What to do when a Summit CU account holder dies
Contact Summit CU — 11-step process, 5 required documents, and pod and joint accounts typically processed within 5-10 business days upon verification of documentation. estate accounts vary depending on probate court timelines and completeness of documentation.
Phone1-800-236-5560
Mailing Address
Summit Credit Union, P.O. Box 8046, Madison, WI 53708-8046
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone1-800-236-5560
Mailing Address
Summit Credit Union, P.O. Box 8046, Madison, WI 53708-8046
WebsiteLearn more →
Death Claims
Phone(608) 243-5000
Mailing Address
Summit Credit Union, P.O. Box 8046, Madison, WI 53708-8046
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Feb 2026
When a Summit CU member passes away, the Death Claims handles the transition of accounts to beneficiaries or the estate. Accounts with Payable on Death designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate, while solely-owned accounts may require Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court.
Summit CU 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.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Summit CU:
Filing a claim
1Contact Summit Credit Union at 608-243-5000 or toll-free at 800-236-5560 to notify of the member's death
2Or visit any Summit branch location to provide notification
3Summit will connect you with their Decedent Specialist
4The Decedent Specialist reviews the deceased member's accounts and looks for POD beneficiary designations
5Provide a certified copy of the death certificate
6For POD accounts: each named beneficiary provides government-issued ID to claim funds
7For joint accounts with survivorship: accounts transfer to the surviving account holder(s) and may avoid probate
8For trust accounts: successor trustee provides trust document, death certificate, and trustee ID
9For estate accounts (no POD/trust/joint): provide Letters of Personal Representative or court documentation
10Outstanding loans or fees are deducted before distribution
11Once the Decedent Specialist determines there is a payout and identifies beneficiaries, Summit disburses funds
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for each beneficiary or claimant
- Letters of Personal Representative issued by probate court (if no POD, trust, or joint owner)
- Trust documents and trustee identification (if trust is beneficiary or account is trust-titled)
- Small Estate Affidavit (if estate qualifies under Wisconsin law -- estates under $50,000)
Summit has a dedicated Decedent Specialist who handles all aspects of account settlement following a member's death. POD beneficiary assets are turned over to the beneficiary upon the last account owner's death, less any outstanding loans or fees. Joint accounts with survivorship transfer to the surviving owner(s) and may avoid probate. The credit union may require the survivor or claimant to produce certain documents before releasing funds. For overnight mail, use: 1709 Landmark Dr., Cottage Grove, WI 53527.
Processing timelines at Summit CU: POD and joint accounts typically processed within 5-10 business days upon verification of documentation. Estate accounts vary depending on probate court timelines and completeness of documentation.. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Summit CU requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for each beneficiary or claimant, and Letters of Personal Representative issued by probate court (if no POD, trust, or joint owner), 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
Visit any of Summit's 58 Wisconsin branches with government-issued ID and request to add a POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary designation. You can also call 608-243-5000 or toll-free 800-236-5560. Deposit accounts use POD designations, while IRA accounts have a separate beneficiary process. Provide each beneficiary's full name, date of birth, Social Security number, relationship, and percentage allocation.
Summit will connect your family with a dedicated Decedent Specialist who reviews your accounts. If you have POD beneficiaries, assets transfer directly to them less any outstanding loans or fees. Joint accounts with survivorship transfer to the surviving owner and may avoid probate. If neither exists, the account becomes part of your estate and requires court documentation for distribution. Call 608-243-5000 or 800-236-5560 to begin the process.
At minimum, you need a certified death certificate and government-issued photo ID for each beneficiary or claimant. For POD accounts, the named beneficiary provides ID and the death certificate. For estate accounts without POD or joint ownership, you also need Letters of Personal Representative from probate court. Trust account claims require the trust document and trustee identification.
Summit partners with TruStage and One Digital Trust to offer online estate planning. For $199, members get a full year of access to create wills, trusts, guardianship designations, and powers of attorney, renewable at $36 per year. Summit also has a dedicated Decedent Specialist to assist families with account settlement after a member's death.
Summit CU's Death Claims can be reached by phone at (608) 243-5000 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Summit CU 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.
Phone1-800-236-5560
Mailing Address
Summit Credit Union, P.O. Box 8046, Madison, WI 53708-8046
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone1-800-236-5560
Mailing Address
Summit Credit Union, P.O. Box 8046, Madison, WI 53708-8046
WebsiteLearn more →
Death Claims
Phone(608) 243-5000
Mailing Address
Summit Credit Union, P.O. Box 8046, Madison, WI 53708-8046
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Feb 2026
Tools for settling a Summit CU estate
Calculators and checklists to help navigate estate settlement after a Summit CU account holder passes away.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
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Do I Need Probate?
Answer a few questions to find out if an estate needs full probate, qualifies for simplified probate, or can avoid probate entirely with a small estate affidavit.
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Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
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