Last verified 2026-07-14, every fact checked against the primary sources below
How to close a Bank of America account when the owner dies
Last verified: July 14, 2026
The short answer: Notify Bank of America's Estate Servicing Operations — online at bankofamerica.com/estateservices, by phone at 1-888-689-4466 (Mon–Fri, 9 AM–8 PM ET), or at any financial center — with the deceased's full legal name and Social Security number. Expect immediate effects: Bank of America places temporary holds on solely owned accounts, blocks cards, and cancels automatic payments as soon as it learns of the death. A joint owner with survivorship keeps the account; a named beneficiary claims the balance with a death certificate; a solely owned account needs probate letters or a state small-estate affidavit.
How do you notify Bank of America that someone died?
Bank of America does not restrict who can report a death. Four ways (estate services, Estate Services Resource Guide):
| Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Online | Start at bankofamerica.com/estateservices; BofA customers use Online Banking, non-customers enroll in the Third-Party Case Manager portal first |
| Phone | 1-888-689-4466 (Estate Servicing Operations), Monday–Friday, 9 AM–8 PM ET |
| In person | Any financial center; schedule at bankofamerica.com/appointments |
| Bank of America — Estate Servicing Operations, PO Box 31655, Tampa, FL 33631-1655 |
Have ready: the deceased's full legal name and Social Security number, and the death certificate (the current Resource Guide asks for a certified copy; send copies of everything — originals cannot be returned). BofA issues a case reference number, and customers can track the case in Online Banking under Help & Support.
Know what happens the moment you notify. Per BofA's own guide: temporary holds go on individually owned accounts, debit and credit cards are closed or blocked, authorized users are removed, and automatic payments and transfers are cancelled (Resource Guide). List the essential autopays (property insurance, utilities) before you call, so you can move them.
Which Bank of America department handles each account?
| Account type | Phone | Hours (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Deposits, credit cards, general estate matters | 1-888-689-4466 | Mon–Fri 9 AM–8 PM |
| Home loans (successor in interest) | 1-800-669-6607 | Mon–Fri 8 AM–9 PM |
| Home equity | 1-800-934-5626 | Mon–Fri 8 AM–9 PM |
| Merrill investment accounts | 1-866-848-6554 | Mon–Fri 8 AM–8 PM |
| Private Bank | 1-800-878-7878 | Mon–Fri 8 AM–8 PM |
Credit cards and auto loans route through the main Estate Servicing line — no separate estate numbers are published.
What documents does Bank of America require to release the money?
What you need depends on how the account was owned (Resource Guide):
| Account situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| Joint account with right of survivorship | The surviving owner keeps full ownership; the title is updated with a death certificate copy and an updated signature card |
| Account with a named beneficiary (POD/TOD/ITF) | Death certificate plus BofA's Letter of Instruction; funds pass directly to the beneficiary |
| Solely owned, estate in probate | Court-issued Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, or Certification of Appointment; checks are made payable to the estate |
| Solely owned, small estate (California) | A small-estate affidavit "completed and in compliance with the laws of the state where they lived" — in California, the Probate Code § 13100 affidavit, usable 40 days after death when the countable estate is $208,850 or less for deaths on or after April 1, 2025 (California courts); checks are often issued to the affiant directly |
Many financial centers offer a free notary — useful, since several of BofA's estate forms need notarization.
How long does Bank of America take?
BofA commits to reviewing submitted documents within ten business days (Resource Guide), but publishes no overall settlement timeline: "the time it may take to settle an account will also vary."
The common holdup is federal benefits. Social Security or VA payments that arrived after the death must be returned to the government, and no funds are disbursed until that reclamation review completes. Reconcile Social Security early.
Other practical notes from BofA's documents:
- The deceased's Online Banking ID is closed once BofA has the death certificate. Joint owners need their own login.
- Safe deposit boxes are handled at the financial center that houses the box, and the release documents must match the state where the box physically sits — even if the person lived elsewhere.
- BofA collects a sole-owned credit card balance only from the estate, not from you personally. Unredeemed rewards can be claimed by the estate representative.
- A power of attorney ends at death.
- Get a final statement before closure — the estate's tax return will need it.
The Estate Desk handles this for California families. theestatedesk.com
Check in 2 minutes whether you need probate at all
Primary sources
- https://www.bankofamerica.com/signature-services/estate-services/
- https://images.em.bankofamerica.com/estateservices/Estate_Services_Resource_Guide.pdf
- https://www.bankofamerica.com/customer-service/contact-us/mortgage-home-equity/
- https://www.merrilledge.com/life-services
- https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/probate/simple-transfer