How to Handle an Insurance Claim Check from Citizens Bank

If you’ve suffered damage to your home and filed an insurance claim with Citizens Bank, you may be waiting for an insurance claim check. Receiving and properly handling this check is an important part of the claims process. Here’s what you need to know about Citizens Bank insurance claim checks.

Overview of Citizens Bank Insurance

Citizens Bank offers various insurance policies to its customers including:

• Homeowners insurance – Covers damage to your home and belongings due to covered perils like fire, theft, and weather events.

• Renters insurance – For renters, this covers personal belongings in the event of damage or theft.

• Auto insurance – Covers collision, liability, and other standard car insurance protections.

• Umbrella insurance – Extra liability coverage beyond your other policies.

• Other policies – Citizens Bank also offers insurance likeidentity theft protection, warranty coverage, boat/recreational vehicle insurance and more.

When you file an insurance claim with Citizens Bank, they will investigate, assess damages, and determine if the cause of loss is covered under your policy. If so, they will issue payment for the agreed upon losses.

What to Expect with a Citizens Bank Insurance Claim Check

If Citizens Bank approves your claim, they will mail you an insurance claim check after the claims process is complete. Here’s what to expect:

• One or multiple checks – You may receive one larger check combining all damages/losses. Or you may get multiple smaller checks for different parts of the claim.

• Check(s) made out properly – Check(s) will be made out to all required parties. For example, if you have a mortgage, your mortgage company will need to be listed.

• Mailing time – It takes at least several business days to receive a check after approval. It could take 2-3 weeks in some cases.

• Explanations – Citizens Bank will include documentation explaining what each check covers and the totals.

Be sure Citizens Bank has your current mailing address so your check is delivered promptly and properly. Notify them right away if your address changes during the claims process.

How to Endorse the Check Properly

When you receive an insurance claim check from Citizens Bank, you’ll need to “endorse” or sign the check before cashing or depositing. Here are some tips:

• Review the check to see who it is made out to – just you, you and a mortgage company, etc.

• If the check is made out to multiple parties, each payee listed will need to sign the back of the check.

• Sign your name(s) using the exact same name(s) printed on the check. Do not sign with nicknames.

• Ask your mortgage company for their procedures for endorsing checks with multiple payees.

• Double check that all required signatures are provided before trying to cash or deposit the check.

• If needed, ask your bank for proper procedures for endorsing checks with multiple payees.

Endorsing properly ensures you can cash/deposit the check and avoids delays. Improper endorsements may require you to obtain new checks from Citizens Bank.

What If You Don’t Agree with the Claim Payment?

If Citizens Bank sends you a check but you believe the amount is too low, you can dispute it:

• Don’t cash the check yet – Cashing a check typically indicates you accept the amount.

• Contact Citizens Bank – Call your claims adjuster and explain what you disagree with. Provide any documentation.

• Request re-evaluation – Citizens Bank can reassess the estimate/claim and issue more payment if warranted.

• Consider using outside help – You may want to consult a claims advocate or public adjuster to better argue your case.

• If all else fails, you may have to take legal action. But in most cases, Citizens Bank will work with you on proper payment.

What if There’s a Mortgage Company Involved?

If you have an outstanding mortgage on your home, your mortgage lender will be listed as a payee on any insurance claim checks for home damage. This ensures the funds are used for home repairs that protect their interest in the property.

Here’s how it works when a mortgage company is involved:

• Citizens Bank will include your mortgage company as a payee on claim checks.

• You’ll need to have your mortgage company sign to endorse checks before cashing/depositing.

• Your mortgage company may have specific procedures for handling multi-party checks. Ask them for details.

• Funds may initially go into an escrow account managed by the mortgage company. They’ll release funds as approved repairs are completed.

• Keep your mortgage company updated on claim details and repair timelines. Communicate about any payment disputes.

Having a mortgage lender involved protects their interests. But it can add steps to the claims process. Maintain open communication to avoid delays in receiving and using claim funds.

Tips for Efficiently Receiving and Cashing Your Check

Here are some key tips for ensuring you efficiently receive and handle your Citizens Bank insurance claim check:

• Update contact info – Confirm Citizens Bank has your current mailing address and phone number to avoid delays.

• Notify about upcoming moves – If you’re moving soon, proactively provide Citizens with your new address.

• Know your coverages – Understand what your policy does and doesn’t cover to set proper expectations.

• Provide all needed documentation – Fully cooperate with the claims process by supplying any requested docs.

• Keep mortgage lender updated – If you have a mortgage, loop them in on claim details and timelines.

• Review checks carefully – Look at who the check is made out to, amounts, and documentation before endorsing.

• Endorse properly – Sign your name exactly as printed; get all required signatures before depositing.

• Ask questions – If you’re unsure about anything related to your check, ask Citizens Bank for help.

• Dispute insufficient payments – Contact Citizens if you believe the payment amount is too low before cashing.

Following these tips will help you avoid frustrations and ensure you promptly receive and handle your Citizens Bank insurance claim check.

FAQs about Citizens Bank Insurance Claim Checks

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Citizens Bank insurance claim checks:

How long does it take to get an insurance claim check from Citizens Bank?

It typically takes 2-3 weeks to receive a check after Citizens Bank approves your claim. Actual timeframes vary case-by-case.

What if I lost or damaged my Citizens Bank insurance claim check?

Contact Citizens Bank claims department right away if a check is lost, stolen, or destroyed. They can put a stop payment and reissue a new check.

Can Citizens Bank send my claim check via overnight/express delivery?

Unfortunately Citizens Bank does not offer express delivery for insurance claim checks. They only send checks via standard mail.

What if Citizens Bank sends the check to the wrong address?

If a check is mailed to a wrong address, contact Citizens ASAP to request a stop payment. Provide the correct address so they can send a new check.

How can I check the status of my Citizens Bank insurance claim check?

You can call your claims adjuster at any time to ask about the status of your claim payment. They can confirm when a check was mailed out.

What if my mortgage company won’t endorse my Citizens claim check?

If your mortgage lender won’t sign to endorse a check for any reason, contact Citizens Bank claims right away. They’ll work with you and the mortgage company to resolve the issue.

Do I have to use the claim money exactly as Citizens Bank specifies?

Citizens will indicate what damages/losses each check covers, but ultimately the funds are yours to use as needed once deposited. However, you should complete all agreed repairs.

What happens if I cash a Citizens check but later dispute the amount?

Cashing a check typically indicates you accept the amount. But you can still contact Citizens later and request they re-evaluate the claim for potential additional payment.

Cashing an insurance claim check from Citizens Bank is an important step in the process of getting your property repaired after a loss. Make sure to handle checks properly by endorsing correctly, involving mortgage lenders, and asking questions. With the right information, you can deposit funds more quickly so you can move forward after your claim.