Banking information is among the most sensitive data to transmit as part of digital succession. It's necessary for your heirs to access your assets, but inappropriate exposure can lead to fraud. Here's how to handle this delicate transmission securely and methodically.

What Your Heirs Will Need to Know

Your Online Banking Accounts

For each online bank, your heirs will need:

  • The service URL and bank name
  • Your username (customer number or email)
  • Your password (or access to your password manager)
  • The associated PIN or secret code
  • The phone number associated with the account (often needed for 2FA)

Critical point: many banks send verification codes via SMS to the associated phone number. If this number is no longer active, access becomes very difficult. Inform your heirs of this number and the carrier.

Your Savings and Investment Accounts

  • Savings accounts (ISA, high-yield savings)
  • Investment accounts (brokerage, stocks)
  • Life insurance policies (with contract numbers and designated beneficiaries)
  • Retirement accounts (IRA, 401k, pension)

Online Payment Services

  • PayPal: available balance, linked bank accounts
  • Wise, Revolut, Venmo, Zelle, and similar services
  • Cashback or reward accounts

Brokerage and Cryptocurrency Accounts

These accounts require special attention. For cryptocurrencies especially, the recovery phrase (seed phrase) is essential. See our specific guide on crypto and inheritance.

What Not to Transmit Directly

CVV codes from your cards: these codes should never be stored (even encrypted) as they enable fraudulent transactions.

Complete credit card information: number, expiration date, and CVV together. Transmit only the card number and issuing bank.

Temporary access codes: OTP codes received by SMS should never be stored or transmitted.

How to Securely Transmit Your Banking Data

The Most Secure Solution: Password Manager

If you use a password manager (Bitwarden, 1Password, etc.), store all your banking credentials there. Then transmit the master password and access instructions via EchoPass.

This approach offers several advantages:

  • Your banking information doesn't transit through EchoPass directly (double security)
  • Your heirs access a single place for all information
  • The password manager can be updated easily

The Direct Solution: EchoPass with Strong Encryption

If you don't have a password manager, you can store your banking information directly in an EchoPass message.

Your data is encrypted with XChaCha20-Poly1305 and a zero-knowledge architecture: EchoPass cannot access your information, even under compulsion.

Information to Include in Your EchoPass Message

For each bank:

  1. Bank name and login URL
  2. Login username (customer number or email)
  3. Password (or "see password manager")
  4. 2FA / verification code: explain how to obtain it (SMS to which number, authentication app)
  5. Account IBAN/routing number for identification
  6. Customer service number in case of lockout
  7. Special instructions: approximate balance, whether the account should be closed or maintained, life insurance beneficiaries

Beyond practical access, your heirs will need to go through legal procedures to officially recover your assets:

  1. Obtaining a death certificate and notary certificate
  2. Notifying the bank with these documents
  3. Temporary account freeze (legally required in most jurisdictions)
  4. Gradual release according to succession rules

These procedures take time (several months). The practical access you transmit via EchoPass serves urgency needs (paying immediate bills, accessing funds for funeral expenses), not to circumvent legal succession.

Life Insurance: A Special Case

Life insurance policies are often outside the probate process: they're transmitted directly to designated beneficiaries. It's crucial that your beneficiaries:

  • Know your life insurance policies exist
  • Have the policy numbers
  • Know how to contact the insurer

Include this information in your EchoPass message, as insurers don't automatically search for beneficiaries. Unclaimed funds may eventually be transferred to state authorities after a statutory period.

Prepare the transmission of your banking data with EchoPass.