Estate planning at Ameris Bank
How to protect 18 Ameris Bank accounts — manage beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and file claims through Ameris Bank's Argent Financial Group - Trust & Estate Services
Customer Service Center
Phone1-866-616-6020
Mailing Address
Ameris Bank, P.O. Box 105075, Atlanta, GA 30348
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Service Center (Death Notifications)
Phone1-866-616-6020
Mailing Address
Ameris Bank, P.O. Box 105075, Atlanta, GA 30348
Mortgage Servicing (Dovenmuehle)
Lost/Stolen Debit Cards
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
Ameris Bank offers 18 consumer accounts that interact with estate planning in distinct ways. Of those, 9 can name a trust as beneficiary or be retitled into a trust. Understanding the transfer methods available for each account type helps families keep assets out of probate and ensure they pass to the right people.
Ameris Bank lets account holders update beneficiary designations in branch and by phone, typically taking 15-30 minutes in branch. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to retitle accounts into the name of a revocable living trust.
Ameris Bank has documented procedures for both preparing accounts during your lifetime and handling claims when an account holder passes away.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to update beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and review 18 account types at Ameris Bank.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
Contact Ameris Bank's Argent Financial Group - Trust & Estate Services to file a claim. 6-step process, 6 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →Ameris Bank's Argent Financial Group - Trust & Estate Services can answer questions about beneficiaries, trusts, or death claims at 1-800-375-4646.
Ameris Bank is not available nationwide. Estate planning procedures may vary by state, so confirm that your location is served before making account changes.
Frequently asked questions
Ameris Bank operates approximately 163 full-service branches in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, with mortgage-only locations in Virginia, Maryland, and Tennessee. Including mortgage-only offices, Ameris Bank has nearly 300 total locations. The highest concentration of branches is in Georgia and Florida.
Ameris Bank's wealth management and trust services are now provided through Argent Financial Group, an independent fiduciary wealth management firm with responsibility for over $40 billion in client assets. Argent can serve as corporate trustee or executor and provides trust administration, estate planning, and charitable planning services. Contact Argent at 1-800-375-4646 or visit amerisbank.com/Wealth for more information.
Yes. Personal deposit accounts such as checking, savings, CDs, and money market accounts can be retitled to a revocable living trust at an Ameris Bank branch. Bring your trust agreement or Certification of Trust, government-issued ID for each trustee, and the trust tax identification number (or your SSN for a revocable grantor trust). Any existing POD designations should be revoked before retitling. IRAs cannot be titled to a trust but a trust can be named as beneficiary.
Yes. While IRAs cannot be titled directly to a trust, you can name a trust as the beneficiary of a Traditional IRA or Roth IRA at Ameris Bank. Contact a banker at your local branch or call 1-866-616-6020 to update your IRA beneficiary designation.
Yes. When retitling deposit accounts to a trust, Ameris Bank accepts either a full trust agreement or a Certification of Trust (also called a Certificate of Trust or Trust Abstract). A Certification of Trust provides essential trust details such as the trust name, date, and trustee information without requiring disclosure of the trust's beneficiaries or asset distribution terms.
Ameris Bank offers three personal checking accounts. Free Checking has no monthly service fee and no minimum balance. Benefits Checking includes IDProtect identity theft monitoring, credit file monitoring, up to $10,000 identity theft expense reimbursement, and cell phone protection up to $400. Interest Checking earns interest on the account balance, includes nationwide ATM fee reimbursement, and waives its $20 monthly fee when combined personal deposit balances reach $10,000.
Sources
Data sourced from Ameris Bank primary sources (28 pages reviewed). How we research.
Customer Service Center
Phone1-866-616-6020
Mailing Address
Ameris Bank, P.O. Box 105075, Atlanta, GA 30348
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Service Center (Death Notifications)
Phone1-866-616-6020
Mailing Address
Ameris Bank, P.O. Box 105075, Atlanta, GA 30348
Mortgage Servicing (Dovenmuehle)
Lost/Stolen Debit Cards
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Ameris Bank accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
