Deceased Member Account - FAQs

• How can I obtain a letter of administration?
  

  Contact the register of wills, orphans court, or local court system within the county/township of the state in which the decedent lived and/or passed away.

• How do I obtain an EIN number for an Estate Account?
  

  Visit the www.irs.gov website only. Other sites can securely provide you with an EIN but they will charge a fee and often take up to five weeks. There is no fee when visiting the IRS website.

• If I am a joint owner on the account – can I continue to use the membership?
  

  Initially, yes; however, the membership should be closed within a year of the death of the primary member. To avoid impact to the surviving joint owner(s), the membership may remain open while we work with the surviving joint account owner(s) and/or executor of the estate. 

  Please note, if there are no joint owners, only a payee on death (POD, aka beneficiary) designated, the suffix(es) will be closed once a death certificate is received and funds disbursed via check payable to the POD.

• How can I add a beneficiary/payee on death (POD) to my deposit accounts?
  

  Ownership and beneficiaries cannot be changed after the primary has passed.  

  Prior to a primary’s passing, a POD (aka beneficiary) can be changed by signing a new membership application designating the name of the POD for each non-IRA account type to which the member wishes to add a POD(s). All existing joint owners of each account (aka suffix) listed must sign the membership application designating the POD. A membership application is required for each suffix if the joint ownership is different. 

  To submit an updated membership application, you may either: 

  1. Attach to a secure email behind online banking. Not enrolled in Online and Mobile Banking? Click here for details.
  2. Mail to the credit union:
     • 
       APGFCU
     • ATTN: Support Services
     • P.O. Box 1176
     • Aberdeen, MD 21001
  3. Visit a branch.

  IRAs require separate beneficiary designation forms. Learn more by visiting the IRA Service Center.

• Does a will supersede a payee on death (POD)?
  

  APGFCU does not interpret the will of a decedent. Therefore, if a payee on death is defined on the membership application, APGFCU will disburse funds according to the membership agreement/application established by the primary member’s wishes.

• Does APGFCU need a copy of the will?
  

  APGFCU does not interpret the will of a decedent. The will should be taken to the register of wills office (Maryland) or the clerk’s office of the court system where the member lived and/or passed away. These offices will help you determine the next steps to take in managing the decedent’s affairs with or without a will (testate or intestate).

• What if I have bonds in the name of the deceased?
  

  Visit https://www.treasurydirect.gov/savings-bonds/manage-bonds/death-of-owner/ for guidance.

• Can I deposit the checks into my account?
  

  Checks payable to a decedent can only be deposited to the primary member’s membership if dated prior to the date of death. If the check is payable to the decedent after their date of death, the check must be negotiated/deposited through an estate account. If you have questions about a specific check, please contact us or visit a branch. Click here to schedule a branch appointment.

• My spouse is deceased. Can I deposit our tax refund check into my account?
  

  Yes, if we have received a death certificate. Endorse the back of the check by printing the decedent's name, followed by "deceased".