What to do when a Triumph account holder dies
Report the death to Triumph at 1-866-644-3935
What happens to Triumph 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 Triumph to claim the funds.
Before contacting Triumph, have the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any available account numbers ready.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Triumph:
Filing a claim
Required Documents
- Court order appointing the executor or administratorThe Terms and Conditions refer to executors and administrators "under court orders" and to "the terms of the trust or letters".
What happens to each kind of account3
- Fiduciary account
The Terms state that an account "may be opened and maintained by a person or persons named ... as executors, administrators, or conservators under court orders."1
- Trust account
On a Texas trust account, a beneficiary may not withdraw before all trustees are deceased. On the death of the last surviving trustee, ownership passes to the beneficiary and the account is not part of the trustee's estate.1, 2
- Certificate of deposit
The CD disclosure states that "in certain circumstances such as the death or incompetence of an owner of this account, the law permits, or in some cases requires, the waiver of the early withdrawal penalty."3
State requirements Triumph statesTexas, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois
- Texas
On an account held in Texas, the type initialed on the Uniform Single-Party or Multiple-Party Account Selection Form Notice controls. A single-party account with a P.O.D. designation passes to the P.O.D. beneficiaries; without one it passes under the will or by intestacy.1, 2
A multiple-party account with right of survivorship passes to the surviving parties; without survivorship, the party's ownership passes through the estate. A convenience signer does not own the account, and TBK Bank may pay one before it receives notice of the death of the last surviving party.1, 2
- Colorado
On an account held in Colorado, a single-party account passes as part of the party's estate, a pay-on-death designation passes to the designated beneficiaries, and a multiple-party account with right of survivorship passes to the surviving parties.1
- New Mexico
On an account held in New Mexico, a single-party account passes as part of the party's estate, a pay-on-death designation passes to the designated beneficiaries, and a multiple-party account with right of survivorship passes to the surviving parties.1
- Kansas
On an account held in Kansas, a joint account with survivorship belongs to the survivors. On a Revocable Trust or Pay-On-Death Account, two or more surviving beneficiaries own the account in equal shares, without right of survivorship.1
- Iowa
On an account held in Iowa, a joint account with survivorship belongs to the survivors. On a Revocable Trust or Pay-On-Death Account, two or more surviving beneficiaries own the account in equal shares, without right of survivorship.1
- Illinois
On an account held in Illinois, a joint account with survivorship belongs to the survivors. On a Revocable Trust or Pay-On-Death Account, two or more surviving beneficiaries own the account in equal shares, without right of survivorship.1
State law on paying a balance without lettersNew Mexico, Texas
- New Mexico
NMSA 1978 § 58-1-8
New Mexico law permits a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on proof the institution accepts, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.NMSA 1978 § 58-1-8Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Limit: $2,000 held at the institution
Paid to: the surviving spouse; the surviving next of kin, of the closest degree of lineal consanguinity (in that order)
The section permits the payment. It does not require the bank to make it. The section sets further conditions.
- Texas
Tex. Est. Code § 152.051
Texas law permits a bank to pay from a deceased depositor's balance on an order of the court, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.Tex. Est. Code § 152.051Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Paid to: a funeral home or the applicant, for funeral and burial expenses
Limit: $5,000 in total from every holder
When: the application may be filed "not earlier than the third day after the date of the decedent's death and not later than nine months after the date of the decedent's death"
The section permits the payment. It does not require the bank to make it. The section sets further conditions.
What Triumph's agreement and guidance say3
- Payments after the death
TBK Bank may keep honoring checks, items and instructions until it knows of the death and has had a reasonable opportunity to act. It may pay or certify checks drawn on or before the date of death for up to ten days after the death unless someone claiming an interest in the account orders payment stopped.1
- Deposits after the death
If TBK Bank must reimburse the federal government for a benefit payment direct-deposited to the account, the Terms allow it to deduct that amount from the account or from any other account the owner has with TBK Bank.1
- Debts owed to the institution
When permitted by law, TBK Bank may set off funds in an account against any due and payable debt an owner owes it.1
Not in Triumph's published guidance6
- A procedure for reporting a death
- A claim form
- A department for deceased-customer accounts
- A fax number for claim documents
- A mailing address for claim documents
- Whether the death certificate must be certified
Frequently asked questions
The "Death or Incompetence" clause of TBK Bank's Terms and Conditions provides for prompt notice to the bank when a person with a right to withdraw funds dies. Until TBK Bank knows of the death and has had a reasonable opportunity to act, it may keep honoring the decedent's checks, items and instructions. It may also pay or certify checks drawn on or before the date of death for up to ten (10) days afterward, unless someone claiming an interest in the account orders payment stopped. Customer Care Center: 866-644-3935.
No. TBK Bank's Texas accounts use the Uniform Single-Party or Multiple-Party Account Selection Form Notice, which states that a convenience signer may make transactions during the owner's lifetime but does not own the account, and owns it on the owner's death only if also designated as a P.O.D. payee or trust account beneficiary. Otherwise a convenience account passes as part of the last surviving party's estate under the will or by intestacy. TBK Bank may pay funds to a convenience signer before it receives notice of the death of the last surviving party.
Yes. TBK Bank has branches in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, New Mexico and Texas, and its Terms and Conditions carry separate account-ownership and beneficiary-designation sections for Texas, for Colorado and New Mexico, for Kansas and Iowa, and for Illinois. A state-specific provision applies "only if your account is held at a branch located in that particular state," and the section that applies determines whether a P.O.D. designation, a right of survivorship or the estate takes the funds.
TBK Bank's Terms and Conditions state that an account "may be opened and maintained by a person or persons named as a trustee under a written trust agreement," and that an account "may not be transferred or assigned without our prior written consent." TBK Bank publishes no trust account form or document list, and its website lists no trust department or brokerage. The Texas "Trust Account" type on the account selection form is a different arrangement, in which a beneficiary may not withdraw before all trustees are deceased. Customer Care Center: 866-644-3935.
Sources
(6)·
Data sourced from Triumph primary sources (30 pages reviewed). How we research.
Triumph death claims support
Customer Care Center
Phone
Treasury Management
Hours
Website
Death notifications go through general customer service.
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IRS Form 56
Notify the IRS that you are the fiduciary of an estate, a trust or a person, or end a notice filed before, on the official form.
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
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Notice to Creditors
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Renunciation of Executor
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