What to do when a Unitus CCU account holder dies
Contact Unitus CCU — 5-step process, 7 required documents, and 5-10 business days after all documentation is received, though complex estates may take longer
Contact Center
Phone1-503-227-5571
Toll-Free1-800-452-0900
Emailhello@unitusccu.com
Fax1-503-423-8345
Mailing Address
Unitus Community Credit Union, P.O. Box 1937, Portland, OR 97207
Mortgage Questions
Mortgage Servicing (existing first mortgages)
WebsiteLearn more→
Contact Center
Phone1-503-227-5571
Toll-Free1-800-452-0900
Emailhello@unitusccu.com
Fax1-503-423-8345
Mailing Address
Unitus Community Credit Union, P.O. Box 1937, Portland, OR 97207
Mortgage Questions
Mortgage Servicing (existing first mortgages)
WebsiteLearn more→
Member Services
Phone1-503-227-5571
Toll-Free1-800-452-0900
Emailhello@unitusccu.com
Fax1-503-423-8345
Mailing Address
Unitus Community Credit Union, P.O. Box 1937, Portland, OR 97207
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
After a Unitus CCU member dies, the Member Services manages the transfer of accounts. POD-designated and trust-owned accounts pass directly to beneficiaries. Accounts held solely in the member's name may require probate court documents—Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration—before funds can be released.
Unitus CCU offers an online claims portal that makes the initial filing process more straightforward. Survivors can also initiate claims by phone or by mailing documentation directly.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Unitus CCU:
Filing a claim
1
Notify Unitus Community Credit Union of the account holder's death by visiting a local branch or calling 503-227-5571 or 1-800-452-0900
2
Gather required documentation:
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant
3
Choose the appropriate settlement path:
- For accounts with POD beneficiary: provide the death certificate and beneficiary ID to claim funds directly; POD accounts with multiple beneficiaries are paid in equal shares
- For joint accounts with right of survivorship: provide the death certificate; surviving owner retains access to the account (subject to credit union's statutory lien for the deceased owner's obligations)
- For accounts without beneficiary or survivorship: obtain Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, or a Small Estate Affidavit from the court and provide along with the executor or administrator's ID
4
If needed, open an estate account at a Unitus branch to manage estate proceeds and pay bills
5
Unitus will review submitted documentation and process the claim
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant (beneficiary, executor, or administrator)
- Account information for the deceased (account numbers if available)
- For accounts without beneficiary: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the court
- For small estates: Small Estate Affidavit as permitted under applicable state law
- For trust accounts: trust documentation including successor trustee provisions and trustee ID
- For IRA accounts: IRA beneficiary claim forms and applicable distribution election forms
Visiting a local branch is the most direct way to initiate the estate settlement process. A Unitus branch team member can help open an estate account if needed to manage proceeds and pay estate obligations. POD accounts payable to more than one surviving beneficiary are paid in equal shares. The credit union has no obligation to notify beneficiaries of the existence of any account, except as required by law. A surviving owner's interest is subject to the credit union's statutory lien for the deceased owner's obligations and to any security interest or pledge granted by a deceased owner.
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 Unitus Community Credit Union of the borrower's death by calling 503-227-5571 or 1-800-452-0900
2
Provide initial information:
- Deceased borrower's full legal name and loan number
- Certified copy of the death certificate
3
Request the Successor in Interest documentation package from the mortgage servicing department
4
Complete and return the Successor in Interest form with supporting documentation proving your ownership interest in the property (e.g., probated will, court order, deed, or trust document)
5
Unitus will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest
6
Once confirmed, choose from available options:
- Continue making payments on the existing loan
- Assume the loan
- Refinance in your own name
- Pay off the remaining balance
7
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
- Completed Successor in Interest form (obtained from mortgage servicing department)
- Documentation proving ownership interest in the property: probated will, court order, recorded deed, or trust document showing you as successor trustee or beneficiary
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if going through probate)
- Marriage certificate (if surviving spouse)
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. § 1701j-3), Unitus 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 Unitus CCU: 5-10 business days after all documentation is received, though complex estates may take longer. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Documentation required by Unitus CCU includes Certified copy of the death certificate, Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant (beneficiary, executor, or administrator), and Account information for the deceased (account numbers if available), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
When an account holder with a POD (Payable on Death) designation dies, the named beneficiary can claim the account funds by visiting a Unitus branch with a certified copy of the death certificate and a valid government-issued photo ID. POD accounts bypass the probate process and pass directly to the named beneficiary. If there are multiple POD beneficiaries, the funds are distributed in equal shares to all surviving beneficiaries.
Unitus CCU's Member Services can be reached by phone at 1-800-452-0900, email at hello@unitusccu.com, and fax at 1-503-423-8345 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple Unitus CCU accounts, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Member Services can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Contact Center
Phone1-503-227-5571
Toll-Free1-800-452-0900
Emailhello@unitusccu.com
Fax1-503-423-8345
Mailing Address
Unitus Community Credit Union, P.O. Box 1937, Portland, OR 97207
Mortgage Questions
Mortgage Servicing (existing first mortgages)
WebsiteLearn more→
Contact Center
Phone1-503-227-5571
Toll-Free1-800-452-0900
Emailhello@unitusccu.com
Fax1-503-423-8345
Mailing Address
Unitus Community Credit Union, P.O. Box 1937, Portland, OR 97207
Mortgage Questions
Mortgage Servicing (existing first mortgages)
WebsiteLearn more→
Member Services
Phone1-503-227-5571
Toll-Free1-800-452-0900
Emailhello@unitusccu.com
Fax1-503-423-8345
Mailing Address
Unitus Community Credit Union, P.O. Box 1937, Portland, OR 97207
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
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