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
Brand change
The First Bancshares, Inc. merged into Renasant Corporation on April 1, 2025; the systems conversion to Renasant Bank completed August 1-4, 2025 and the The First Bank brand was retired. Former customers now bank with Renasant Bank -- call the Renasant Customer Experience Center at 1-877-367-5371. Effective April 2025.
The First is now part of Renasant Bank. The procedures below reflect The First's accounts during the transition. View the Renasant Bank estate planning page.
Renasant Customer Experience Center (successor to The First Bank Service Center)
Renasant Bank, Customer Service Department, P.O. Box 709, Tupelo, MS 38802
Renasant Customer Experience Center (successor to The First Bank Service Center)
Renasant Bank, Customer Service Department, P.O. Box 709, Tupelo, MS 38802
Renasant Customer Experience Center (death claims on former The First Bank accounts)
Renasant Bank, Customer Service Department, P.O. Box 709, Tupelo, MS 38802
When an account holder at The First 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 Renasant Customer Experience Center (death claims on former The First Bank accounts) (1-877-367-5371) to access and distribute the funds.
To start, call The First at 1-877-367-5371. 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
- Contact Renasant Customer Experience Center at 1-877-367-5371 or visit a branch to notify the bank of the account holder's death
- Provide a certified copy of the death certificate
- 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
- 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
- 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
What to know at this institution
The First Bank no longer exists as a bank: the claim is filed with Renasant Bank, which now holds the account. Call the Renasant Customer Experience Center at 1-877-367-5371 (Monday-Friday 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM CT), take the documents to any Renasant branch, or mail them to Renasant Bank, Customer Service Department, P.O. Box 709, Tupelo, MS 38802. Bring the legacy The First account number -- Renasant can map it to the converted account. Three terms of the Renasant deposit agreement now govern a former The First Bank account and are worth knowing before you claim: (1) Renasant's right of SETOFF survives the depositor's death and can be enforced against whoever takes the funds, whether a pay-on-death beneficiary or the estate, so a decedent's past-due Renasant loan can reduce what a POD beneficiary actually receives; (2) a power of attorney over the account ends only when actual (not constructive) notice of death reaches the person who accepted the POA, and Renasant treats one business day as a reasonable time to act -- an agent's post-death transaction can still clear in that window; (3) where multiple pay-on-death beneficiaries are named, the funds are paid in equal shares.
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.
- Contact Renasant Customer Experience Center at 1-877-367-5371
- 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)
- The bank will review your documentation and confirm your status
- 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
What to know at this institution
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.
Prepare your letter of instruction to The First
The First accepts a claimant-drafted letter of instruction. We draft it for you — addressed to The First's verified claims department, with the documents it requires enclosed.
Build your letter of instructionProcessing 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 Renasant Customer Experience Center (death claims on former The First Bank accounts) can be reached by phone at 1-877-367-5371 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 Renasant Customer Experience Center (death claims on former The First Bank accounts) can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Sources
Data sourced from The First primary sources (9 pages reviewed). How we research.
Renasant Customer Experience Center (successor to The First Bank Service Center)
Renasant Bank, Customer Service Department, P.O. Box 709, Tupelo, MS 38802
Renasant Customer Experience Center (successor to The First Bank Service Center)
Renasant Bank, Customer Service Department, P.O. Box 709, Tupelo, MS 38802
Renasant Customer Experience Center (death claims on former The First Bank accounts)
Renasant Bank, Customer Service Department, P.O. Box 709, Tupelo, MS 38802
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your The First accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
More tools for handling this estate
Calculators and checklists for executors and trustees.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.
How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Calculate how much an executor (personal representative) can charge for administering an estate. See if your state has statutory fees or uses reasonable compensation.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
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.
What's Fair Trustee Compensation?
Find out what's fair compensation for serving as trustee. Compare family, professional, and corporate trustee rates based on your situation.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax (12 states + DC), and inheritance tax (5 states) for an estate or trust.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need based on the assets and accounts you need to close. See state-specific ordering information.
