How do I notify Bank of America of an HSA account holder's death?

Call Bank of America's Estate Services department at (888) 689-4466, Mon–Fri 9am–8pm ET. Have the decedent's Social Security number and date of death ready.

What happens to an HSA when the owner dies?

If the spouse is the beneficiary, it becomes their HSA. If anyone else is the beneficiary, the account stops being an HSA and the funds are distributed as taxable income to the beneficiary. If there is no beneficiary, the funds go to the estate.

What documents does Bank of America need for an HSA claim?

At minimum, a certified death certificate and your photo ID. You will also need to complete a Beneficiary Claim Form provided by the bank. If the estate is the beneficiary, court-issued Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration are required.

Can I use the HSA funds for the decedent's funeral expenses?

Generally, no. Funeral expenses are not considered qualified medical expenses by the IRS. However, you can use the funds to pay for the decedent's qualified medical expenses incurred before death.

How long does it take to receive HSA funds?

Once all documents are submitted and approved, HSA funds are typically released within 10–20 business days. Spousal transfers may be faster.

Do I need to go through probate to claim a Bank of America HSA?

Not if there is a named beneficiary. The account transfers directly to them. Probate is only required if the estate is the beneficiary or if there is no valid beneficiary designation.

Bank of America HSA Estate & Death Notification Guide (2026)

Overview

Bank of America HSA is a leading provider of health savings accounts, often administered in conjunction with Bank of America's broader banking services or through their Benefit Solutions division. When an HSA account holder passes away, the estate representative or named beneficiary must notify Bank of America to resolve the account.

This guide covers Bank of America's estate services department, the specific tax implications for HSA transfers, required documents, and realistic timelines. Bank of America operates in all 50 states, so state-specific probate requirements will affect your process if there is no named beneficiary.

Bank of America has a dedicated Estate Servicing Operations team that handles all deceased account matters, including HSAs.

This guide provides informational guidance only. It is not legal advice, and SwiftProbate is not a law firm. Laws and institutional procedures change — verify current requirements directly with Bank of America and consider consulting a qualified attorney.

Notification Process

How to Notify Bank of America of a Death

Step 1: Gather Initial Information

Before contacting Bank of America, have the following ready:

Decedent's full legal name and date of birth
Date of death
Social Security number
HSA Account number (if known)
Your name and relationship to the decedent
A certified copy of the death certificate

Step 2: Call the Estate Services Department

Contact Bank of America's estate services team. This number handles all account types, including HSAs:

Phone: (888) 689-4466
Hours: Mon–Fri, 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM ET

Note: If the HSA was employer-sponsored, you may also need to contact the employer's HR department or the Bank of America HSA Customer Care line at (800) 718-6710, but start with the main Estate Services line to place the deceased flag.

When you reach an agent, they will:

Verify the decedent's identity
Place a deceased flag on the account(s), which freezes the HSA card and online access
Provide a case number — write this down
Explain the specific distribution rules for HSAs (spousal vs. non-spousal beneficiary)
Provide the mailing address for documents

Step 3: Submit Required Documents

Mail the following to Bank of America's estate processing center:

{Reference the requiredDocuments section}

Mail to:

Bank of America Estate Servicing Operations

PO Box 31655

Tampa, FL 33631-1655

Alternatively, you can bring documents to a local Bank of America financial center.

Step 4: Wait for Processing

After Bank of America receives your documents, expect:

Acknowledgment letter: 7–10 business days
Document review completion: 2–4 weeks
Follow-up if additional documents needed: 2–3 weeks

Step 5: Receive Funds / Transfer Assets

Once all documents are approved:

Spouse Beneficiary: The HSA is transferred to your name and remains an HSA.
Non-Spouse Beneficiary: The HSA ends on the date of death, and the fair market value is distributed as a taxable lump sum check.
No Beneficiary: The funds are paid to the estate and may require probate.

Required Documents

Documents Bank of America Requires

The exact documents depend on account type, account value, and whether the estate is going through probate.

Always Required

Document	Details
Certified death certificate	1 certified copy is usually sufficient
Government-issued photo ID	Of the person claiming the account
Beneficiary / Estate Claim Form	Provided by Bank of America after notification

If There Is a Will (Testate Estate)

Document	Details
Letters Testamentary	Issued by the probate court — must be certified and dated within 6 months
EIN (Employer Identification Number)	For the estate, if opening an estate account

If There Is No Will (Intestate Estate)

Document	Details
Letters of Administration	Issued by the probate court
EIN	For the estate

Small Estate (Below Probate Threshold)

Document	Details
Small estate affidavit	State-specific form — check our state probate guides

Beneficiary / POD / TOD Accounts (HSA with Beneficiary)

Document	Details
Certified death certificate	Usually the only document needed
Beneficiary claim form	Provided by Bank of America
Beneficiary's ID and tax information	W-9 form (since HSA distributions may be taxable)

Trust Accounts

Document	Details
Trust certification or abstract	Identifying the successor trustee
Successor trustee identification	Government-issued photo ID
Certified death certificate	Of the deceased trustee

Account Types

How Bank of America Handles Different Account Types

Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

HSAs have unique tax rules upon death:

Spouse Beneficiary: The HSA becomes the spouse's HSA. No taxes are due immediately.
Non-Spouse Beneficiary: The HSA ceases to be an HSA. The fair market value is distributed to the beneficiary and is taxable income for them in the year of death. Qualified medical expenses paid within 1 year of death may reduce this taxable amount.
Estate as Beneficiary: The value is included in the decedent's final income tax return.

