What to do when a TrustCo Bank account holder dies
Contact TrustCo Bank's Wealth Management / Financial Services — 4-step process, 8 required documents, and 5-10 business days after all documentation is received
Customer Service
Phone1-800-670-3110
Mailing Address
Trustco Bank, P.O. Box 1082, Schenectady, NY 12301-1082
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone1-800-670-3110
Toll-Free1-800-670-3110
Mailing Address
Trustco Bank, P.O. Box 1082, Schenectady, NY 12301-1082
Verified May 2026
When a TrustCo Bank 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 TrustCo Bank's Wealth Management / Financial Services (1-800-670-3110) to access and distribute the funds.
Before contacting TrustCo Bank, have the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any available account numbers ready. A certified death certificate is required to initiate the claim.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
The death claim process at TrustCo Bank works as follows:
Filing a claim
1
Notify TrustCo Bank and provide initial documentation
- Contact TrustCo Bank at 1-800-670-3110 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
- TrustCo 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)
- 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 Wealth Management trust accounts, contact the Wealth Management division directly at 518-381-3643 or 1-800-670-3110. For mortgage-related death claims, contact TrustCo Bank at 1-800-670-3110. Distribution options may include check, transfer to an existing TrustCo Bank account, or wire transfer.
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 TrustCo Bank of the borrower's death
- Call TrustCo Bank at 1-800-670-3110 or visit a branch
- 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
- Provide documentation proving your ownership interest in the property (e.g., probated will, court order, deed, trust document, or marriage certificate)
- TrustCo Bank will review documentation and confirm Successor in Interest status under CFPB mortgage servicing rules
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), TrustCo Bank 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.
How long the process takes at TrustCo Bank: 5-10 business days after all documentation is received. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.
TrustCo Bank 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.
TrustCo Bank's Death Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-670-3110 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple TrustCo Bank accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Wealth Management / Financial Services can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Customer Service
Phone1-800-670-3110
Mailing Address
Trustco Bank, P.O. Box 1082, Schenectady, NY 12301-1082
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone1-800-670-3110
Toll-Free1-800-670-3110
Mailing Address
Trustco Bank, P.O. Box 1082, Schenectady, NY 12301-1082
Verified May 2026
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