What to do when a Wings CU account holder dies
Report the death to Wings CU's Member Services at 1-800-692-2274
When a member of Wings CU passes away, the Member Services handles the transition of accounts to beneficiaries or the estate. Accounts with Payable on Death designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate, while solely-owned accounts may require Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Wings CU requires:
Filing a claim
Required Documents
- Personal Representative Information Form (PF0074W), for a court-appointed personal representativeSigned before a notary public.
- Personal representative documentsThe original or a certified copy.
- Death certificate, for a personal representative's claimA certified death certificate.
- Copy of the personal representative's valid photo identification
- Taxpayer identification number for the estate, to open an Estate Account
Forms Wings CU issues1
- Personal Representative Information Form (PF0074W)
Completed by the personal representative. Available to download. Must be notarized.1
What happens to each kind of account6
- Joint account with survivorship
The surviving owner or owners may withdraw the funds. If the survivors are not eligible for primary membership in Wings, the account is closed.2, 1, 3, 4
After notice of a death Wings may restrict withdrawals until it is satisfied its obligations are met. The survivor's interest is subject to Wings' statutory lien for the deceased owner's obligations.2, 1, 3, 4
- Payable-on-death account
After the last surviving owner dies, the funds are distributed equally to each named beneficiary as tenants in common. Wings may freeze the funds if beneficiaries or others dispute ownership.2, 1, 3, 4
- Custodial account (UTMA/UGMA)
A named successor custodian gains authority on the custodian's death. Otherwise Wings may suspend the account until it receives instructions from a person authorized by law or a court order.2, 1, 3, 4
- IRA
The assets pass to the beneficiaries on the IRA application, or to the owner's estate if none is designated or none survive. Wings has Traditional and Roth IRA Distribution Forms (Minnesota, Michigan, all other states) with a death distribution reason.4
- Certificate of deposit
The early-withdrawal penalty on a share certificate is waived on the death of an account owner. The waiver does not apply to business accounts.2, 3
- Fiduciary account
An Estate Account may be established if either the deceased person or the personal representative has had a relationship with Wings for the past six months. The estate must have a TIN, and the personal representative completes all transactions in a representative capacity.2, 1, 3, 4
Wings will not open an account that requires dual signatures, such as co-personal representatives who must act jointly and are not authorized to act independently.2, 1, 3, 4
State law on paying a balance without lettersFlorida, Georgia, Washington
- Florida
Fla. Stat. § 735.303
Florida law permits a credit union to pay from a deceased member's balance on an affidavit made under oath, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.Fla. Stat. § 735.303Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Paid to: family member (surviving spouse; else adult child; else adult descendant; else parent)
Limit: $2,000 held at the institution and $2,000 in total from every holder
When: not earlier than 6 months after the date of the decedent’s death
The section permits the payment. It does not require the credit union to make it. The section sets further conditions.
- Georgia
O.C.G.A. § 7-1-239
Georgia law permits a credit union to pay from a deceased member's balance on an affidavit, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.O.C.G.A. § 7-1-239Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Paid to: the surviving spouse; else the children; else the father and mother; else the brothers and sisters (subsection (b))
Limit: $15,000 held at the institution
Paid to: providers of funeral services and of services for the last illness (subsection (c))
Limit: $15,000 held at the institution
When: if no application for the deposit is made by any person named in subsection (b) of this Code section within 45 days from the death of the intestate depositor
The section applies where the person died without a will. The section permits the payment. It does not require the credit union to make it. The section sets further conditions.
- Washington
RCW 30A.22.190(2)
Washington law permits a credit union to pay from a deceased member's balance on an affidavit, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.RCW 30A.22.190(2)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Limit: $2,500 held at the institution
Paid to: the surviving spouse, next of kin, funeral director, or other creditor who may appear to be entitled thereto
The section permits the payment. It does not require the credit union to make it. The section sets further conditions.
RCW 30A.22.190(1)
Washington law permits a credit union to pay from a deceased member's balance on an affidavit, without letters testamentary or letters of administration.RCW 30A.22.190(1)Verified Oct 3, 2026View source
Limit: The section sets no dollar limit.
Paid to: the surviving spouse (party to a community property agreement with the decedent that reaches the funds)
The section permits the payment. It does not require the credit union to make it. The section sets further conditions.
What Wings CU's agreement and guidance say2
- Payments after the death
Wings may continue to honor transactions on an account until it knows of an account owner's death. Once it knows, it may pay checks or other payments the deceased owner authorized for ten days, unless a person claiming an interest in the account instructs it to stop payment.2
- Indemnity a claimant may have to give
Wings may require anyone claiming a deceased owner's funds to indemnify Wings for losses from honoring that claim.2
Not in Wings CU's published guidance2
- A procedure for reporting a death
- How long a claim takes
Sources4
- 1.Personal Representative Information Form (PF0074W), 11/24
- 2.Account Agreement & Disclosure (151W), 1/1/2026
- 3.Certificate Disclosure, effective 5/15/26
- 4.Traditional IRA Application
Wings CU's Member Services can be reached by phone at 1-800-692-2274 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Wings CU primary sources (41 pages reviewed). How we research.
Wings CU death claims support
Member Services
Phone
Hours
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