What to do when a Westamerica Bank account holder dies
Contact Westamerica Bank's Westamerica Bank Investment Management and Trust Services — 5-step process, 7 required documents, and 5-10 business days after all documentation is received, though complex estates may take longer
Westamerica Bank, General Bank Correspondence, PO Box 1200, Suisun City, CA 94585-1200
Westamerica Bank Investment Management and Trust Services
Westamerica Bank Trust Services, PO Box 1240, Suisun City, CA 94585-1240
Westamerica Bank, General Bank Correspondence, PO Box 1200, Suisun City, CA 94585-1200
When an account holder at Westamerica Bank 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 Westamerica Bank's estate services team (1-800-848-1088) to access and distribute the funds.
Westamerica Bank 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.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Westamerica Bank:
Filing a claim
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant
- For accounts with POD beneficiary: provide the death certificate and beneficiary ID to claim funds directly
- For joint accounts with right of survivorship: provide the death certificate; surviving owner retains access to the account
- 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
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 California Probate Code Section 13100 (gross estate value of $208,850 or less for deaths on or after April 1, 2025)
- For trust accounts: trust documentation including successor trustee provisions and trustee ID
- For IRA accounts: IRA beneficiary claim forms and applicable distribution election forms
What to know at this institution
The Deposit Agreement's "Death or Incapacity of Depositor" section governs what happens at Westamerica when an account owner dies. Notice of the death must be given to the bank in writing; until it receives written notice satisfactory to it and has a reasonable opportunity to act, the bank may continue to honor items drawn on the account, and even with knowledge of the death it may pay checks drawn on the account for ten (10) days after the date of death. The bank may also suspend, refuse, and reverse transactions or deposits belonging to the decedent, expressly including automatic federal direct deposits of benefit payments (for example, Social Security), which it can be required to return to the government. Notify the bank promptly to stop these payments. Note that opening an estate or fiduciary account carries an indemnification: under the Deposit Agreement's "Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts" clause, the fiduciary agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold the bank harmless, individually and jointly, for claims arising from the fiduciary's handling of the account. Visiting a local branch is the most direct way to initiate the estate settlement process, and a branch team member can help open an estate account if needed to manage proceeds and pay estate obligations. California community property laws may affect the disposition of jointly held or community property assets. For trust-related estate matters, Westamerica Bank's Investment Management and Trust Services department can provide trust administration services; contact the Trust Department at (916) 449-8336 or 1-800-359-7562.
Prepare your letter of instruction to Westamerica Bank
Westamerica Bank accepts a claimant-drafted letter of instruction. We draft it for you — addressed to Westamerica Bank'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 Westamerica Bank →Expected timelines at Westamerica Bank: 5-10 business days after all documentation is received, though complex estates may take longer. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
Documentation required by Westamerica Bank 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 Westamerica Bank 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.
Visit any Westamerica Bank branch with a valid government-issued photo ID and request to add or update POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary designations. You can also call 1-800-848-1088 (available 5 am to midnight, 7 days a week) to request the appropriate form by mail. Provide each beneficiary's full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, relationship, and allocation percentages. Trusts named as beneficiaries may require a copy of the Certification of Trust.
Under California Probate Code Section 13100, estates with a gross value of $208,850 or less (for deaths on or after April 1, 2025) may qualify for the Small Estate Affidavit process, which allows heirs to claim account funds without full probate. This inflation-adjusted figure is set by Judicial Council form DE-300 and is scheduled to next adjust on April 1, 2028. Visit a Westamerica Bank branch with a certified copy of the death certificate, your government-issued photo ID, and the Small Estate Affidavit to begin the claim process.
Westamerica Bank's estate services team can be reached by phone at 1-800-848-1088 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Westamerica Bank accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The estate services team can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Sources
Data sourced from Westamerica Bank primary sources (12 pages reviewed). How we research.
Westamerica Bank, General Bank Correspondence, PO Box 1200, Suisun City, CA 94585-1200
Westamerica Bank Investment Management and Trust Services
Westamerica Bank Trust Services, PO Box 1240, Suisun City, CA 94585-1240
Westamerica Bank, General Bank Correspondence, PO Box 1200, Suisun City, CA 94585-1200
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