What to do when a WesBanco account holder dies
Contact WesBanco's WesBanco Trust and Investment Services — 3-step process, 8 required documents, and 5-10 business days for initial review after all documents are submitted
WesBanco Bank, Inc., 1 Bank Plaza, Wheeling, WV 26003
WesBanco Trust and Investment Services
WesBanco Bank, Inc., 1 Bank Plaza, Wheeling, WV 26003
Customer Service / Trust and Investment Services
WesBanco Bank, Inc., 1 Bank Plaza, Wheeling, WV 26003
After an account holder at WesBanco dies, accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer to the designated recipients without probate. Solely-owned accounts require the estate's representative to contact WesBanco's Customer Service / Trust and Investment Services at 1-800-905-9043 with the proper legal authority documents.
WesBanco provides an online portal for initiating death claims, which can simplify the initial notification and document submission process. Claims can also be started by phone or by mailing the required documents.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Follow these steps to file a death claim with WesBanco:
Filing a claim
- Contact WesBanco customer service at 1-800-905-9043 or visit a local branch to report the death of an account holder
- Provide the deceased account holder's name, account number(s), and date of death
- For accounts with POD beneficiary: provide a certified copy of the death certificate and valid government-issued ID for the beneficiary
- For joint accounts with right of survivorship: provide a certified copy of the death certificate; surviving owner retains account access
- For accounts without beneficiary: provide a certified copy of the death certificate, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, and executor/administrator ID
- For trust accounts: provide death certificate, trust documentation, and successor trustee identification
- For IRA accounts: contact WesBanco Trust and Investment Services at (304) 234-9000 for distribution options and required forms
- Submit all documents in person at a branch or by mail
- WesBanco will review documentation and process the claim; additional documents may be requested
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant (beneficiary, executor, administrator, or successor trustee)
- Account information for the deceased (account numbers, account type)
- For estate accounts without beneficiary: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court
- For small estates: Small Estate Affidavit (state-specific requirements apply)
- For trust accounts: trust agreement or Certification of Trust, successor trustee provisions, and amendments
- For IRA accounts: IRA distribution request forms (available from WesBanco Trust and Investment Services)
- Written instructions regarding distribution preference (new account, transfer, or check)
What to know at this institution
For IRA and trust-related death claims, contact WesBanco Trust and Investment Services directly at (304) 234-9000. Distribution options typically include opening a new WesBanco account, transferring to an existing account, or receiving a check. POD accounts generally process faster than accounts requiring probate. Visit a branch for the most efficient 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.
- Call customer service at 1-800-905-9043 (option 2, then option 5 for loan servicing)
- Provide the deceased borrower's full legal name, Social Security number, and loan number
- Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
- Request Successor in Interest documentation from WesBanco's loan operations department
- Complete and return the Successor in Interest form with documentation proving your ownership interest in the property (e.g., probated will, court order, deed, or trust document)
- WesBanco will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest
- Once confirmed, you will have access to loan information and can 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
- Completed Successor in Interest form
- Documentation proving ownership interest in the property (one or more of the following): probated will naming you as heir, court order of succession, recorded deed transferring ownership, trust document showing you as successor trustee or beneficiary
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if going through probate)
- Marriage certificate (if surviving spouse)
What to know at this institution
Under the federal Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), WesBanco 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 and are entitled to account information, loss mitigation options, and assumption rights. Loan Operations Customer Service can also be reached at 1-800-905-9043 extension 11350. Mortgage payments can be mailed to P.O. Box 67019, Newark, NJ 07101-8080.
Prepare your letter of instruction to WesBanco
WesBanco accepts a claimant-drafted letter of instruction. We draft it for you — addressed to WesBanco's verified claims department, with the documents it requires enclosed.
Build your letter of instructionOpening an account for the estate itself
Checks made out to the estate deposit into an account titled to the estate, opened by the appointed executor or administrator under the estate's EIN.
How to open an estate account at WesBanco →How long the process takes at WesBanco: 5-10 business days for initial review after all documents are submitted. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.
Documentation required by WesBanco includes Certified copy of the death certificate, Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant (beneficiary, executor, administrator, or successor trustee), and Account information for the deceased (account numbers, account type), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Visit a WesBanco branch with a valid government-issued photo ID and request to add or update POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary designations. You can also call 1-800-905-9043 to request the appropriate form by mail. Provide each beneficiary's full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, relationship, and allocation percentages. Online beneficiary updates are not currently available for deposit accounts. For IRA beneficiary changes, contact WesBanco Trust and Investment Services at (304) 234-9000.
Report the death to WesBanco at 1-800-905-9043 (option 2, then option 5 for loan servicing) and submit a certified copy of the death certificate. Request Successor in Interest documentation and complete the form with proof of ownership interest (probated will, court order, deed, or trust document). Under the Garn-St. Germain Act (12 U.S.C. 1701j-3), WesBanco 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. Continue making mortgage payments during the review process.
WesBanco CDs carry early withdrawal penalties that vary based on the term length. However, WesBanco waives early withdrawal penalties due to death or disability of the account holder. CDs automatically renew at maturity, and you have ten calendar days from the maturity date to redeem your CD or make changes to the term or amount. Minimum opening balance is $1,000.
WesBanco's Customer Service / Trust and Investment Services can be reached by phone at 1-800-905-9043 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple WesBanco accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Customer Service / Trust and Investment Services to confirm what applies.
Sources
Data sourced from WesBanco primary sources (25 pages reviewed). How we research.
WesBanco Bank, Inc., 1 Bank Plaza, Wheeling, WV 26003
WesBanco Trust and Investment Services
WesBanco Bank, Inc., 1 Bank Plaza, Wheeling, WV 26003
Customer Service / Trust and Investment Services
WesBanco Bank, Inc., 1 Bank Plaza, Wheeling, WV 26003
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