Since the deceased was well beyond age 70 (presumably death was in some year after the year in which the deceased reached age 70½), the beneficiaries are also responsible for completing any unsatisfied portion of the deceased's year of death RMD. That RMD is also late if taken after the year of death as often happens if death is late in the year, but this is a common reason for the IRS to grant the waiver to the beneficiaries taking the year-of-death RMD late.
Bad advice from the bank is a reasonable explanation. I agree, banks' branch people are notoriously bad about these sorts of things.
