Notify Bank of America. We'll ask you for the deceased customer's full legal name and Social Security number to identify their accounts.How do l write a letter to the bank to take my name off as a next of kin on a friend's death certificate taking to the bank? For example, you may need a death certificate to claim a benefit. Customer: I got a letter in the mail from Bank of America stating that my mother was dead. The Judge in Surrogate's Court is called the Surrogate. The person who died is called the Decedent.