What to do when a Stock Yards Bank account holder dies
Contact Stock Yards Bank's Wealth Management & Trust — 3-step process, 6 required documents, and pod beneficiaries may access funds upon presenting death certificate and valid id at a branch. non-pod accounts require probate documentation; timeline varies by state.
Phone502-582-2571
Toll-Free1-800-625-9066
Mailing Address
Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, P.O. Box 32890, Louisville, KY 40232-2890
Wealth Management & Trust
Director of Trust Services
WebsiteLearn more→
Wealth Management & Trust
Phone502-625-1005
Director of Trust Services
Director of Wealth Management
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims / Estate Services
Phone502-582-2571
Toll-Free1-800-625-9066
Mailing Address
Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, P.O. Box 32890, Louisville, KY 40232-2890
Wealth Management (for trust/estate accounts)
Verified Jul 2026
After a Stock Yards Bank account holder dies, accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer to the designated recipients without probate. Solely-owned accounts require the estate's representative to contact Stock Yards Bank's Wealth Management & Trust at 502-582-2571 with the proper legal authority documents.
The claim process begins with a phone call to 502-582-2571. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate available when making initial contact.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Stock Yards Bank requires:
Filing a claim
1
Report the death to Stock Yards Bank:
- Contact customer service at 1-800-625-9066 or visit a branch
- Provide the deceased's full legal name and account information
2
Follow the process for your account type:
- For POD accounts: beneficiary presents valid ID and certified death certificate at a branch to receive funds
- For joint accounts: surviving owner presents death certificate to transfer sole ownership
- For trust accounts: successor trustee notifies the bank and provides death certificate and Certificate of Trust naming successor trustee
- For sole-owner accounts without POD: executor presents Letters Testamentary and death certificate
- If no will or named executor: obtain Letters of Administration from probate court and present to the bank
3
Complete the claim:
- Submit all required documentation for review
- Wait for processing and distribution of account funds
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate (multiple copies recommended)
- Government-issued photo ID for claimant
- Letters Testamentary (if will names an executor)
- Letters of Administration (if no will or no named executor)
- Trust documents and Certificate of Trust naming successor trustee (for trust-owned accounts)
- Small Estate Affidavit (if estate qualifies under state law)
What to know at this institution
POD account beneficiaries can access funds directly by visiting a branch with valid ID and a certified death certificate. Joint account holders can transfer sole ownership with a death certificate. Trust account successor trustees should notify the bank and provide the death certificate and Certificate of Trust. For accounts requiring probate, an estate attorney can help navigate the process. Stock Yards Bank Wealth Management & Trust can also serve as executor, personal representative, or estate settlement agent. Contact Wealth Management at (502) 625-1005 for estate settlement services.
Prepare your letter of instruction to Stock Yards Bank
Stock Yards Bank accepts a claimant-drafted letter of instruction. We draft it for you — addressed to Stock Yards Bank's verified claims department, with the documents it requires enclosed.
Build your letter of instructionExpected timelines at Stock Yards Bank: POD beneficiaries may access funds upon presenting death certificate and valid ID at a branch. Non-POD accounts require probate documentation; timeline varies by state. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
Documentation required by Stock Yards Bank includes Certified death certificate (multiple copies recommended), Government-issued photo ID for claimant, and Letters Testamentary (if will names an executor), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
At minimum, bring a certified death certificate and valid government-issued ID. Depending on account type you may also need Letters Testamentary (if a will names an executor), Letters of Administration (if there is no will or no named executor), or trust documents and a Certificate of Trust naming the successor trustee for trust accounts. Order several certified copies of the death certificate before you begin. POD beneficiaries can claim deposit accounts directly at a branch without probate documents.
Under the SECURE Act (as amended by SECURE Act 2.0), most non-spouse beneficiaries who inherit an IRA after January 1, 2020 must fully distribute the account by December 31 of the 10th year following the original owner's death. This replaced the prior "stretch IRA" strategy. The rule applies to inherited Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and 401(k) accounts. Stock Yards Bank Wealth Management & Trust can help beneficiaries model distribution scenarios to minimize the tax impact. Contact (502) 625-1005 or see https://www.syb.com/wealth-management/blog/10-year-rule-beneficiary-iras-and-associated-strategies for details.
Stock Yards Bank's Death Claims / Estate Services can be reached by phone at 1-800-625-9066 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple Stock Yards Bank accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Wealth Management & Trust to confirm what applies.
Sources
Data sourced from Stock Yards Bank primary sources (23 pages reviewed). How we research.
Phone502-582-2571
Toll-Free1-800-625-9066
Mailing Address
Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, P.O. Box 32890, Louisville, KY 40232-2890
Wealth Management & Trust
Director of Trust Services
WebsiteLearn more→
Wealth Management & Trust
Phone502-625-1005
Director of Trust Services
Director of Wealth Management
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims / Estate Services
Phone502-582-2571
Toll-Free1-800-625-9066
Mailing Address
Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, P.O. Box 32890, Louisville, KY 40232-2890
Wealth Management (for trust/estate accounts)
Verified Jul 2026
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