Last verified 2026-11-03; facts checked against the primary sources below
How do I report a death to Fifth Third Bank and close the accounts?
Reviewed by Adam Nathan, founder of The Estate Desk
Last verified: November 3, 2026
The short answer: For checking, savings and cards, call Fifth Third customer service at 800-972-3030 (Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET) or schedule an appointment at a branch (Fifth Third). For a loan, Fifth Third has a probate team: call a probate specialist at 888-795-1986, or send the death certificate and other legal documents by fax to 616-653-2455 or email to [email protected] (Fifth Third). Fifth Third does not publish a document checklist for deposit accounts, so ask on the first call what it needs for your role.
Fifth Third deceased account facts
| Question | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Checking, savings and cards | Customer service, 800-972-3030 | Fifth Third |
| Customer service hours | Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET; Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET; closed Sunday | Fifth Third |
| In person | A branch, through Schedule an Appointment on the customer service page | Fifth Third |
| Loans: probate specialist | 888-795-1986 | Fifth Third |
| Loans: fax | 616-653-2455 | Fifth Third |
| Loans: email | [email protected] | Fifth Third |
| Loans: mail | Fifth Third Bank, Attn: Probate Team, 1830 East Paris Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 | Fifth Third |
| What the probate team asks for | The death certificate, any other legal documents, and your contact information | Fifth Third |
| International callers | 513-579-5353 | Fifth Third |
| Published processing time | None |
How do you tell Fifth Third that someone died?
Start with the kind of account:
| Account | Who to contact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Checking or savings | Customer service at 800-972-3030, or a branch appointment | Fifth Third |
| Debit or credit card | Customer service at 800-972-3030 | Fifth Third |
| Personal loan | The probate team: 888-795-1986, fax 616-653-2455 or [email protected] | Fifth Third |
Fifth Third's probate instructions appear on its loan help page, so they are for loans. Do not assume they cover checking or savings. If you write to the bank, see what a death notification letter to a bank should say.
What should you have ready for the first call?
Fifth Third does not publish a list for deposit accounts. Most banks start with the same items, and these are the ones to have in hand:
- A certified copy of the death certificate. The probate team asks for it for loans (Fifth Third).
- Account numbers or recent statements.
- Your photo ID.
- The document that shows your authority: letters testamentary or letters of administration, a small estate affidavit, or trust documents.
Then ask the bank three questions: which documents it needs for your role, where to send them, and whether any payments still coming in or going out should be stopped now.
What happens to each kind of account?
It depends on how the account was owned, not on the bank. The general rules are in how to close a bank account after someone dies.
| How the account was owned | Usual path | Where to read more |
|---|---|---|
| Joint with a surviving owner | The survivor usually keeps the account and removes the deceased owner | Does a joint bank account go through probate |
| Payable on death beneficiary | The beneficiary claims it with the death certificate and ID | How to close a bank account after someone dies |
| In the person's name alone | The executor, administrator or small estate affidavit claimant closes it | How to close a bank account after someone dies |
| A loan in the person's name | The probate team handles it; the estate, not the family, usually owes the debt | What happens to a car loan when the borrower dies |
The Estate Desk handles institution paperwork and follow-up for California families. theestatedesk.com