What to do when a Woodforest account holder dies
Contact Woodforest — 4-step process, 8 required documents, and 5-10 business days after all documentation is received
Phone1-866-553-0541
Toll-Free1-877-968-7962
Mailing Address
Woodforest National Bank, P.O. Box 7889, The Woodlands, TX 77387-7889
24-Hour Account Information
Lost or Stolen Debit Card
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-866-553-0541
Toll-Free1-877-968-7962
Mailing Address
Woodforest National Bank, P.O. Box 7889, The Woodlands, TX 77387-7889
24-Hour Account Information
Lost or Stolen Debit Card
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone1-877-968-7962
Toll-Free1-877-968-7962
Mailing Address
Woodforest National Bank, P.O. Box 7889, The Woodlands, TX 77387-7889
Verified May 2026
After a Woodforest account holder 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 Woodforest's Death Claims at 1-877-968-7962 with the proper legal authority documents.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting Woodforest. A certified death certificate is the primary document required to start any claim.
Deposit, investment & retirement accounts
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Woodforest:
Filing a claim
1
Notify Woodforest and provide initial documentation
- Contact Woodforest at 1-877-968-7962 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 retirement account claims
- 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
- Woodforest 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
Visiting a branch in person is recommended for death claim processing. Woodforest branches located inside Walmart stores typically have extended hours, including evenings and weekends, which may be more convenient for document submission. Distribution options may include check, transfer to an existing Woodforest 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 the mortgage servicer of the borrower's death
- Contact Woodforest or the mortgage servicer to report the borrower's death
- 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)
- The servicer will review your documentation and confirm your status as a Successor in Interest 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, 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), the lender 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. Woodforest mortgage lending is facilitated through Rocket Mortgage; contact the mortgage servicer directly for death claim processing.
How long the process takes at Woodforest: 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.
Documentation required by Woodforest includes 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), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Contact Woodforest at 1-877-968-7962 or visit a branch to report the account holder's death. For POD accounts, beneficiaries present a death certificate and valid ID to claim funds. For joint accounts with right of survivorship, the surviving owner presents a death certificate. For accounts without a beneficiary designation, the executor provides Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. Processing typically takes 5-10 business days after all documentation is received.
Woodforest's Death Claims can be reached by phone at 1-877-968-7962 and email at CustomerAdvocacy@woodforest.com for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple Woodforest accounts may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Death Claims to confirm what applies.
Phone1-866-553-0541
Toll-Free1-877-968-7962
Mailing Address
Woodforest National Bank, P.O. Box 7889, The Woodlands, TX 77387-7889
24-Hour Account Information
Lost or Stolen Debit Card
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-866-553-0541
Toll-Free1-877-968-7962
Mailing Address
Woodforest National Bank, P.O. Box 7889, The Woodlands, TX 77387-7889
24-Hour Account Information
Lost or Stolen Debit Card
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone1-877-968-7962
Toll-Free1-877-968-7962
Mailing Address
Woodforest National Bank, P.O. Box 7889, The Woodlands, TX 77387-7889
Verified May 2026
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