Other things at play too. If wife was joint she is still the legal owner of those funds. If accounts were set up with beneficiaries and she was not joint the money goes to them first. If remaining balances are under $50k no estate required, just need to sign an affidavit for distribution of property to have the funds released. Too much at play with too little info, if the bank told him he's not liable for the CC debt, all he needs to do is get that in writing.

Being as that the accounts are closed is probably safe to assume there is an estate already, as the bank can't close an account with funds in it and can't maintain an account with a deceased tax reported owner.