What to do when a Synovus account holder dies
Contact Synovus — 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.
Brand change
Synovus completed an all-stock merger with Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.: the bank holding company merger completed January 1, 2026 and the bank merger completed January 2, 2026, with Synovus Bank merged into Pinnacle Bank (Pinnacle Bank surviving). The Synovus brand continues operating during the transition; systems and brand conversions, consolidating under the Pinnacle brand, are expected in early 2027. Source: synovus.com merger completion release, verified 2026-07-17. Effective January 2026.
Synovus is now part of Pinnacle Bank. The procedures below reflect Synovus's accounts during the transition. View the Pinnacle Bank estate planning page.
Synovus, P.O. Box 120, Columbus, GA 31902
Synovus, P.O. Box 120, Columbus, GA 31902
Death Claims
Synovus Bank, P.O. Box 120, Columbus, GA 31902
What happens to Synovus accounts after the account holder dies depends on how each account was titled. Beneficiary-designated and trust-owned accounts transfer directly. Accounts in the deceased's name alone go through the estate, and the executor or administrator works with Synovus's Death Claims (1-888-796-6887) to claim the funds.
The claim process begins with a phone call to 1-888-796-6887. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate available when making initial contact.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Synovus:
Filing a claim
- Contact Synovus customer service at 1-888-796-6887 or visit a branch (https://www.synovus.com/locations/)
- Provide the deceased's full legal name, Social Security number, and account information
- For POD accounts: beneficiary presents a valid ID and certified death certificate at a branch to receive funds
- For joint accounts (JWROS): 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
- 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 (JWROS) 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. For mortgage-related death claims, contact Synovus Mortgage Customer Service at 1-800-803-0803. Order several certified copies of the death certificate before beginning the 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.
- Call Synovus Mortgage Customer Service at 1-800-803-0803
- Provide the deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number, and loan number
- Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
- Request to be recognized as a Successor in Interest under CFPB mortgage servicing rules
- Provide documentation proving your ownership interest in the property (e.g., probated will, court order, deed, trust document, or marriage certificate)
- Synovus will review your documentation and confirm your status
- Once confirmed, you will have access to loan information
- Discuss options: continue making payments, apply for loss mitigation, assume the loan, refinance, or pay off the balance
- Continue making monthly mortgage payments during the review process to avoid default
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the heir or personal representative
- Documentation proving ownership interest in the property: probated will, court order, recorded deed, trust document, or marriage certificate
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if going through probate)
- Loan number and borrower information
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-800-803-0803
Synovus Bank, Attention: Mortgage Customer Service, 800 Shades Creek Parkway, MS 130, Birmingham, AL 35209
What to know at this institution
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3), Synovus 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. Confirmed Successors in Interest are treated as borrowers under CFPB mortgage servicing rules and are entitled to account information, loss mitigation options, and assumption rights.
Expected timelines at Synovus: 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 Synovus 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
Yes. Synovus Trust Company, N.A. can serve as successor trustee when an individual grantor-trustee dies or becomes incapacitated. As professional corporate trustee, the team handles ongoing trust administration, investment management, and distributions to beneficiaries without requiring probate. Contact the trust team at 1-800-942-9764 to discuss naming Synovus Trust Company as successor trustee in your trust document.
Retitling transfers ownership of the account to the trust now, so the trustee controls it immediately and it bypasses probate entirely at death. Naming a trust as a POD beneficiary leaves the account in your individual name during your lifetime, passing to the trust only at death (which also avoids probate for that account). For deposit accounts, Synovus can do both. For IRAs, retitling is not permitted; a trust may only be named as beneficiary. Discuss with a Synovus banker which approach fits your estate plan.
Synovus's Death Claims can be reached by phone at 1-888-796-6887 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple Synovus accounts, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Death Claims can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Sources
Data sourced from Synovus primary sources (20 pages reviewed). How we research.
Synovus, P.O. Box 120, Columbus, GA 31902
Synovus, P.O. Box 120, Columbus, GA 31902
Death Claims
Synovus Bank, P.O. Box 120, Columbus, GA 31902
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