require Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (or a Texas small estate affidavit where eligible).
Stellar Bank's Customer Service can be reached by phone at 713-499-1800 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Stellar Bank accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Customer Service can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Sources
Data sourced from Stellar Bank primary sources (7 pages reviewed). How we research.
Stellar Bank
Subsidiary of Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. (successor to Stellar Bancorp, Inc.)
stellar.bank→Customer Service
Stellar Bank, P.O. Box 41314, Houston, TX 77241-1314
Customer Service
Stellar Bank, P.O. Box 41314, Houston, TX 77241-1314
Customer Service
Stellar Bank, P.O. Box 41314, Houston, TX 77241-1314
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