What to do when a The First account holder dies
Contact The First — 4-step process, 8 required documents, and 5-10 business days after all documentation is received
The First Bank Service Center
Phone1-800-753-2427
Mailing Address
The First Bank, P.O. Box 15549, Hattiesburg, MS 39404-5549
WebsiteLearn more→
The First Bank Service Center
Phone1-800-753-2427
Mailing Address
The First Bank, P.O. Box 15549, Hattiesburg, MS 39404-5549
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims (now handled by Renasant Bank -- call 1-877-367-5371)
Phone1-800-753-2427
Mailing Address
The First Bank, P.O. Box 15549, Hattiesburg, MS 39404-5549
Renasant Customer Experience Center
Verified May 2026
When a The First account holder 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 The First's Death Claims (now handled by Renasant Bank -- call 1-877-367-5371) (1-800-753-2427) to access and distribute the funds.
To start, call The First at 1-800-753-2427. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate ready before you call.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at The First:
Filing a claim
1
Notify The First Bank and provide initial documentation
- Contact The First Bank Service Center at 1-800-753-2427 or visit a branch to notify the bank of the account holder's death
- Provide a certified copy of the death certificate
2
Submit account-type-specific documentation
- For accounts with POD beneficiary: beneficiary presents valid government-issued ID and death certificate to claim funds
- For joint accounts with right of survivorship: surviving owner presents death certificate to remove deceased owner
- For accounts without beneficiary or survivorship: executor or administrator presents Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration along with death certificate
3
Handle trust and retirement account claims
- For trust accounts: successor trustee presents death certificate, trust documentation showing successor trustee authority, and valid ID
- For IRA accounts: beneficiary presents death certificate, valid ID, and completes distribution or inherited IRA paperwork
4
Submit documents and await processing
- Submit all required documents at a branch or by mail
- The bank will review documentation and process the claim
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Valid government-issued ID for the claimant (beneficiary, executor, or successor trustee)
- Account information for the deceased (account number, full name)
- For accounts without beneficiary: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from probate court
- For small estates: Small Estate Affidavit (if applicable under state law; available in AL, FL, GA, LA, and MS)
- For trust accounts: trust documentation showing successor trustee authority, successor trustee ID, and any amendments
- For IRA accounts: beneficiary designation verification, distribution election form, and inherited IRA application if applicable
- Written instructions regarding desired distribution method
It is recommended to visit a branch in person for death claim processing, as document verification and signing requirements are handled more efficiently. For mortgage-related death claims, contact the Mortgage Banking Division. Distribution options may include check, transfer to an existing account, or wire transfer. As of August 2025, former The First Bank customers should contact the Renasant Bank Customer Experience Center at 1-877-367-5371 for all death claim processing.
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.
1
Notify The First of the borrower's death
- Contact The First Bank Service Center at 1-800-753-2427
- Provide the deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number, and loan number
- Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
2
Request recognition as a Successor in Interest
- 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)
- The bank will review your documentation and confirm your status
3
Manage the loan after confirmation
- Once confirmed, 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
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), the lender 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.
Processing timelines at The First: 5-10 business days after all documentation is received. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
The First requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified copy of the death certificate, Valid government-issued ID for the claimant (beneficiary, executor, or successor trustee), and Account information for the deceased (account number, full name), 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
The First Bancshares, Inc. merged with Renasant Corporation effective April 1, 2025, with the full systems conversion to Renasant Bank completed August 1-4, 2025. All former The First Bank accounts, products, and services transitioned to Renasant Bank. Former customers should contact the Renasant Customer Experience Center at 1-877-367-5371 (Monday-Friday 7 AM - 7 PM CT, Saturday 8 AM - 2 PM CT) or visit renasantbank.com for all account inquiries, including beneficiary updates, trust account funding, and death claim processing.
No. Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), the lender cannot enforce a due-on-sale clause when a 1-to-4-family residential property transfers to a surviving spouse, child, or relative upon the borrower's death, or to the borrower's revocable living trust where the borrower remains a beneficiary and occupant. Heirs who take title can request recognition as a "Successor in Interest" under CFPB mortgage servicing rules to receive payoff information and apply for loss mitigation. Contact Renasant's mortgage servicing team at 1-877-367-5371 to start that process.
Bring a certified copy of the death certificate, your government-issued ID, and the appropriate authority document to any branch: for trust accounts, the trust certification and any amendments showing your authority as successor trustee; for accounts in the deceased's sole name with no POD, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from probate court (a small estate affidavit may suffice in AL, FL, GA, LA, and MS for estates under the state threshold). POD beneficiaries claim directly with the death certificate and ID, no probate required. As of August 2025, all death claim processing is handled by Renasant at 1-877-367-5371.
The First's Death Claims (now handled by Renasant Bank -- call 1-877-367-5371) can be reached by phone at 1-800-753-2427 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple The First accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Death Claims (now handled by Renasant Bank -- call 1-877-367-5371) can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
The First Bank Service Center
Phone1-800-753-2427
Mailing Address
The First Bank, P.O. Box 15549, Hattiesburg, MS 39404-5549
WebsiteLearn more→
The First Bank Service Center
Phone1-800-753-2427
Mailing Address
The First Bank, P.O. Box 15549, Hattiesburg, MS 39404-5549
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims (now handled by Renasant Bank -- call 1-877-367-5371)
Phone1-800-753-2427
Mailing Address
The First Bank, P.O. Box 15549, Hattiesburg, MS 39404-5549
Renasant Customer Experience Center
Verified May 2026
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