What to do when a Summit CU account holder dies
Report the death to Summit CU at 1-800-236-5560
Summit CU coordinates account transitions after a member's death. How each account is handled depends on its setup: POD and trust accounts transfer automatically, while solely-owned accounts typically require court authorization through Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
To start, call Summit CU at 1-800-236-5560. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and the death certificate ready before you call.
Death claim process
The death claim process at Summit CU works as follows:
Filing a claim
Required Documents
- Death certificateSummit asks for a certified copy.
- Government-issued form of identification
- Certificate of Trust, only if the account is a trust account
- Court documentation provided (Domiciliary Letter, Special Administration paperwork, etc.)The probate court determines which documents are required. Summit's checklist names the probate court in the county where the deceased last resided for questions about which court documents apply.
What happens to each kind of account4
- Account in one name
The interest passes, subject to applicable law, to the owner's estate or POD beneficiary/payee or trust beneficiary.1
- Joint account with survivorship
All sums pass to the surviving owner or owners, subject to Summit's statutory lien for the deceased owner's obligations.1
- Joint account without survivorship
The deceased owner's interest passes to his or her estate.1
- Payable-on-death account
The account is payable to all surviving POD beneficiaries in equal shares without rights of survivorship, unless state law or Summit's documentation provides otherwise.1
What Summit CU's agreement and guidance say5
- What it does when notified
Automatic withdrawals are blocked as soon as a death certificate is received.2
- Deposits after the death
Summit automatically returns government payments made after the date of death provided.2
- Payments after the death
Summit may continue to pay checks drawn on the deceased member's account for ten days after death unless someone claiming an interest in the account instructs it to stop payment.2
- Who can get account information
Summit gives only limited account information to a person not listed on the account.2
- Indemnity a claimant may have to give
To the extent permitted by law, Summit may require anyone claiming funds from a deceased owner's account to indemnify it for losses from honoring the claim.2
Summit CU can be reached by phone at 1-800-236-5560 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Summit CU primary sources (20 pages reviewed). How we research.
Summit CU death claims support
Phone
Website
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Summit CU accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Forms for Settling an Estate
Free forms for settling an estate: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter
Prepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.
Petition for Probate and Letters
Open probate and ask the court to appoint you and issue Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
Notice to Creditors
Notify estate creditors and start the claim period — the published notice plus mailed copies for known creditors.
Renunciation of Executor
Decline an appointment as executor named in a will — the writing filed with the court before anyone is appointed.
Affidavit of Heirship
Prepare the sworn statement of a deceased person's family history and heirs for recording in the county land records, with your state's recording instructions.
Small Estate Affidavit
Collect a small estate's property without probate — the sworn affidavit presented to banks and other holders, with a presentation letter for each.
Tools for Settling an Estate
Free tools for settling an estate: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need and see ordering info for your state.
Do I Need Probate?
Find out if an estate needs probate or qualifies for simplified procedures.
Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
Find out which tax returns need to be filed after someone dies and whether tax clearance is required.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away.
What Do I Do When Someone Dies?
A step-by-step checklist for the days, weeks, and months after a death, with state rules noted where they apply.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax, and inheritance tax for an estate.
