Death Claims

City CU extends our deepest sympathy for the loss of your loved one. We know this can be a challenging time for you and your family. We’re here to help you in every way possible.

City CU’s goal is to protect the privacy and wishes of our Members according to the signed Account Agreement. So we may require specific documents, court documents or involve processing from other official agencies.

Steps to take now

Contact us at (214) 515-0100 or deceasedmemberclaim@citycu.org and an employee will contact you within 24 business hours to review initial steps and to begin the process.

We strongly encourage sending personal information via secure email to keep your information safe.

To begin the process, you will need:

Valid picture identification
To be a current signer or beneficiary on the account(s)
A certified copy of the death certificate to submit an official deceased claim

We may ask you to complete additional bank forms depending on the circumstances.

Helpful information

If your loved one was receiving government payments by direct deposit from a federal paying agency (such as Social Security, Department of Veterans Affairs, DFAS or Civil Service), you must notify them of the death as soon as possible.

City CU is required to return any government payments made after the date of death in the decedent’s Social Security number. This can be a complicated and challenging process. Helpful numbers are below to assist in this process.

Document Glossary

Death Certificate

The death certificate provides needed information to verify the identity of our Member. A certified copy of the death certificate generally is available from the funeral director who handled the deceased’s funeral arrangements, as well as from the Registry of Birth, Deaths and Marriages in the applicable state/county/parish/territory. You may need multiple certified copies of the death certificate for the various institutions who handle settling the deceased’s affairs. The complexity of the estate and the number of institutions with which the deceased conducted business will help you determine the number of copies you need.

Letter of Testamentary or Letter of Administration

A letter of testamentary (also known as letters testamentary) is a legal document issued by a court having probate jurisdiction after a will has been presented for probate. The letters name an individual as executor and provide the authority to administer the estate. For example, banks and other financial institutions usually require letters of testamentary and a death certificate before funds can be dispersed from a deceased person’s accounts. To receive a letter of testamentary, an application must be filed by an attorney. Letters of testamentary become part of a legal public record.

Small Estate Affidavit

A Small Estate Affidavit is often used when a spouse or family member has passed. The Affidavit allows you to fast track the resolution of an estate through probate court. It’s a good way to help you resolve final estate matters for a deceased person who died without a will and with a “small estate” (balance under $75,000, per the State of Texas). This must be filed through court and stamped by a judge.

Payable on Death (POD) Beneficiaries

These are assets that are turned over to a beneficiary upon a person’s death, less any outstanding loans/fees.

Rights of Survivorship Accounts

These are jointly-owned accounts. Their assets automatically are transferred to the surviving person(s), less any outstanding loans/fees.