Timeline: 10–20 business days

Joint Accounts (JTWROS)

The surviving joint owner typically needs only a certified death certificate to have the decedent's name removed. Funds remain accessible throughout.

Timeline: 1–5 business days

POD (Payable on Death) / TOD (Transfer on Death) Beneficiary Accounts

Named beneficiaries claim funds with a death certificate, ID, and beneficiary claim form. No probate required.

Timeline: 5–10 business days

Individual Accounts (Probate Required)

Accounts held solely in the decedent's name with no beneficiary designation require Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from probate court.

Timeline: 3–12+ months depending on probate

Retirement Accounts (IRA, 401(k))

Named beneficiaries complete an inherited IRA form and provide a death certificate. Distribution options depend on SECURE Act rules.

Timeline: 10–20 business days

State Considerations

How Your State Affects the Bank of America Process

Bank of America operates nationally, but probate is governed by state law. Your state determines:

Whether probate is required and how long it takes
Small estate thresholds — estates below certain values can skip formal probate
Community property rules — in the 9 community property states (Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin), a spouse may have rights to HSA funds even if not named as beneficiary
Creditor claim periods — how long creditors have to file claims

Key State Variations

State	Small Estate Threshold	Community Property?	Notable Rules
California	$184,500	Yes	Spousal consent often needed to name non-spouse beneficiary
Texas	$75,000	Yes	Muniment of Title is a faster probate option
Florida	$75,000	No	"Disposition without Administration" available for very small estates
New York	$50,000	No	Voluntary Administration for small estates

For detailed probate requirements, see our state and county probate guides.

Timelines

How Long Bank of America Takes to Release Funds

Account Type	Estimated Timeline	Key Factor
HSA (Spouse Beneficiary)	5–10 business days	Transfer is internal and tax-free
HSA (Non-Spouse)	10–20 business days	Account liquidation and tax reporting required
Joint account	1–5 business days	Just need death certificate
POD/TOD beneficiary	5–10 business days	Beneficiary claim form + death cert
Small estate affidavit	4–8 weeks	Waiting period varies by state
Probate (simple estate)	3–6 months	Depends on court processing time
Probate (complex estate)	6–18+ months	Disputes, taxes, or multiple jurisdictions

Note: Bank of America's Estate Services department handles high volumes, so follow up if you haven't received an acknowledgment letter within 2 weeks of mailing documents.

Tips & Pitfalls

Common Pitfalls and Tips

Do Not Use the HSA Card After Death

Using the decedent's HSA debit card after their date of death is considered unauthorized activity and can lead to legal issues and complications with the estate.

Understand HSA Taxability

If you are a non-spouse beneficiary, the HSA distribution is taxable income. Set aside funds for taxes. You can deduct qualified medical expenses of the decedent paid within one year of death.

Federal Benefit Payments Will Be Reclaimed

Social Security, VA, and other federal benefits deposited after death will be reclaimed by the government. Do not spend these funds.

Keep Records of All Communications

Save the case number from your initial call
Send documents via certified mail with return receipt or use a trackable courier
Note the name of every representative you speak with
Keep copies of all documents submitted

Request Multiple Certified Death Certificates

Order at least 5–10 certified copies — you'll need them for other institutions, the court, and government agencies.

Automatic Payments and Direct Deposits

Once the deceased flag is placed:

Automatic payments will be declined
Direct deposits will be returned
Online/mobile banking will be disabled

Notify billers and payers separately.

Document	When Required	How to Obtain
Certified death certificate	Always	County vital records office or funeral home — order 5+ copies
Government-issued photo ID	Always	Driver's license, passport, or state ID of the claimant
Beneficiary Claim Form	Always	Provided by Bank of America after initial death notification
Letters Testamentary	Probate estates (with a will)	Issued by the probate court — must be certified and recent
Letters of Administration	Probate estates (no will)	Issued by the probate court
Small estate affidavit	Estates below state threshold — alternative to full probate	State-specific form — check our state probate guides
Trust certification / abstract	Trust accounts	Prepared by the successor trustee or estate attorney
EIN (Employer Identification Number)	If opening an estate account	Apply online at IRS.gov (SS-4 form) — issued immediately