Losing a family member is extremely difficult. Besides going through all the emotions associated with grief, you also have a lot of arrangements to make and business tasks to complete.
Once you inform family and friends about the death and make arrangements through the funeral home, you’ll need to cancel your loved one’s credit cards. The funeral home director may assist you in informing the Social Security Administration, which is another essential step to take after a family member dies.
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As you go through each of your loved ones’ accounts, you may have noticed that they had a Chime account that now needs to be closed. Let us help you close a Chime account.
Tip: The other aspects of handling a loved one's unfinished business can be overwhelming without a way to organize your process. We have a post-loss checklist that will help you ensure that your loved one's family, estate, and other affairs are taken care of.
How to Close a Deceased Loved One’s Chime Account
Chime is a financial service company that has no physical branches. There are no fees for having an account and they do not charge for account overdrafts.
Even if you can access your loved one’s Chime account using your loved one’s computer password manager, you should avoid using the account unless authorized to do so. Go through the proper steps of transferring the assets to the beneficiaries before you close the account.
If you are the beneficiary or spouse of the deceased person, here are the steps you need to take to close the account.
Step 1: Contact Chime’s customer service department.
Contact Chime’s member services department at support@chime.com or call 1-844-244-6363.
Explain that your loved one has recently passed and the Chime employee will give you details regarding the type of information you need to provide to transfer the funds and close the account.
Unfortunately, those details depend on a variety of factors. Laws vary from state to state, and the rules may also vary depending on the size of the account in question.
Step 2: Provide the necessary information to Chime, based on the information you receive from the member services department.
In general, you may have to provide some (or all) of the following information and documents:
- Contact information of the spouse or beneficiary
- A legible, color copy of the beneficiary’s driver’s license
- An affidavit of survivorship (if the beneficiary was the spouse of the deceased)
If you are not the spouse or beneficiary but are acting as the executor of the estate, here is some of the information you may need to provide.
- Name, contact information, and Social Security number of the executor of the estate
- A copy of the executor’s driver’s license
- Court-appointed document showing executor designation
- Estate’s EIN
- Account number of where you want the assets transferred
As a side note, if the Chime account is owned jointly, you may only need to cancel the individual card owned by your loved one. In most situations, the funds in a joint account are typically owned by the other person on the account, regardless of what the will says.
Contact an estate lawyer to ask for advice if you find yourself in this complicated situation.
Step 3: Follow up with Chime within ten days.
Keep records of your communications with Chime. Save emails and make note of phone conversations. Set a date on your calendar to check back with Chime to make sure the funds have transferred to the appropriate account and the account closing process is complete.
Step 4: Save confirmation documents.
Be diligent with your deceased loved one’s financial affairs. Unfortunately, scammers and con artists may try to use your loved one’s identity to open fraudulent accounts or make fraudulent transactions. Move quickly on settling them.
Also, keep the other beneficiaries in the loop. You’ll become quickly frustrated if you discover that your sister had previously contacted Chime and began the process of closing your dad’s account without your knowledge.
How to Close Your Own Chime Account
Closing your own Chime account is a simple process. All it takes is an email or a phone call. The account service employee will help you through the rest of the process.
Step 1: Contact the Chime member service team.
If you want to close your own Chime account, contact the member service team at support@chime.com or call 1-844-244-6363. You can also log into your online account and click on the “Settings” page from the drop-down menu in the top right corner.
Step 2: Provide the account information where you wish the funds to be transferred.
You can’t (or wouldn’t want to) close an account that has funds in it. Follow the instructions on transferring your assets to another account before officially closing it.
Step 3: Provide a picture of a valid ID.
You may need to provide Chime with a photo of your valid ID if you attempt to change your account information. While this may slow down the process, it is important that you understand that the company is only doing this for your protection.
Step 4: Keep all the communication.
Once your account is closed, asked for emailed or mailed confirmation. Keep that documentation in your records.
Take a Deep Breath
We know you may feel overwhelmed by all the tasks you need to complete after your loved one's death. Not to add to your stress, but you may also need to consider what you will do with your loved one’s digital afterlife, such as social media pages, computer files, and digital storage services.
Even though your to-do list is long, tackle the most pressing issues first. Work methodically through the list according to their level of importance. Keep notes and records of your conversations, and keep your siblings updated on your progress (if the deceased was your parent.)
When your loved one’s estate is closed, consider what you learned from the process. Use this information to make life easier for your beneficiaries after you depart from this world.
Source:
- “FAQs.” Chime. https://www.chime.com/faq/